I am using Adobe Photoshop CS6 and I am trying to draw a dashed/dotted line with an arrowhead. This is the sort of thing I am looking for:
Using the line tool I can successfully draw an unbroken (ie. normal) line with an arrowhead.
Using the pen tool I can successfully draw a dashed/dotted line without an arrowhead.
If I use the line tool to draw a dashed line with an arrowhead, I end up with something like this:
Photoshop apparently considers the arrow a shape (not surprisingly) and dashes the line border only.
How can I draw a dashed/dotted line with an arrowhead on it?
Best Answer
I would not choose the line tool for this, so if you're OK with using shapes instead, here's how you can do it.
1) Create an arrow shape (custom shape).
2) Extend the nodes so that the arrow becomes longer.
3) Create subtractions in your shape so it appears to be dashed or dotted.
To create an even subtraction of your shape you can do the following:
1) Select the arrow shape and choose the rectangular shape tool.
2) While holding alt, draw a rectangular shape near or on the arrow tail, you will see a 'minus' sign which means you're subtracting from the shape.
3) Choose the white arrow tool and select the four nodes of the subtraction shape (the rectangel). When the four nodes are selected, copy them by pressing ctrl + c or cmd + c. Now paste it (ctrl + v or cmd + v) and move it by choosing the move tool and holding in shift and using the arrows, this way you can move it without using the mouse which enables you to get exact measures and get the dashes evenly spread.
4) Repeat 3 until you have all the dashes done.
You should now have a dashed or dotted arrow in one single shape, which you can extend, copy or do what you need with, like below.