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To draw a straight line in Photoshop, select the Line tool, choose a drawing mode in the Options bar, and drag on the canvas. Hold Shift while dragging to lock the angle to a multiple of 45 degrees. To turn the line into an arrow, select Start or End in the Arrowheads section of the Contextual Task Bar and adjust its size and shape.
The steps below follow Adobe’s current desktop Photoshop help pages for the Line tool and for arrows. Adobe documents Photoshop on the web separately, so if you use that version, some controls may be arranged differently or missing.
Draw a straight line
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Select the Line tool in the toolbar. The Line tool sits in the Shape tool group. If you cannot see it, select and hold the visible Shape tool until the flyout appears, then choose Line.
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In the Options bar, choose a drawing mode: Shape, Pixels, or Path. The mode decides what kind of object Photoshop creates. The next section explains the differences.
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Set the line’s weight in the Options bar. In Shape mode, you can also set the stroke color and thickness.
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Click on the canvas where the line should start, drag to where it should end, and release the mouse button.
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If you need a precise angle, hold Shift before you start dragging and keep it held until you release. Shift constrains the line to a multiple of 45 degrees: horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. It does not lock to an arbitrary angle, so for something like 30 degrees, draw the line and rotate it with the Transform tools instead.
Choose the right drawing mode
The three modes produce different objects, and the choice affects how easily you can change the line later.
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| Mode | What Photoshop creates | Settings you set | Best used when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | An editable, scalable shape layer | Stroke and Weight | You may need to change color, thickness, or size later without redrawing |
| Pixels | Fixed pixel content on the current layer | Weight | The line is part of a raster image and does not need to be edited as a shape |
| Path | A path in the Paths panel | Weight, which Adobe describes as a visual reference in this mode | You want to reuse the outline, convert it to a selection, or stroke or fill it yourself |
Shape mode
Shape mode is the usual choice when you may revise the line. Because the result is a vector shape rather than pixels, you can resize it without the jagged loss of quality that pixel edits can cause. Use the Contextual Task Bar or the Properties panel, depending on your version, to adjust the stroke.
Pixels mode
Pixels mode paints the line directly into the active layer. Use it when the line belongs to a photo retouch or a raster illustration and should be treated like any other painted content. Changing its thickness later means editing pixels, not adjusting a shape.
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Path mode
Path mode creates a path, not a visible stroke, unless you add one. Adobe documents several follow-up actions: converting the path to a selection, filling or stroking it, or saving it in the Paths panel. Treat the Weight setting in this mode as a visual reference only.
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Add an arrowhead
Adobe’s arrow instructions, last updated February 23, 2026, use the Contextual Task Bar, so the steps below assume that interface.
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Select the Line tool and drag to draw the line.
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Open the Contextual Task Bar and find the Arrowheads section. If the bar is hidden, go to Window > Contextual Task Bar.
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Select Start to place an arrowhead at the beginning of the line, or End to place it at the finish. Choose one, or both if your version allows it.
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Enter the arrowhead’s Width and Length in pixels.
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Set Concavity between -50% and +50%. This controls the curve where the arrowhead meets the shaft of the line.
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Arrowhead settings at a glance
| Setting | Unit or range | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Start / End | Position toggle | Places the arrowhead at the start or the end of the line |
| Width | Pixels | How wide the arrowhead is across the line |
| Length | Pixels | How far the arrowhead extends along the line |
| Concavity | -50% to +50% | How far the back edges of the head curve inward or outward |
Troubleshooting
- The Line tool is missing from the toolbar. It is nested in the Shape tool group. Select and hold the visible Shape tool, then choose Line.
- The Arrowheads section does not appear. Make sure the Line tool is active and the line is selected. If the Contextual Task Bar is still hidden, open Window > Contextual Task Bar.
- An older guide tells you to use the Options bar for arrowheads. Adobe’s older documentation placed arrowhead options in the Options bar. Current Adobe instructions name the Contextual Task Bar, so follow the labels on your screen and expect some variation between releases.
- The line does not snap to a horizontal or vertical position. Shift must be held during the drag, not after the line is drawn.
When another tool fits better
- Reusable vector graphics. Photoshop’s Custom Shape tool can draw built-in or imported shapes, and a path can be saved as a custom shape. This suits a symbol or arrow you plan to reuse across documents.
- Paths with curves or precise anchor points. The Line tool only makes straight segments. For curved paths or manual control of anchor points and handles, use the Pen tool; Adobe’s Pen tool documentation, last updated April 29, 2024, covers that workflow separately.
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