Pen Tool with Shape Layers

1. Select the Pen Tool option (Press the letter P on the keyboard). Hold the mouse click and the drop down option reveals five different Pen options.

2. Using Pen Tool with Shape Layer 

This basically creates a Vector Color Filled Shape based on the foreground color of your choice and the Anchor Points you define to create your Shape.

I started with an Anchor Point at 1 and worked my way to around to connect back to 1 again.

3. I've connected the Anchor Points to create a Rectangle Shape.

Helpful Tips: Easy Selections

* Hold the Control Key and Click the Rectangle Shape to auto select.

*   Use the 'Direct Selection Tool (A)' to select it.

* Or turn on Photoshop's 'Auto Select' Feature.

4. Remember this Shape is edit able at anytime, meaning as long as the Anchor Points remain, I can use the 'Add Anchor Point Tool, Delete Anchor Point Tool or Convert Point Tool' to redefine the Shape the way I see fit.

5. Let's use the 'Convert Anchor Point' Tool.

Click & Drag on the second (#2) Anchor Point that was created in the Shape in the direction of the arrow.

6. Once you've done that, now appears two more Anchor End Points, I labelled A & B. All this does is allow curvature control between two continuous Anchor Points.

So 'A' controls the curvature between Anchors 2 and 1.

Likewise, 'B' controls the curvature between Anchors 2 and 3.

7. So all I did was simply Convert one Anchor point to give it this Shape.

8. Now use the 'Direct Selection Tool'

With the Direct Selection Tool selected, click on the 'A' End Anchor Point and drag in the direction of the arrow that I have shown. Then, go ahead and click on the 'B' End Anchor Point and move in the direction of the arrow I have shown.

The End picture shows the results.

Helpful Hint:

To move the entire Shape use the 'Path Selection' Tool as in the above image.

9. 'Add Anchor Point Tool' 

Select the 'Add Anchor Point Tool' and click once in the Area that I have done(Red arrow indicator and labeled 5). A new (A & B) End Anchor Points appear. Switch to the 'Convert Anchor Point Tool' and drag in the directions of the red arrows.

10. Just getting you into the habit - click on another area on the edge of the Shape as I have started to 'Add Anchor Point'. Then switch to the 'Convert Anchor Point Tool' to redefine the (what I have been calling A & B) end points.

The more you practice the quicker you'll apprehend the geometry behind the the Pen Tool.

11. The Anchor Points I have encircled in red. Now Select the 'Delete Anchor Point Tool' and ckick on the original #2 Anchor Point. The area between Anchors 5 & 3 will converge into one.

(Anchor 5 was created in step #9 above.)

12. The 'End Shape' I have captured is the result of this exercise.

The others are deviant examples of the 'End Shape' and quick examples using the 'Pen Tool'.