Yup, an A for perseverence Leejune.
That's a good first attempt, keep at it.
You'll notice you learn a couple new things each time you do a tutorial --
particularily if the effect/techniques are unfamiliar to you.
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Guys i have to say that i myself am at a loss to identify with those that say they're only used to using one program's tools for Vector graphics. I too have AI and XaraX and have no problem at all in using either of those program's tools for Vectors, as well as Photoshop's somewhat
basic tools.
My point is this... at the core, they all use
the same types of tools. Click a Pen tool to add points, that can be strung along to form a closed Path shape. Or, use the premade shape tools for the automatic creation of more basic shapes.
Direct Selection tools are then used to edit the individual points along a path. Beziere control handles can be added or removed, and edited at the same time.
Learning how Vectors are created, and what tools are generally needed/used to create this type of graphic, is all that one should need to know, to have a fairly solid understanding of how to create them using
any program that has Vector graphic capabilities. The slight variations in the tools from app to app should
not be holding you back.
In fact, as of PS7, there's only one big difference i see between PS and AI that stands out in my mind (
excluding special vector brushes)... in PS, you have to manually 'Save' each Path to retain it for future use. Vector specific apps store the paths be default because that's their generic function;
i.e. they don't use pixels by default like PS does.
Anywho...
If someone is having a problem creating ANY type of shape using the Vector tools in Photoshop, i'd like them to tell me right now. And i'll explain as explicitly as possible to them how to use the tools to achieve their goal. I want to know where exactly people are getting confused, and what exactly it is that is holding them back from be confident about using the Vector tools in PS.