Custom Shapes Load as "Empty" Paths

My custom shapes are now just loading as a path. I have to select the path and goto Layer > New Fill Layer to get the "correct" effect.
I've just tried using a default system arrow shape that I used last week (OK) and that's doing the same.
Any ideas / pointers?
TIA
Elmer
(Win 7, 64bit, CS5 trial).

Okay, Problem solved. In the toolbar I had hit "Paths" somehow, instead of it being set to "Shape Layers"
Doh!!
Thanks for your time if you've looked here though!

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Could not complete the define custom shape command because of program error

I am using the pen tool to draw a shape and then select it to create a custom shape. I use path: edit - define custom shape = "could not complete the define custom shape command because of program error"
The error message appears once I click the define button.

Also, I solved this another way, seems to happen to me often. I click on the path panel, near layers panel and clicked on 'load path as a selection' (3rd icon on bottom from left), then click 'make work path from selection' (4th icon on bottom from left). Then you will see that the whole work area is part of the selection, including your desired shape/path. In order to change this, just select 'path selection' tool and highlight each corner and delete each point from each corner, then you are left with the desired selection to create a shape. I am self taught and this seem unorthodox, but it works.

Can anyone tell me how to load an image to custom shape in Photoshop? I can't save it as csh...

I've made an image, as the watermark of our photos, but I can't load it to Custom Shape in PS CS4 as I can't save it as csh. Do you know how to upload an image type file that is not csh? Or how to convert the image to csh? Thanks.

As Chris says, you can't make it into a custom shape unless you create it as a path. But you can save it as a Custom Brush (in monochrome).

Installing custom shapes in PSE 7

I have some .csh files I used when I had PSE 4 and have just upgraded. I've been able to successfully edit the meta data files and install layer styles but can't figure out how to access the custom shapes files. I had expected to click on the double arrow from the custom shape dropdown to get to a "Load shapes" menu but I don't see one. I have Windows XP.

Well, I figured it out by trial and error I guess. Here is the path where you put the custom shapes (Windows and PSE 7.0).
C:\Documents and Settings\Lisa\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\7.0\Presets\Custom Shapes
The difference is that we put the layer styles in the path C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\7.0\Photo Creations\shapes.
Note the difference between "Lisa" and "All Users".
After doing this and deleting the ThumbDatabase.db3 and MediaDatabase.db3 files, PSE rebuilt them and my custom shapes now showed up. WHEW!!!! What a pain. I guess the confusing part was the difference in that some things are for A user and not All Users.

Disappearing custom shapes

i've posted about this before, but never received a single answer.
hopefully meanwhile someone's figured out what's going on
so, i followed, step by step, the ken stone tutorial on making custom shapes - highly recommended set of tutorials on this and other topics - but am having a problem applying them.
that is, i can apply them and save my project.
if i then close the project, dvdsp clears the "custom shapes" palette - even though i did __not select "for this project only" when importing the shapes....
now when i re-open the project, dvdsp will complain about the shape it itself has made disappear and removes the shapes from dvd-menu.
re-importing the shape into the "custom shapes" palette triggers another error message about the shape already being there even though the shapes palette is totally empty...
what am i missing here????
thanks

Okay, Problem solved. In the toolbar I had hit "Paths" somehow, instead of it being set to "Shape Layers"
Doh!!
Thanks for your time if you've looked here though!

Define custom shape error in Photoshop CC 14.2.1

whene I try to define Custom Shape I got this message

Those errors are from February 7, so not helpful. (and they were probably due to bugs in Generator that got fixed in 14.2.1).
Hmm, not sure why you aren't getting an error logged.
And I can't seem to get any errors when defining a custom shape.
What sort of shape/path do you have selected?
What sort of document are you using?

Tutorial: Creating, saving and re-using Custom Shapes

I've beeen experimenting with custom shapes for the last couple of days, and thought I'd share some of the tips and techniques I found.
First of all, what are custom shapes?
Well, they're vector objects. That means that they are not built out of millions of individual pixels (like images are), but rather they're a series of mathematical statements that describe how to draw a line from point to point to create the vector shape. This means that custom shapes are "resolution independent", and that they can be grossly shrunk or enlarged and still retain razor sharp edges, curves and corners.
What are custom shapes good for?
Pretty much anything where you want to use a good, sharp object. In particular, using a custom shape as a clipping mask for an image that's been placed as a Smart Object is an outstanding technique, and really shows off the power that PSE is capable of.
PSE comes with a lot of ready-to-use custom shapes for its Custom Shape tool, and there are probably hundreds of thousands available on the Web -- just search for "photoshop shapes". Typically, those shapes will be supplied as Adobe CSH (Custom SHape) files, and simply copying the CSH files into the
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 10\Presets\Custom Shapes"
directory will make them available for use with the Custom Shape tool.
Sooner or later, though, you'll get the itch to create your own custom shapes. Out of the box, PSE does not have the capability to let you create custom shapes and add them to the CSH files like the "big" Photoshop does, so we'll need to use a workaround: store your custom shapes as layers in a PSD file, and when you want to use them simply copy them into your image.
N.B.: To create custom shapes you'll have to use the reasonably priced Elements+ add-in:
http://elementsplus.net/
So, the procedure goes like this:
Create a new image, using the PSE defaults, and save it as "CustomShapes01.psd", keeping it open.
Open an image containing an object that you want to use as a custom shape.
Use any of the selection tools to make an accurate selection of the object:
In the Effects panel, use the Elements+...Paths effect and choose the Create New Path...From Current Selection:
Use the Elements+...Paths again, choosing "Convert to Shape", giving it a name and colour of your choosing. This will create a Shape Layer using that name.
Important: If your shape has "holes",
use the Shape Selection tool and click on the shape to select it. Then hit the "Combine" button in the Options Bar. This will combine all the individual shapes used to create the shape and its "holes" into one shape, and prevent beaucoup problems later.
Switch to the Move tool and drag the shape onto the tab of your "CustomShapes01.psd" image, keeping your mouse button pressed. That image will become activated and you can move your cursor onto the image itself and drop your shape onto it. Your PSD file will now have your custom shape as a shape layer:
Save that "CustomShapes01.psd" file.
You can repeat the process for as many custom shapes as you want, and they will each become a layer in the "CustomShapes01.psd" file.
To use your custom shape, open the "CustomShapes01.psd" file and your target image and do the drag and drop with the Move tool to copy the custom shape onto your target image.
I mentioned that using a custom shape as a clipping mask for an image placed as a Smart Object is a very powerful technique. It's powerful because the custom shape can be altered at any time and still keep its sharpness, and because the Smart Object can also be resized without becoming pixellated. Of course, that custom shape layer can have any number of layer styles applied to it and those layer styles will "follow" the shape if the shape is moved, resized or rotated.
Here are three examples of using the custom shapes as clipping masks for Smart Objects:
In this example, each custom shape is used as a clipping mask for an image Smart Object, as usual:
Here, one custom shape was used as a clipping mask for an image Smart Object and they were linked.
Then the shape and image were duplicated and moved, rotated and resized. Because of the linking, the Smart Object automatically kept its orientation and size relative to the custom shape throughout:
If you want to use custom shapes as a "combined" clipping mask, the procedure is a little more complicated because you need to get all your custom shapes on one shape layer.
So, after copying your shapes into the target image (as separate shape layers), use the Shape Selection tool to select one of the shapes. Using Edit...Cut will cut that shape layer to the Clipboard, and you can select one of the other shape layers and use Edit...Paste to paste the custom shape into that shape layer. Repeat as necessary, and you will get all of your custom shapes on one shape layer. Then use that single shape layer as your clipping mask:
The neat thing is that the individual shapes can be selected with the Shape Selection tool and independently moved, resized or rotated as necessary.
Enjoy!
Ken

Thanks, Michel.
I forgot to mention one point about copying shape layers into one shape layer: when you initially use the Shape Selection tool to select a shape for cutting, make sure the option for the Shape Selection tool is set to "Add to Selection".
MichelBParis wrote:
The problem with Elements+ is that it has so many features you soon forget what it can give you !
Truer words were never spoken!
Ken

Question about Custom Shape Files from newbie to PS

My husband bought me PS CS4 Extended. That said, I have never used PS at all. I have always used PSP. Please don't hate me!
I have figured out that one loads actions and presets. OK, got that. The question I have is if I can have my Custom Shapes and Actions on a completely different partition? I ask this because there is not enough room on the partition for me to continue adding shapes and such to PS in the program itself. I am figuring that I can since I have tio load them into the program anyway, but am asking to be sure so that I don't screw anything up.
Another question I have is if I am able to point PS to where all of my plugins are that I already have installed in PSP, which also happen to be on a different partition. In PSP all one has to do is to point the program to where they are and all is good and they can be used within said program. Does PS allow for this also? If not, do I have to re-install all of the plugins into the PS program itself? I just don't have that much room on the partition that my PS resides on because of all of the other pregrams that I have. Also, does everything I load into PS just stay loaded or do I have to reload each time I want to use that particular preset?
I do hope that ya'll can understand my questions and thank you for any help in advance.

the benefit of having the presets in the proper folders is that you can select them from the fly-out menus instead of having to search for them using the Load command so yes, you can have them wherever you want. I doubt though that you don't have enough disk space for them, for instance, all the actions that come with Photoshop take up about 200kb, the custom shapes are about 700kb but that's because they come in duplicates. And yes, all that you load up stays in Photoshop until you remove them, no need to reload them at program start. For plug-ins you have the option to set an additional plug-in folder by going to Edit->Preferences->Plug-ins, don't know about needing to install them though as i don't use any

Export Flexibility of Custom Shapes & Layer Styles?

Over the past few years I've developed a workflow for icon creation that involves purely custom shapes and layer styles. This has been fantastic from a number of points of view
- Vector based workflow for easy scaling, resizing
- Easy maintenance of style coherence with layer style presets
- Custom shape library means rapid prototyping of common elements
While this approach in Photoshop helps me rapidly develop icons, it's now presenting some challenges from an export point of view. Specifically the path to vector based formats like svg and xaml is hindered by the fact that Photoshop and Fireworks/Illustrator don't share a common layer styles approach. (Fireworks having a XAML export plugin and Illustrator having both XAML plugin and SVG export capability)
While the above programs are more geared towards vector work, they don't offer the flexibility of Photoshop when it comes to creating photorealistic icons with texturing.
Is anyone aware of a method for exporting a vector element from photoshop while maintaing the editability of layer styles? (Exporting simple shapes in PDF works but falls down once masks and layer styles come into the equation)
Fireworks CS4 seems to import select PSD's decently but there is not a 1:1 relationship between the layer effects from Photoshop. Illustrator seems to assume that anything coming out of Photoshop will be bitmap based and acts accordingly.
Any feedback or similar experiences would be appreciated.
Cian Walsh
[link deleted]

Hi guys,
From last week am I trying to do what I mentioned in post above, I just find it very difficult to do. Now I beginning to doubt whether it is possible or not, provided the SDK we have for CS4.
What do you think, is it a doable item and I am missing some simple thing ??
Please let me know of your views its really very important.
Thanks,
D

Define Custom Shape Option is Greyed out

I'd appreciate any help that could be provided, I have not been able to define custom shapes in CS6. I'm using the pen tool in shape mode, I've used the path selection tool and switched between the path operations. I've made sure that the shape is selected in the paths work bar. Nothing seems to open up the define custom shape option. Is there a setting I'm neglecting to check? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

I just tried deleting first just the tool preferences, and then all the photoshop preferences. There has been no change...Still unable to get define custom shape as an option.
I've also tried using the path option instead of the shape selection and that also makes no difference.
Just as a note I have used the same steps on another computer running CS6 and it functions 100% properly.

Trying to make a custom shape

I'm attempting to create an object out of a square but I need to change the dimensions of all 4 sides, is it possible to manually input the dimensions of each side? 4 by 6 1/2 by 7 3/4 by 6

If Photoshop is your only Adobe product like me. Its not the best tool for something like what you want to create. To do what you want I would open a new Document or your jpeg. The Jpeg I would use the perspective crop tool to crop the EPS Design to square it up some. Then transform that to the correct aspect ratio you want. I would then add text layers to on it to get as close as I could to the three line using a font that matches the logo. I would then make shape layers for the three text layer and merge then into a single shape. I would then edit the shapes path to make it closer to your image design. Then define a custom shape named EPS.

Why do I get an error when creating a custom shape

I have a student version of Photoshop CC and it seemed to be working just fine until I had to create a custom shape. When I try and create a custom shape I receive the following error.
Did something go wrong during installation or am I missing an addon??

Before you draw the shape with the Pen Tool set to Paths, ensure that you have the Path Operations set to either Combine or Exclude
Looks like yours is set to Subtract, which will produce a program error when trying to define a custom shape.

How can i save the shapes that i have drawn to custom shapes?

hi using Lasso i have created a good shpae that i require in my work. so now i want to save that shape i have drawn to custom shapes so that i can use it later also in my future works. how to achieve this? Thanks in advance.

Hello, right click inside your selection, select "make work path", then go to edit>define custom shape... It will now be availalbe to be reused immediately.
To make sure it is permanently saved, go to edit>Presets>presets manager, change the drop down to custom shapes, target the new shape, and clic on Save set...

Move custome shape to fireworks

Hi,
Is there a way I can move a photoshop custome shape to fireworks and still be able to edit the shape in fireworks.

thanks, I can select path now, but can't copy and paste to fireworks, i guess firworks is an exception in adobe family.
My own method is create shape as shape layer then save as psd file then open it in fireworks.

How to create a transparent custom shape on a patterned background?

Hello,
I've searched the forums and google and cannot seem to find a tutorial for what it is I want to do. I have a document with guides (card template) and I want to create the same design on each grid. I want the grids to have a patterened background and I want a custom shape within it. But, I want the custom shape to be transparent, not to the background, but going through the background. Like a cookie cutter. I want the custom shape to make a hole through the patterend background, leaving nothing in its place. I'm working with CS6 and can't seem to find a tutorial on how to do this. When I create the shape and make it transparent, I can see the background which isn't what I want. I want to go through the background layer and I'm being prompted to rasterize the layer when I've tried doing so. Help is much appreciated!!!

You've gone two hours without a reply, and I suspect that is because you are not specific enough with your description of what you want to achieve. I'll try but I will be guessing some of it...
Make the shape you need to produce the pattern, with transparency for the area you need to 'punch through' as you put it, the background.
Define that shape as a pattern, and fill a layer with it using the Piant buck set to pattern.
Now control click the pattern layer to load it as a selection > Invert the selection, and add a layer mask to the underlying layer. This should show throw to the lower layer(s)
If I am not there, try uploading the Shape image you want to use as a pattern, and a screen grab of your image showing the layers panel.

Custom Shapes Load as "Empty" Paths

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