Custom Shapes Manual

Installation Of Shapes
Depends on the method of receiving the files.

Download: extract the CSH files from the custom shapes zip file. Please place the CSH files in the required installation file.

CD: Select or drag the custom shapes files from the CD and place the CSH (the file type for the custom shapes is CSH) files on the hard disk.

You may wish to just place the shapes folder in a folder marked 'custom shapes' and then access the shapes as and when required, or place the shapes in the presets custom shapes folder. If you have too many custom shapes files in the presets custom shapes folder, the custom shapes dropdown might not display all the files.

To access the custom shapes palette, select the custom shapes tool and this will display the custom shapes palette. To load/replace the custom shapes files, use the replace (or load) command to load the CSH files into the custom shapes palette. The custom shapes can also be loaded via the preset manager (in the edit menu)

Installation folder for the custom shapes

C:\program files\Adobe\Photoshop ...\presets\custom shapes (on the pc)

HD:Applications:Adobe Photoshop ...:presets:custom shapes (on the mac)

Again, you might prefer to load/replace them via a different folder or place the custom shapes files in the presets folder as required

Deletion of shapes

To delete the shapes, just remove from the presets shapes folder and then the shapes should not appear in the shapes menu

Saving your own shapes

You might prefer to only access a certain number of shapes or perhaps set up a set of shapes for a certain project, delete all the shapes in the current shapes palette, leaving the required shapes, and then use the save command (on the right of the palette/dropdown) to save the current set of shapes. The shapes will be saved in the format of your version of Photoshop, so if you are using 7, the shapes will be saved in 7 format, and the shapes will not be available to 6 (just a word of warning, and perhaps not neccessary if you are only using one particular version of PS)

Number of shapes in a palette

The number of shapes allowed in a palette (in 6 anyway) is 500, this might vary from version to version. The more shapes you have in a palette, the more resource used and the slower (perhaps) the startup of PS

Version of Shapes

All the shapes were created in version 6 and can be used in all versions upwards (and sideways... in terms of elements)

Serial Number/serial reference

Please keep the serial as a reference (if supplied). This is useful for upgrades and possibly replacement disks if required

Royalty-free

The shapes are royalty-free, however, the copyright is owned by Andrew Buckle. The shapes are non-exclusive, so be aware that others might use the same shape and designs.

Thumbnails of the custom shapes

A complete display of all the shapes in this volume can be seen in the supplied palette file. You might prefer to create additional thumbnail files and a good way to go about this is to use the ALT-print screen for each shape palette. You might also like to tryout a script to create files for all the shapes (possible??) or just print out the shapes by hand or save them to a format such as AI. Please contact Adobe if you wish to request a feature to display thumbnails of the shapes.. it would be a cool feature to add to the application.

If you are using the shapes as part of a sampler or freebie set, then you might like to purchase the collection or some of the smaller sets or perhaps a bundle of the shapes/brushes, please check out the custom shapes pages on the graphicxtras.com site for details about the collection and plugins and styles etc

Installation Issues
If you have problems installing or using this product, please e-mail our tech support at support (at@) graphicxtras.com.

Comments
If you have any suggestions to how we can improve our products or manual, or if there is something that is hard to understand or badly stated, please contact us and we will try to correct any errors or misunderstandings in the next release of the manual. It is always great to hear your feedback. The shapes will also work in Photoshop Elements ®

System Requirements

Applications supported - Photoshop ® CS 6 7 Elements - Windows 98, XP, 2000, and NT, ME, mac OSX

Minimum Requirements

At least 64MB of memory, though some operations might require a lot more.

Trademarks

The shapes were created by Andrew Buckle, and copyright 1999-2004 Andrew Buckle and Abneil Software

All products mentioned in this manual are trademarked or probably trademarked by their respective owners. Illustrator and Photoshop and Adobe and After Effects are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

We have no connection whatsoever with Adobe

Company Address

Abneil software ltd PO Box 986 Maidstone Kent UK

UK (+44) 1622 688 375

http://www.graphicxtras.com

support@graphicxtras.com

Use of the custom shapes

For use of custom shapes, please consult your Photoshop ® manual or various articles on the subject of custom shapes.

You might also find information about shapes in magazines such as macDesign and Computer Arts magazine (UK) and Digit, or in books such as Photoshop CS/6/7elements wow! are potential sources of information or NAPP or Scott kelby books or information at Photoshop World.

Hints and Tips

• The shapes from Abneil software ltd can be used in many different ways
• There are three modes for shapes: as fill designs or paths or layers shapes
• Shapes can be applied in multiple ways, either drag onto the document or placement in the centre etc
• For use as a shape layer, you can apply any of the styles available (Abneil software ltd also supply a number of volumes of styles and they work effectively with all shapes). The shape layers can be added to, intersected and more.
• If used as a path, the shape can be converted to a feathered select. You can then fill and apply various 3rd party effects.
• Or as a path, the path can be stroked with any of the brushes (even more creative effects can be achieved with the latest version, which includes an expanded range of brush options)
• A shape can be used quickly to create a tube or nozzle or a layer floater for export to another application. Just remember to save the alpha channel and the best format to use is probably TIFF
• As a web design, you can just use the shape as a fill, just apply the shape to the document. You can also create a new layer and apply the shape fill to that. Or you can apply the shape fill using different blending modes, such as applying the shapes repeatedly using the difference mode (shrinking the shape on each application).
• Shapes can be rasterized or tweaked by the point tools or distorted and transformed.
• Shapes can also work in conjunction with text.
• Shapes are great as frames, either use as a path / layer and combine/exclude or use the shape as a basic design.

* please read before using the shapes

By downloading/installing the software/content, and opening the media package, and installing the shapes/manual on your computer, you agree to be bound by all the terms & conditions of this legal agreement. If you do not agree with these agreement terms, you must instantly (give or take a few minutes) destroy all copies of the software/content and documentation.

We grant you a non-exclusive and non-transferable license to use one (1) copy of the executable code of the software and accompanying materials according to the following terms:

You may

• Use the custom shapes on any single computer residing in your premises
  
• Use the custom shapes on different computers, as long as there is no possibility that it is used at more than one location at the same time or on a computer network by more than one user at the same time.
  
• Copy the custom shapes for back-up purposes provided any copy must contain all of the original shape's proprietary notices and provided your backup copy is not installed or used on any computer.

You may not

• Permit other individuals to use the software except under the terms listed above
  
• Modify, adapt, translate, disassemble or create derivative works based upon the custom shapes
  
• Copy the custom shapes except for backup purposes
  
• Sell, resell, rent, lease, sublicense, assign, or otherwise transfer rights to the shapes
  
• Remove any proprietary notices or labels on the shapes

NO WARRANTIES

This software is provided as is, without warranty of any kind. We and our suppliers disclaim all warranties, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with regard to the shapes and any other software included in the distribution package or archive.

NO LIABILITIES FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES

To the maximum amount permitted by applicable law, in no event shall we or our suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or any other loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use this Innovations product, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some states/jurisdictions do not allow for the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you.