Ever find yourself drowning in anchor points while editing a product photo? Yeah, I’ve been there too. Let me walk you through how to combine paths in Photoshop a simple move that can save your sanity and speed up your workflow.

What Are Paths in Photoshop?

Quick Definition for Beginners

In Photoshop, a path is a line or shape made with anchor points. Think of it like a wire frame you draw around something. You don’t see it in the final image, but it tells Photoshop where to act—like where to cut or where to apply an effect.

Quick answer: Want a deeper dive? Here’s a full guide on what a path is in Photoshop.

Why Paths Matter in Real Projects

I use paths almost every day for clipping product photos. They’re precise, clean, and let me tweak edges without damaging the original image. If you’re editing for eCommerce or fashion, mastering paths is a must.

Types of Paths You Can Combine

Work Paths

These are temporary paths that Photoshop makes. They’re great for quick edits but disappear if you don’t save them.

Shape Paths

These are vector paths that define shapes. You can combine them to make complex logos or icons.

Clipping Paths

Used mostly for isolating objects, especially in product photography. Clients love them because they make images web-ready.

Why Combine Paths Anyway?

A Real-Life Story: Saving Time on Product Edits

Once, I had a batch of 50 shoe photos. Each had laces, shadows, and edge highlights. Creating separate paths was messy. Combining them gave me one clean, editable shape like wrapping all your groceries in one bag instead of juggling five.

Learn how to reshape and cut out product images the right way.

Short answer: Combining paths helps you manage complex selections and speed up repetitive edits.

Common Use Cases

• Merging two shapes into one
• Creating cutouts with multiple parts
• Building masks for advanced retouching

Tools You Need to Combine Paths

Pen Tool

The trusty Pen Tool is your main weapon. It creates the paths you’ll later combine. I call it the scalpel of Photoshop sharp and precise.

Path Selection Tool

This lets you move, select, or combine paths. Shortcut: Press A on your keyboard. You’ll use it a lot.

Step-by-Step: How to Combine Paths in Photoshop

Step 1: Open the Paths Panel

Go to Window > Paths. This is your control center. If it’s not visible, you won’t get far.

Quick tip: Always name your paths so you don’t mix them up later.

Step 2: Select the Paths You Want to Merge

Hold down Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and click each path in the Paths panel. They’ll highlight together.

Note: This only works if the paths are saved—not temporary Work Paths.

Step 3: Use the Combine Button

Go to the Path Operations in the top toolbar (it appears when you select paths). Choose “Combine Shapes.” Boom! One unified path.

Shortcut alert: You can also right-click and pick “Combine Shapes” from the menu.

Step 4: Save or Convert Your Path

After combining, you can turn it into a selection (Ctrl/Cmd + Enter) or a vector mask. Always save it in the panel if you plan to reuse it.

Bonus Tip: Combine Without Losing Shapes

Use Shape Layers Instead of Raster

When working with shapes, always check that they’re on vector shape layers. Combining raster paths is like trying to glue sand together—messy and irreversible.

Pro move: Use the Shape Tool + Path Operations for cleaner results.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to Save the Path

Work Paths disappear if you click away. Right-click > “Save Path” every time. It’s like hitting “Save” on a Word doc.

Merging Paths in the Wrong Order

Photoshop follows the order you select paths. Choose them in the sequence you want them to merge or else you might lose smaller details.

Pro Tips from My Editing Desk

Grouping Paths for Future Use

Group your paths in folders (Layer Groups) and name them clearly. I name mine after clients or project types: Shoes_MainPath, Sunglasses_EdgeCut, etc.

Keyboard Shortcuts That Save You Hours

• A = Path Selection Tool
• Ctrl/Cmd + Enter = Convert Path to Selection
• Alt/Option + Click = Subtract a Path
• Shift + Click = Add to Path

Final Thoughts

Combining paths in Photoshop is one of those small skills that makes a big difference. Once you’ve done it a few times, it feels as natural as brushing your teeth. And trust me, your workflow will thank you.

Whether you’re prepping photos for Amazon, creating logos, or just trying to clean up a messy shape—you’ll be glad you learned this trick.

FAQs

Q1: Can I undo a combined path?
Yes! Just press Ctrl + Z (Cmd + Z) to undo immediately. Or go to Edit > Step Backward.

Q2: Does combining paths reduce quality?
Nope. Paths are vectors, so combining doesn’t affect resolution or sharpness.

Q3: Can I combine a path with a selection?
Sort of. Convert your path to a selection first, then modify it. But technically, paths and selections are different things.

Q4: What happens if my path disappears after combining?
You probably didn’t save it. Always hit “Save Path” before combining to keep a backup.

Q5: Is this different from merging shape layers?
Yes! Merging shape layers flattens them. Combining paths keeps them editable and non-destructive.