If you’ve been trying to figure out how to Photoshop draw curved arrow shapes that actually look good, this guide is for you. Whether you need straight arrows for annotations or curved ones for flow diagrams, Photoshop’s vector tools have you covered.
Photoshop Draw Curved Arrow: Two Tools You Need
The key to making arrows in Photoshop comes down to two tools: the Line Tool for straight arrows and the Pen Tool for curved ones. Both give you complete control over size, color, and shape.
Getting Started: Find the Line Tool
Open a new document in Photoshop. The Line Tool lives under the Rectangle Tool in your toolbar. Click and hold to switch to it. In the options bar at the top, look for the gear icon – that’s where arrowhead settings are hiding.
Turn On Arrowheads and Set Size
Check both the Start and End boxes to add arrowheads to your line. For better visibility, set width and length to 100 pixels. This gives you a nice, clear arrow that won’t get lost in your design.
Customize Shape, Color, and Stroke
Here’s how to make arrows that match your project:
- Concavity: Adjust this percentage to change how curved the arrowhead wings look. 0% gives you a classic straight-wing shape.
- Stroke color: Pick any color you need.
- Stroke thickness: Make lines thick or thin.
- Fill color: Change the arrowhead interior separately from the line.
One Arrowhead Only
Need just one end? Uncheck either Start or End. Set concavity to 0% for a clean, standard arrow look.
Photoshop Draw Curved Arrow with the Pen Tool
Straight arrows work fine, but curved arrows add flow and professionalism to designs. Here’s how to make them.
Step-by-Step Curved Arrow Creation
- Grab the Pen Tool from the toolbar
- Click to place anchor points for your path
- Click and drag to create curved segments instead of straight lines
- Switch to the Convert Point Tool to fine-tune your curve
- Apply arrowheads the same way you did with the Line Tool
The Convert Point Tool lets you grab anchor handles and adjust your curve until it bends exactly where you want it. This gives you smooth, organic arrow paths that straight lines can’t achieve.
Curve Adjustments
Once your path is drawn, click on anchor points with the Convert Point Tool to see direction handles. Pull these handles to change the curve’s direction and smoothness. Keep tweaking until you’re happy with the flow.
Quick Settings Reference
| Setting | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Width | Controls arrowhead width |
| Length | Controls how far arrowhead extends |
| Concavity | Changes wing curvature (0% = straight) |
| Stroke Color | The line color |
| Fill Color | Arrowhead interior color |
| Thickness | Line weight |
Common Questions
How do I change arrowhead size without messing up proportions?
Use the width and length sliders in the Line Tool settings. They work independently so you can make wide, short arrows or narrow, long ones.
Can I add an arrowhead to just one end?
Yes. Just check Start or End, not both.
Why can’t I see my arrowhead?
Check that your stroke and fill colors don’t match your background. Also make sure arrowhead size isn’t set to zero.
What’s the best tool for curved arrows?
The Pen Tool paired with the Convert Point Tool gives you the most control over curves.
Can I reuse my arrow settings?
Save your customized arrow as a custom shape for quick access later.
Watch the Full Tutorial
This guide covers the basics, but seeing it in action makes everything click. Watch the full video tutorial for step-by-step visuals and practical examples.
Watch the Photoshop Arrow Tutorial Here →
Practice with different shapes and settings. The more you play around with these tools, the better your arrows will get. And if you found this helpful, check out more Photoshop tutorials to level up your design skills.
by Graphician Art
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