It is tricky to make a straight line in Photoshop if you’ve never done so before. You can always select the brush or pencil tool, click-and-drag to make a line, but it may not be straight. Our steps below show you several ways to quickly draw a straight line in Photoshop.

Draw a line using the line tool

  • Launch Photoshop and open a new or existing document you’d like to add a line.

  • To get to the line tool, click and hold the rectangle tool; once the menu pops up, select the line tool. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Shift+U multiple times until you find the line tool.

  • Draw a line using the line tool

  • Draw a line using the brush tool

In Adobe Photoshop 2021, you cannot use the line tool to make a line. The Pixels feature necessary to make the line was removed by Adobe and is grayed out.

  • Click-and-drag to the desired line’s length, and once you’re satisfied with the line, let go of the mouse button.
  • To create a straight line, hold down Shift while you’re making it.

Draw a line using the brush tool

  • Launch Photoshop and open a new or existing document you’d like to add a line.
  • Select the Brush tool.

Also, holding down Shift when making the line, you can move the mouse to make a horizontal line, a vertical line (90°), and a 45° line.

  • To change the size or hardness of the line, open the Brush Preset picker. Change the size and hardness to your desired settings.

  • Click where you want the line to start, adding a dot on the page. Next, hold down Shift, and click where you want the line to end, making a straight line.

Alternatively, you can hold down Shift while clicking and dragging to make a straight line.

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  • Adobe Photoshop help and support.