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.

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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

MY CUSTOM SHAPE TOOL HAS DISAPPEARED

The tool CUSTOM SHAPE all of a sudden disappeared from the tool bar on the left. (where you can add text, crop, clone, etc.) I uninstalled Photoshop Elements 2.0 and reinstalled it and it's still not there. Can anybody help this grandma before I go into cardiac arrest?

Mary,
This might be your problem.
Refer to this screenshot of my PSE2 desktop:
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1ubxepKqYpQJZwRWoXkClf5otuL1Ah1
The toolbar item indicated by the red arrow activates the 7 shape tools. Whichever of these tools is active, that icon will show on the toolbar. In my example it is the Rectangle Tool. If you click on the Custom Shape Tool icon in the options bar (blue arrow), the Custom Shape Tool icon will then show on the toolbar.
If the shape tools icon on the toolbar has totally disappeared I have no idea what happened. Try resetting your preferences file (similar to shat VkSharma said). To do this, press and hold Alt-Ctrl-Shift immediately while starting PSE. The timing is critical, you may have to try this several times. A dialog box will pop up with the question "Delete the Adobe Photoshop Elements Settings file?". Click YES.

Custom Shapes?

I'm a long-time Photoshop user who's recently started using
Fireworks for wire framing websites. It has a lot of advantages
over PS in that regard, but I'm used to reaching for my custom
shape tool in PS, and in Fireworks I'm not finding anything
resembling it.
Can I somehow access my PS custom shapes from within FW, or
do I have to export the shapes out of PS and import them into FW?
Thanks in advance ...

mistertheplague wrote:
> I'm a long-time Photoshop user who's recently started
using Fireworks
> for wire framing websites. It has a lot of advantages
over PS in that
> regard, but I'm used to reaching for my custom shape
tool in PS, and
> in Fireworks I'm not finding anything resembling it.
>
> Can I somehow access my PS custom shapes from within FW,
or do I have
> to export the shapes out of PS and import them into FW?
Thanks in
> advance ...
You'll find a few similar things in the Common Library panel.
Most the
the shapes in Photoshop look like ding fonts and Wing Dings,
which, if
you have the fonts installed, you can just type into your
document. You
can also create your own custom library of shapes. Here's
how:
http://www.fireworkszone.com/page-2-0-310.html
Linda Rathgeber - Adobe Community Expert
http://www.adobe.com/communities/experts/members/8.html

Custom shapes display

I use PSE 8.
Over time, I have added a number of brushes, patterns, and custom shapes to the presets. And am real happy I can do so!
However, for the custom shapes, it lists them in columns from left to right and I am unable to see them all. Yes, I do have a lot!
Other than deleting, is there any other way to see them all?
Thank you!

Thanks MTS - that's a workable solution,
But I think I'm going to set up a folder in my pic files just for shapes. And I'll make a pic file of each shape that I am going to delete and save it in the shapes folder.
There are a number of shapes that I only use one or two of, so shouldn't be too time-consuming right:?!!!!
It's a shame tho that you can't delete some shapes from a file, and also add to others! Life would be so much easier!
Thanks again for your help.

Putting text on top of a custom shape

If I put text on top of a custom shape I've added, the text doesn't show. I know it's there because if I change the opacity of the "shape" I can see the text is in fact there. How do I force the text to be on top of the customer shape? I'm using the shape as a "thought bubble" so one would think this is a common thing to do.

It's probably not because of the shape. First of all check your color square to be sure the text isn't the same color as the shape. Also, you may need to make text very much larger in PSE than you normally would, because text size is dependent on the resolution of the image. A high resolution image can need really big text before you can easily see it. Don't be afraid to type in a much larger number than is available in the pulldown menu.

Custom shape tools

Windows Vista Ultimate, PSE 6.0 I am trying to find out where to go to download additonal custom shapes and incoporate into the custom shape tool. Reference ELEMENTS TECHNIQUES magazine Vol. 5, #1,article on page28 uses the custom shape tool but the menue shown contains considerably more preset shapes than the one in my PSE 6.0. If there are more shapes than the 30 shapes shown on my menue somewhere in PSE 6 then I don't know how to access them. When I go to downloads where I would have expected to see "freebies like this" the only thing that turns up is a free trial of PSE6. If there is a source to buy from then that would be helpful. What about other plugins beyond those included in the original PSE6?
I hope this is the right place/forum to post these types of questions

Thank you very much Barbra, they are there just like you stated. The way my screen was tilted I could not see the arrows. I actually find the grey on black format of this program a bit hard to see, I wonder why they did not put items like these little arrows in a more contrasting color like pink or green or red. Another issue.
thank you again and have a good day

Custom Shapes Dissapeared

I installed some custom shapes onto my Elements 6. For awhile they were all their but now there are only about 6, not even the ones that come with the program. I believe the ones that are on there are the ones I installed last. Is there anyway to get them back or do I need to reinstall?

Randy,
Just a guess, but Elements may need to rebuild the mediadatabase.db3
file. Do a search (make sure you enable showing hidden files and
folders) for "MediaDatabase" and then rename or delete the file. When
Elements starts up again, give it 15 to 20 minutes to rebuild.
-Trish

Enhance/Color Adjust/Color variation, seems to be missing in PSE 12. Can I install another version of PSE to Macbook pro Maverick 10.9.3 that has that feature? I use it ALL the time...

Enhance/Color Adjust/Color variation, seems to be missing in PSE 12. Can I add/install another version of PSE to Macbook pro Maverick 10.9.3 that has that feature? I use it ALL the time... Thanks.

Enhance/Color Adjust/Color variation, seems to be missing in PSE 12. Can I add/install another version of PSE to Macbook pro Maverick 10.9.3 that has that feature? I use it ALL the time... Thanks.

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.

When I click on Define Custom Shape, I get an error message: "could not complete your request because of a program error."

I'm using Photoshop CC 2014. When I click on Define Custom Shape, there is an error box that says "could not complete your request because of a program error." How can I solve this problem or work around it? I've looked on the internet for answers but could find no solutions to this. The custom shape tool is 99% of what I use!

Consider resetting the Pen tool by right clicking here
and if that doesn't solve the problem a logical next step would be to reset your Preferences.
To reset Preferences:
If Photoshop is already open on your screen, close it (Quit). Then hold down Shift+Ctrl+Alt (Win) / Shift+Command+Option (Mac) on your keyboard and start Photoshop.
A dialog box will pop up asking if you want to delete the existing Preferences file (the "Settings"). Click Yes in the dialog box. The existing Preferences file will be scrapped and a new one will be created.
By the way, if "The custom shape tool is 99% of what I use!" have you considered Illustrator?

How do I save a custom shape to use as a text box?

I've finally worked out how to define a custom shape. Is there any way to save it and use it in other documents?

Save the document in which it's defined as a template.
Every document created from this custom template will embed your custom shape.
Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) mercredi 26 janvier 2011 11:30:30

BI content to install customer Infobjects

Hi Gurus ,
I want to Create customer sales query , for this I went into bI content to install customer Infobjects ,
but these infojects are not coming in rsa1 infobjects screen where we create infobjects so that i can transfer standard infoobjects in infooject catalogue, so please gurus could please guide me step by step how to proceed with this issue.
Thanks in advance ,
Pratham

Hi,
If u want to load the standard maste data first u have to activate the respective data source in R/3 (RSA5-TCode).Then Check whether the data is presen in it or not in RSA3.Then come to BI and replicate the datasource.Next come to BI Content and select your master data and set the Grouping,collection mode and say Instal.therefore ur master data will become activated.Now u can see the infoobject in the infoobjects screen. or refer the following link:
http://help.sap.com/search/highlightContent.jsp
Hope it helps.
Thanks & Regards,
Dinakar.

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?

Installing custom shapes in PSE 7

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