Line Tool
Draw straight lines and arrows with customizable thickness, color, and arrowhead styles.
Shortcut: UBeginner4 min readQuick Reference
Line Tool
Adobe PhotoshopLeft toolbar — Crop, Type, Shape, Navigation groups
Best Used For
- ▸Navigate and view documents more efficiently
- ▸Add text, shapes, and annotations to designs
- ▸Set up document layout and measurement guides
Key Settings
The Line Tool draws straight vector lines with customizable weight (thickness), color, and style. Unlike drawing with the Brush Tool, lines created with the Line Tool are vector-based and remain fully editable after creation.
This tool is essential for UI design (dividers, borders), diagramming (connecting elements), and creating arrow indicators for callouts and instructional graphics. The arrowhead options make it particularly useful for tutorials and presentations.
Where to Find It
The Line Tool is grouped with the other shape tools. Click and hold the Rectangle Tool icon, then select Line Tool from the flyout. Press Shift+U to cycle through the shape tools.
How to Use
- Set line weight: In the Options bar, enter the line thickness in pixels (e.g., 2px, 5px, 10px).
- Draw the line: Click and drag from the starting point to the ending point. The line appears as a vector shape layer.
- Constrain angle: Hold Shift while dragging to constrain the line to 45-degree increments.
- Add arrowheads: Click the gear icon and check Start or End to add arrowheads. Adjust the arrowhead width and length as needed.
- Change color: Double-click the shape layer thumbnail and choose a new fill color.
Pro Tips
- For dashed or dotted lines, use the stroke options in the Properties panel after drawing the line — set the dash and gap values for custom patterns.
- Hold Alt (Option) while drawing to create a line that extends equally in both directions from the starting point.
- To create a perfectly horizontal or vertical line, hold Shift and drag straight horizontally or vertically.