Tutorial: Photoshop CS4 Word Bubbles with Paths

How to make word balloons (or speech bubbles) in Photoshop CS4 using paths, rather than drawing them with the brush tool. Not everyone can afford Photoshop AND Illustrator, so this is to help those out who only have Photoshop. This is also similar to the way you would do it using Illustrator, but there are plenty of tutorials on that.

This may also serve as an Intro to Paths and the Bezier Pen Tool.
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I'm super glad you folks are finding this useful! I would love to make another tutorial video, but I'm not sure what of. I use a *lot* of manga studio and I was thinking of one where I use the curve ruler to make a sword... if there's something you want to see a tutorial of, make a note of it in the comments! I will enjoy making it!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• tutorial
• word
• bubbles
• word bubbles
• speech bubbles
• word balloons
• speech balloons
• Photoshop
• Photoshop CS4
• speech
• balloons
• comic
• webcomic
• Software Tutorial
• Adobe Photoshop

[Auraagana]

is there a way to add a bit of a bigger border to that speech bubble?

[ChronicMalpractice]

@Auraagana Yes! When you contract the selection, before filling in with white, choose a larger number.

Steps would be:

1) make selection from path

2) fill with black

3) go to Select Menu: Select > Modify > Contract - enter a bigger number to make the border thicker.

4) Fill with white.

You should have a larger border around it now.

[RalphSlatton]

You were absolutely correct. For some reason I had the shape layers checked, instead of the paths box. Everything thing is working just fine now. Another problem that I had was that when I tried to combine shapes, the add shape box was greyed out and would not let me select it. I finally solved it by clicking on the other boxes and returning to the combine shape box. I mention this in case someone else had that quirky problem. thanks for the outstanding tutorials.

[ChronicMalpractice]

@RalphSlatton I had that problem as well where the add shape box was greyed out. Regardless of the version of Photoshop. Clicking on the different modes(subtract/add) solved it and then you can click the one you need.

[RalphSlatton]

I'm having a problem. When I touch my pen tool inside the balloon shape, the balloon shape path disappears. Any suggestions? Thanks for great tutorial!

[ChronicMalpractice]

@RalphSlatton I'm having trouble reproducing your situation. Is the 1st balloon path complete? The only thing that comes to mind is that maybe the active paths layer in the PATHS tab of the layer window is getting de-selected. Then it makes them disappear from the screen. You probably already know where the paths tab is, but if not it's in with the layers and channels tab. Make sure there's one selected. Post some screen grabs somewhere if you still having problems.

[TheSupremoLoser]

thanks! I owe you at least 10 hours of my life I'd probably spend to learn this alone.

[HamsterMasterSamster]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

[TradedBabyBlues]

very helpful!

[ZigZagFilms]

You also sound like Gus Sorola from Red vs Blue!