A path created with the Pen tool does not become an image element until you stroke or fill it. The Fill Path command fills a path with pixels using a specified color, a state of the image, a pattern, or a fill layer.
When you fill a path, the color values appear on the active layer. Make sure that a standard or background layer is active before completing the steps below. (You cannot fill a path when a mask, text, fill, adjustment, or Smart Object layer is active.)
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the Fill Path button at the bottom of the Paths panel.
Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the path to the Fill Path button.
Choose Fill Path from the Paths panel menu. If the selected path is a path component, this command changes to Fill Subpath.
The Mode list includes a Clear mode that lets you erase to transparency. You must be working in a layer other than the background to use this option.
Feather Radius
Defines how far inside and outside the selection border the feather edge extends. Enter a value in pixels.
Anti-aliased
Creates a finer transition between the pixels in the selection and the surrounding pixels by partially filling the edge pixels of the selection.
For more information on these options, see Soften the edges of selections.
The Stroke Path command paints the border of a path. The Stroke Path command allows you to create a paint stroke (using the current settings for your painting tools) that follows any path. This command is completely different from the Stroke layer effect, which doesn’t mimic the effect of any of the painting tools.
When you stroke a path, the color values appear on the active layer. Make sure that a standard or background layer is active before completing the steps below. (You cannot stroke a path when a mask, text, fill, adjustment, or Smart Object layer is active.)
For information on specific tool settings, see Smudge image areas and About painting tools, options, and panels.
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS)
the Stroke Path button at
the bottom of the Paths panel.
Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the path to the Stroke Path button.
Choose Stroke Path from the Paths panel menu. If the selected path is a path component, this command changes to Stroke Subpath.
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