Mastering Custom Shapes in Photoshop: Import and Use CSH Files

This step-by-step guide walks you through importing, applying, and customizing Custom Shapes Libraries (.CSH files) in Adobe Photoshop. Learn how to seamlessly integrate new shape libraries into your workspace, apply them to your designs, and tweak their properties to suit your creative needs. Perfect for beginners and pros alike, this guide will help you make the most of Photoshop’s powerful Shapes panel!

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Table of content

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➊ What Are Custom Shapes in Photoshop?

Custom Shapes in Adobe Photoshop are vector-based graphics that can be easily added to your designs using the Custom Shape Tool. They are pre-defined paths stored in the .CSH file format and can be resized, rotated, or styled without losing quality. These shapes are particularly useful for creating intricate designs, logos, patterns, or decorative elements quickly and efficiently.

Photoshop comes with a set of default custom shapes, but you can expand your collection by importing .CSH files, which are readily available on our website.

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Key Features of Custom Shapes:

• Scalability: Being vector-based, custom shapes can be scaled to any size without pixelation or loss of quality.
• Versatility: Shapes can be filled with colors, gradients, or patterns and can include strokes for added customization.
• Reusability: Once imported, custom shapes can be used repeatedly in various project files.
• Time-Saving: They provide a library of pre-made design elements, reducing the time needed to create complex shapes from scratch.

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➋ Importing Custom Shapes

Adobe Photoshop provides multiple ways to import .csh files depending on the version you’re using:

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🅰 Using the Shapes Panel (Adobe Photoshop CC 2020 or Newer)

1. Open the Shapes Panel:

• Go to Window > Shapes to open the Shapes Panel if it’s not already visible.

2. Access the Panel Options:

• In the Shapes Panel, click the menu icon ☰ (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner of the panel.

3. Import Shapes:

• From the dropdown menu, select Import Shapes…

4. Locate the .csh File:

• Navigate to the location of your .csh file, select it, and click Open.

5. Access the Imported Shapes:

• The imported shapes will appear as a new group or folder within the Shapes Panel.

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🅱 Using the Preset Manager (Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 or Older)

1. Open the Preset Manager:

• Go to Edit > Presets > Preset Manager.

2. Select Custom Shapes:

• In the Preset Manager, choose Custom Shapes from the dropdown menu at the top.

3. Load the .csh File:

• Click the Load button on the right-hand side.
• Navigate to the location of your .csh file, select it, and click Done.

4. Access the Imported Shapes:

• The shapes will appear in the Preset Manager and be ready to use in the Custom Shape Tool.

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🅲 Using the Custom Shape Tool

1. Access the Custom Shape Tool:

• Look for the Rectangle Tool icon in the Toolbar (it might display a different shape if you’ve used other shape tools recently).
• Right-click (or long-click) on the Rectangle Tool icon to reveal the other shape tools.
• From the expanded menu, click on Custom Shape Tool (it looks like a star or blob-shaped icon).

2. Open the Shape Picker:

• In the top options bar, click on the Shape dropdown (a preview of the current shape).
• In the bottom-right of the Shape Picker, click the gear icon for more options.

3. Load the Custom Shapes:

• From the dropdown menu, select Import Shapes.
• Navigate to the location of your .csh file, select it, and click Done.

4. Access the Imported Shapes:

• The imported shapes will now appear in the Shape Picker list, ready for use.

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🅳 Double-Clicking on the .csh File

1. Locate the .csh File:

• Find the .csh file on your computer. It might appear blank or with an unknown icon.

2. Double-Click the File:

• Double-click the .csh file. This action will automatically open Adobe Photoshop and import the shapes.
• Alternatively, you can right-click the .csh file and from the context menu choose Open With… and select Adobe Photoshop from the dropdown list.

3. Access the Shapes:

• Open the Shapes Panel (Window > Shapes) to view your imported shapes.

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🅴 Dragging and Dropping the .csh File

1. Locate the .csh File:

• Navigate to the location of your .csh file.

2. Drag and Drop into Photoshop:

• Drag the .csh file and drop it directly into the open Photoshop workspace.

3. Access the Shapes:

• The shapes will automatically import into the Shapes Panel. Open Window > Shapes to view them.

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By utilizing these methods, you can easily import .csh files and manage them for your projects. Choose the method that best suits your workflow!

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➌ Applying a Custom Shape

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1. Select the Custom Shape Tool:

• Ensure the Custom Shape Tool is active from the toolbar.

2. Choose a Shape:

• Open the Shape Picker, scroll to locate your imported shapes, and click on the desired shape to select it.

3. Draw the Shape:

• Click and drag on your canvas to draw the shape.
• Hold down Shift while dragging to maintain the shape’s proportions.

4. Set Fill and Stroke:

• Use the Fill and Stroke options in the top options bar to choose colors, gradients, or patterns for your shape.

5. Adjust Shape Properties:

• Once drawn, use the Properties Panel (Window > Properties) to adjust the size, position, rotation, or other parameters.

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Alternatively, users can drag and drop a custom shape preset directly from the Shapes Panel (Window > Shapes) onto the canvas.

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1. Open the Shapes Panel by navigating to Window > Shapes.
2. Browse through the available custom shape presets in the panel.
3. Click and drag the desired shape from the Shapes Panel onto your canvas.
4. The shape will be placed on a separate layer as a vector Shape Layer, maintaining its scalability and editability.

This method is quick and ensures that the shape is added as a fully editable vector layer, ready for customization!

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➍ Adjusting the Shape

Once you’ve created a vector Shape Layer using the Custom Shape Tool, you can adjust its properties and appearance in several ways. Follow these steps to modify your vector shape layer effectively:

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1. Select the Shape Layer

• Open the Layers Panel (Window > Layers) and select the desired vector Shape Layer.
• Ensure the layer is active by clicking on it.

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2. Move the Shape

• Select the Move Tool (shortcut: V) from the toolbar.
• Click and drag the shape on the canvas to reposition it.

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3. Resize the Shape:

• Press Ctrl + T (Windows) or ⌘ Command + T (Mac) to activate the Transform Tool.
• Drag the corner handles to resize the shape.
• Hold Shift while dragging to maintain the aspect ratio.
• Press Enter/Return to confirm the changes.

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4. Transform the Shape

Adobe Photoshop provides powerful transformation options to adjust vector Shape Layers beyond basic resizing and repositioning. Below are detailed steps to apply these transformations:

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Activate the Transform Tool:

• Select the Shape Layer.
• Press Ctrl + T (Windows) or ⌘ Command + T (Mac) to activate the Transform Tool.

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Select one of the following:

• Rotate: Rotates the shape around a reference point. By default, the reference point is at the center of the shape, but you can move it to another location.
  
  Hover near a corner handle until the cursor changes to a rotate icon, then click and drag to rotate.
  To rotate precisely, select Rotate 180°, Rotate 90° CW (Clockwise) or Rotate 90° CCW (Counterclockwise).
  
  
• Skew: Slants the shape vertically or horizontally.
  
  • Right-click on the shape and choose Skew.
  • Drag the side or top handles to skew the shape in the desired direction.
  
  
• Distort: Stretches an item in all directions.
  
  • Right-click on the shape and select Distort.
  • Drag any of the corner handles independently to stretch the shape.
  
  
• Perspective: Applies a one-point perspective to the shape, making it appear as though it’s receding into the distance.
  
  • Right-click on the shape and select Perspective.
  • Drag one of the corner handles to create the perspective effect.
  
  
• Warp: Manipulates the shape by bending, twisting, or arching it.
  
  • Right-click on the shape and select Warp.
  • A grid overlay will appear on the shape. Drag the handles or grid points to warp the shape into the desired form.
  • Use the Warp Preset dropdown (in the top options bar) to quickly apply pre-defined warp effects, such as Arc, Bulge, or Flag.
  
  
• Flip: Flips the shape vertically or horizontally.
  
  • Flip Horizontal: Mirrors the shape along the vertical axis.
  • Flip Vertical: Mirrors the shape along the horizontal axis.

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5. Edit the Shape Path

• Use the Path Selection Tool (black arrow) to move the entire shape.
• Use the Direct Selection Tool (white arrow) to edit individual anchor points:
• Click on an anchor point to select and move it.
• Adjust handles to modify curves or reshape the path.

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6. Change the Fill and Stroke Color

• Select the Shape Layer.
• Open the Properties Panel (Window > Properties), and navigate to the Appearance tab.
• Fill: Click the Fill color swatch to select a solid color, gradient, or pattern.
• Stroke: Click the Stroke color swatch to add or adjust the stroke (outline) of the shape.
  Set the stroke width and alignment (inside, outside, or center) in the Properties Panel.

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Alternatively, you can customize the fill of a vector Shape Layer using the Color Picker:

• Locate the shape’s layer in the Layers Panel.
• Double-click the shape layer’s thumbnail to open the Color Picker.
• In the Color Picker dialog box, choose a new color.
• Use the color sliders to adjust the hue, saturation, and brightness or enter specific values for precise colors.
• You can also switch the color mode (e.g., RGB, CMYK) from the dropdown menu.
• Once you’ve selected your desired color, click OK. The new fill color will be applied to your shape layer.

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• To fill a shape with a gradient, select the shape layer in the Layers panel and choose Layer > Layer Style > Gradient Overlay… 
• To fill a shape with a pattern, select the shape layer in the Layers panel and choose Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay… 

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7. Apply Layer Effects

• Right-click on the Shape Layer in the Layers Panel and select Blending Options.
• Add effects like Drop Shadow, Outer Glow, Bevel & Emboss, or others.
• Adjust the settings and click OK to apply.

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8. Rasterize the Shape (Optional)

If you need to perform pixel-based edits, you can rasterize the shape. Be cautious, as this will remove the vector properties:

• Right-click on the Shape Layer in the Layers Panel.
• Select Rasterize Layer.
• After rasterizing, use tools like the Brush or Eraser for pixel-level edits.

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By following these steps, you can fully customize and adjust vector Shape Layers in Adobe Photoshop, ensuring they fit your creative vision!

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☻ Congratulations!

You’ve now learned how to import, apply, and adjust custom shapes in Adobe Photoshop. With these skills, you can quickly add creative and scalable design elements to your projects, whether you’re crafting logos, album art, posters, or other stunning visuals.

Check out our website for a wide range of custom shape packs designed to inspire creativity and streamline your workflow. From geometric shapes and logo templates to surreal abstract elements, we’ve got something for every project. Visit us now and take your designs to the next level!

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