Custom Shapes Manual
Installation Of Custom Shapes Collection
Installation depends on the method of receiving the custom shapes files and documentation.
Download
Extract the CSH files from the custom shapes zip file, and place the custom shapes files (*.CSH) in the shapes folder detailed below (or in a separate holding folder)
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.
In Elements, you might need to place the shapes only in the presets custom shapes folder.
fig. install the shapes in the presets custom shapes folder (or a separate folder)
To access the custom shapes palette, select the custom shapes tool and this will display the custom shapes palette.
fig. access the shapes via the dropdown of shapes sets
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 in Photoshop
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
fig. shapes in Photoshop ® Elements
The shapes are installed in the presets folder in Photoshop ® Elements 'custom shapes', exactly the same as in Photoshop ®
Deletion of shapes
To delete the shapes, just remove the CSH shapes files (supplied in the collection) from the presets custom shapes folder and then the shapes should not appear in the shapes menu on next startup of Photoshop.
The shapes will still appear in the displayed palette until you replace the shape / reset command
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 necessary if you are only using one particular version of PS)
Opening of shapes
You can also load the shapes in CS by opening the shapes file via the normal open command in the file menu. The 'opened' shapes are loaded into the shapes palette. Once you hit the maximum number of shapes, that is it, Photoshop will display a message saying 'maximum number reached'. This limit varies from version to version of Photoshop ®
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 resources are used and the slower (perhaps) the startup of PS.
Version of Shapes
All the shapes were created in version Photoshop ® 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. If this is the demo, then no shapes reference or serial number is supplied.
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 in logos etc
Thumbnails of the custom shapes
Please check out the shapes thumbnails gallery (if this is the purchased version and the relative structure is the same as supplied)
Purchase of shapesIf 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 support at support (at@) graphicxtras.com
or leave a comment in the guestbook section of the site
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.
System Requirements
Applications supported - Photoshop ® CS 6 7 Elements 1 2 3 - Windows 98, XP, 2000, and NT, ME, mac OSX / mac OS 9.1 9.2
As of writing this, it is unknown whether the shapes will work or not in PS CS2, hopefully they will. There appears to be no noted detail in the release that suggest that the shapes should not work (???) but they have not been tested in the new version [as of April 2005]
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 1999-2005 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
UK (+44) 1622 688 375
Use of the custom shapes
For use of custom shapes, please consult your Photoshop ® manual or various articles on the subject of custom shapes.
fig. use the shape layer option and then apply styles to the shape
You might also find information about shapes in magazines such as MacDesign and Computer Arts magazine (UK) and Digit (UK graphics magazine) or EFX (Swedish graphics magazine), or in books such as Photoshop CS/6/7elements wow! are potential sources of information; or NAPP site; or Scott Kelby books; or information at Photoshop World.
Also another great place to check out is the PhotoshopUser site (NAPP) and Photoshop elements user site.
fig. fill pixels option for painting
Hints and Tips
Legal Agreement / License Agreement
The shapes are (c) 2000-2005 Andrew Buckle and Abneil Software ltd
The manual is for information only and is in a constant state of update and additions and will have probably been updated since writing this! The manual should not be construed as any commitment to function or use of the custom shapes, and we can assume no responsibility for errors or any liability based on the comments made in the manual. Please let us know if you find any errors in this shapes guide and we will try our best to update the documentation.
To the max amount allowed by relevant laws, under no condition shall Abneil Software ltd or our sellers/distributors/affiliates be liable for damages or costs (this includes, without any limits, damages and costs for any loss of profits to the business or businesses, disruption to the business or businesses, loss of info, or other) from the use of or inability to create using this custom shapes graphics product, even if we have been told of the likelihood of such possible claims. As some areas of this planet do not allow for the removal or limits on liability for damages, the above limits may not relate to you.