Any tips for a precision?

[dutchMasta]

It's hard to explain, but I'm trying to do retexturing and there's a lot of precision involved, getting the right angles and whatnot and I sometimes run into problems.

Say for example, using the pen tool, I create a vector, with 4 points and for 2 of the anchor points I need both of their corner drag points to be in symmetrical positions (say like a perfect symmetrical curved line between the 2 points). Is there some automatic way to do this or do I have to zoom like hell in and measure by eye each time because it's getting pretty tedious.

Thanks!

[synthetic]

if its symmetrical ... just draw half of it... duplicate... flip horizontally or on vertical axis and then butt the halfs together and merge layers. Use guides.... they really help with alignment of points too.

[agentxi]

You can always create Guide Lines and line up the guidelines to the exact spot you want the anchors to be at, then enable the snap to guides so that your anchors will snap to the guides intersecting point for your precision...

[dutchMasta]

Yeah, I've been trying drawing half of it and copying/flipping but was a bit annoying having to do little modifications. I'll try using guides, thanks for the help.

BTW, is there a symmetry plugin or similar that will automatically update say the right half of your image with a replica of the left side that you're editing? Found a symmetry action which is good enough I guess.

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by dutchMasta

BTW, is there a symmetry plugin or similar that will automatically update say the right half of your image with a replica of the left side that you're editing? Found a symmetry action which is good enough I guess.

There's a plugin called Quick Mirror, although I'm not sure if it would do what you require. It is free, though, so if you download it and try it and it's no good, you haven't lost anything.
Link is here: Quick Mirror Plugin - Mehdi - Plugins Photoshop

[dutchMasta]

Thanks Tamlin, found 3 plugins that really help me from that site, one for tiling, one you suggested and another for quick seamlessness, pretty much all I need I think!

[Tamlin]

Ah - good. To be honest I wasn't 100% sure I understood what you were wanting, but I'm pleased you found the link useful.

[Guardian]

This is more a question then a solution but it may hold an answer.
From the little I understand about PS "Actions":
Are they not user defined plugins and a workable solution for Da dutchmasta?

[Tamlin]

Originally Posted by Guardian

From the little I understand about PS "Actions":
Are they not user defined plugins and a workable solution for Da dutchmasta?

Umm...it depends what you mean by "plugins". A plugin is usually defined as a third-party filter (or combination of filters). An Action is a series of tasks that you "record" and then "play back" on a single file or a batch of files - menu commands, palette options, tool actions etc. It's basically a method of automating repetitive tasks (although some Actions can be quite sophisticated).

[Guardian]

Ah ha. Thank you for explaining it Tamlin. I was not clear on that.

[Tamlin]

If you want to investigate Actions further, one of the best sites to visit is Action Central:

ActionCentral

They have a ton of free Actions to download (with examples), plus tutorials, FAQs, links etc. etc.