Using the Pen Tools

Using the Pen Tools in Adobe Photoshop CS3

In Photoshop CS3, the Pen Tool is another way to draw shapes or make selections. For more information on making selections, refer to Selecting an Area.

The Pen Tools

The Pen Tool, located in the Toolbox, has five hidden tools: the Pen Tool, Freeform Pen Tool, Add Anchor PointTool, Subtract Anchor Point Tool, and the Convert Point Tool.

Pen Tool
Allows you to make very precise selections that would be difficult to accomplish using the Marquee Tools. By using the Pen Tool you are creating a path of adjustable anchor points. To adjust an anchor point, use the Delete Anchor Point Tool, the Convert Point Tool, or the Direct Selection Tool.

Freeform Pen Tool
Allows you to make customized paths that are not straight by default. The path/selection follows the same path as your mouse. This tool is useful for making fast selections that do not require as steady of a hand as theMarquee Tools do. You can edit the selection further using the other selection tools.

Add Anchor Point Tool
Adds anchor points along a path. Anchor points can be used to alter lines without redrawing them.

Delete Anchor Point Tool
Deletes anchor points from a path.

Convert Point Tool
Converts a smooth point (e.g., an arc) into a corner point or a corner point into a smooth point.

Source: http://www.uwec.edu/help/photoshopcs3/pen-tool.htm