Actions, Paths, and Custom Shapes in Photoshop 6.0

If I can turn picture into a shape, a shape into a path and a path into a selection, why couldn't I then run my actions on that selection? Any of you who have used my text effects actions knows that I use the type mask tool for 99.9% of my actions. Since the type mask tool is a selection, and I can turn a path into a selection... well, two plus two equals a big vat of cheese, right?

Let me show you what I'm talking about. To begin with, let's say I have a black and white image I want to convert to a custom shape.

Checkboxes are always cool. Anyway, first I want to select the black area. Next I need to go to the paths palette and hit the Icon 'Make Work Path from Selection'.

Next, convert the path back into a selection via the icon or from the paths menu. Select the custom shape tool, go back to the paths palette and select the work path icon to make it active. Now go to Edit>Define Custom Shape, name your shape and hit 'OK'.

Now in the Shape Options Bar, if you open the custom shapes drop down you should see your new design in the roster.

I have several of my text effects actions loaded into the actions palette, so say I want to run one of these on the shape I just created. As the action creates a new image while it begins running, I'll go ahead and start the action. This particular action is one I call Carmel Lite, which I'm including for download with this article. With the first action 'Stop' we receive the message to enter our text with the type mask tool. Instead of doing this I'm going to select the Custom Shape tool and, in the center of the new image, draw my shape to a decent size. Before I start the action again, I go back to the paths palette, turn my path (the shape is a path, remember?) into a selection, and press play again.

And here is the result:

I can now also use this same checkbox and apply any layer style I like to it:

Maybe this wasn't much of a revelation, but I love discoveries like this! I hope you enjoyed this little jaunt.