Pixel Snapping?

I'm wondering if Photoshop has some sort of pixel snapping feature? When I draw a vector shape (rectangle for example) it seems there are positions on screen that the points land on that are inbetween actual pixels, resulting in muddy borders. This is really apparent when drawing a vector line with the line tool. I can fix this by nudging them with the direct selection tool, but this is a pain.

There's no "pixel" option in the view > snap to menu, so I'm wondering if I'm looking in the wrong space or if this feature doesn't exist? I just want to draw shapes with crisp borders. :(

I know anti-aliasing can cause similar problems. As far as I know Photoshop has no half pixel capabilities. However, Anti-Aliasing can make it seem so. Try zooming in to say 500 or 600% and see what its doing. I think you find it goes from pixel to pixel and not half pixels.

R

"Boonish" wrote in message

I'm wondering if Photoshop has some sort of pixel snapping feature? When I draw a vector shape (rectangle for example) it seems there are positions on screen that the points land on that are inbetween actual pixels, resulting in muddy borders. This is really apparent when drawing a vector line with the line tool. I can fix this by nudging them with the direct selection tool, but this is a pain.

There's no "pixel" option in the view > snap to menu, so I'm wondering if I'm looking in the wrong space or if this feature doesn't exist? I just want to draw shapes with crisp borders. :(

On 2006-10-09 15:34:11 -0700, "Hebee Jeebes" said:

I know anti-aliasing can cause similar problems. As far as I know Photoshop has no half pixel capabilities. However, Anti-Aliasing can make it seem so.

So is there a way to adjust photoshop's anti-aliasing levels, or is this a static default?

Boonish,

It's a default that PhotoShop doesn't "snap" to individual pixels.

If you set your gridlines to 1 pixel subdivisions, you can get close. (Preferences>Guides, Grid and Slices) Be sure to view your grid with the "snap to grid" turned on.

But even if you've done all this, you're still going to fight the "half-rendered" edge line now and again. Simply transform the edge or point of the vector shape until— with MAJOR zoom— the line looks like it's playing nicely.

I agree that it's the most frustrating thing ever from a graphic program, but if your wanting pixel-for-pixel accuracy from Adobe, it won't happen in either PhotoShop, or illustrator (although Illustrator is close, the smart guides don't always snap to the right place, and the user is allowed to drag a point to rest in-between pixels, even with the snap grid set to a whole pixel)

I'm not speaking for the recently acquired MM products, though, as they (used to?) snap to each pixel, if needed.

I did on-screen graphics for 6 years, and I don't know of a current paint program that gives px-for-px accuracy at all (consistently), but I've never used JSAC's old PaintShopPro.

As far as crisp borders, look into the "inside" Stroke option of the layer effects. Provided you get the edges of the shape to look like you want them, this option strokes the inside of the shape, giving cleaner lines than using the "center" option.

§¦: } theartist
Do the math ... count your blessings.

Boonish wrote:

I'm wondering if Photoshop has some sort of pixel snapping feature? When I draw a vector shape (rectangle for example) it seems there are positions on screen that the points land on that are inbetween actual pixels, resulting in muddy borders. This is really apparent when drawing a vector line with the line tool. I can fix this by nudging them with the direct selection tool, but this is a pain.

There's no "pixel" option in the view > snap to menu, so I'm wondering if I'm looking in the wrong space or if this feature doesn't exist? I just want to draw shapes with crisp borders. :(

So gridlines every 1 pixels, with subdivisions set to 1? It doesn't seem to be too snappy, (even with snap to grid on) so I wonder if I'm doing something wrong.

In any case thanks for your reply. It's a shame to hear ths isn't a Photoshop option. Im coming from 6+ years in Macromedia Fireworks, where everything was super pixel snappy, so it's a bit frustrating to get used to. Perhaps Adobe will pick this feature up from the merger? (A man can hope)

The stroke inside seems great though - of course as long as the shape being stroked was drawn to exact pixels. :^/

theartist wrote:

Boonish,

It's a default that PhotoShop doesn't "snap" to individual pixels.
If you set your gridlines to 1 pixel subdivisions, you can get close. (Preferences>Guides, Grid and Slices) Be sure to view your grid with the "snap to grid" turned on.

But even if you've done all this, you're still going to fight the "half-rendered" edge line now and again. Simply transform the edge or point of the vector shape until- with MAJOR zoom- the line looks like it's playing nicely.

After reading this I started playing around. In Photoshop CS, I choose the rectangle tool, creating a shape. Then click the down arrow which is the "geometry options". There's a checkbox in there that says "Snap to pixels".

See the following screen shot:

http://www.areddy.net/misc/snaptopixels.gif

Note the black rectangle in the background is zoomed to 1600%

On 2006-10-10 05:38:28 -0700, "Larry Bud" said:

After reading this I started playing around. In Photoshop CS, I choose the rectangle tool, creating a shape. Then click the down arrow which is the "geometry options". There's a checkbox in there that says "Snap to pixels".

Larry, you may officially claim my first born male son. That's just great. I wish the draw line feature has the same option, but heck - I'll just draw 1 pixel wide squares!

Thanks again.

HOLY CRAP!

Thanks, I never look there!

§¦: } theartist
Do the math ... count your blessings.

Larry Bud wrote:

theartist wrote:

Boonish,

It's a default that PhotoShop doesn't "snap" to individual pixels.
If you set your gridlines to 1 pixel subdivisions, you can get close. (Preferences>Guides, Grid and Slices) Be sure to view your grid with the "snap to grid" turned on.

But even if you've done all this, you're still going to fight the "half-rendered" edge line now and again. Simply transform the edge or point of the vector shape until- with MAJOR zoom- the line looks like it's playing nicely.

After reading this I started playing around. In Photoshop CS, I choose the rectangle tool, creating a shape. Then click the down arrow which is the "geometry options". There's a checkbox in there that says "Snap to pixels".

See the following screen shot:

http://www.areddy.net/misc/snaptopixels.gif

Note the black rectangle in the background is zoomed to 1600%

Just for the record, this check-box is also in PS 7.

§¦: } theartist
Do the math ... count your blessings.

Larry Bud wrote:

theartist wrote:

Boonish,

It's a default that PhotoShop doesn't "snap" to individual pixels.
If you set your gridlines to 1 pixel subdivisions, you can get close. (Preferences>Guides, Grid and Slices) Be sure to view your grid with the "snap to grid" turned on.

But even if you've done all this, you're still going to fight the "half-rendered" edge line now and again. Simply transform the edge or point of the vector shape until- with MAJOR zoom- the line looks like it's playing nicely.

After reading this I started playing around. In Photoshop CS, I choose the rectangle tool, creating a shape. Then click the down arrow which is the "geometry options". There's a checkbox in there that says "Snap to pixels".

See the following screen shot:

http://www.areddy.net/misc/snaptopixels.gif

Note the black rectangle in the background is zoomed to 1600%

Boonish wrote:

On 2006-10-10 05:38:28 -0700, "Larry Bud" said:

After reading this I started playing around. In Photoshop CS, I choose the rectangle tool, creating a shape. Then click the down arrow which is the "geometry options". There's a checkbox in there that says "Snap to pixels".

Larry, you may officially claim my first born male son.

Got a daughter? ;-) Sorry, that was uncalled for!!! LOL!