How to Create Clean Clip Art With Adobe Photoshop

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Clip art is simple small graphics that are used for many purposes, from web pages to newsletter decoration. There are many sites that offer an array clip art, either for sale or for free. However, you might decide that your project requires something more. In this case, you might want to make your own using Photoshop. It is important to use the right tools when creating your clip art so as to avoid the "jaggies" you sometimes see in such graphics.

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Step 1

Click on the desktop shortcut to start the Photoshop application. Select "File" from the menu and choose "New." In the dialog box, enter the width, height and resolution you want for the clip art. Set the "Background Content" to "Transparent." Click "OK."

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Step 2

Click on the "New Layer" button at the bottom of the "Layers" panel.

Step 3

Select the "Pen" tool from the toolbar on the left. Go to the tool options that appear at the top and set the mode to "Shape Layer."

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Step 4

Choose the fill color you want for the part you are about to draw. Then go to the canvas to start adding points to define the shape of one part of your clipart, such as a head or a shirt. Drag as you add each point to adjust the lines between the points.

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Step 5

Repeat steps two through five to create the other parts of your clipart. Save your clip art as a PNG to preserve the transparency so it can be placed against other backgrounds.

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