Layer thumbnail , vector mask thumbnail problem

How do I make it?

I'm having this problem as well: I can't edit vector masks when they're disabled. This is majorly annoying, because I relied on this feature before to be able to shape vector masks accurately against a photo. I can't think why they would eliminate this feature, since it is so useful. Please restore it!

Similar Messages

  • Copying shape layer shape to mask shape problems

    Hello,
    Sorry, super basic question I'm sure. I want to have text animate along a shape layer's shape (say for instance an elipse). If I copy the Elipse Path component and try to paste into a 'Mask' component of a text layer, nothing happens. Also I can't copy my Elipse shape into a Mask layer of a solid either. However I can a Mask Path to a Shape path without a problem. Any ideas?
    Many thanks,
    Aidan

    The After Effects CC (12.2) update makes creating Bezier paths easier and more obvious.
    option for creating shape layers based on Bezier paths:
    When a shape tool (Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Polygon, Star, or Ellipse tool) is active, you can use the new Bezier Path option in the Tools panel to create a new shape based on a Bezier path, as opposed to the default of creating a new shape based on a parametric path. Holding the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) key while drawing a shape causes the opposite behavior—i.e., if the Bezier Path option is enabled, holding the Alt or Option key causes the shape tool to create a parametric path; if the Bezier Path option is disabled, holding the Alt or Option key causes the shape tool to create a Bezier path.
    command for converting a parametric shape layer path to a Bezier path:
    You can convert a parametric path to a Bezier path after the parametric path has already been created by context-clicking (right-clicking or Control-clicking on Mac OS) the property group for the parametric path (e.g., Rectangle Path 1) and choosing the Convert To Bezier Path command from the context menu. If the parametric path is animated (keyframed), the converted Bezier path is a static path based on the parametric path at the current time; keyframes are lost.
    IMPORTANT: When you use the Convert To Bezier Path command to convert a parametric shape path to a Bezier shape path, the Bezier path that is created does not animate well (i.e., interpolation between paths behaves strangely and unpredictably). This is related to path direction and how transformations are stored. For now, you should not use these converted paths for animated paths (interpolation between paths); but, if you do want to try, you may be able to work around the issues by reversing the path before conversion.

  • Why does the vector selection tool (white arrow) change layer selection to another vector mask?

    I have been continually annoyed, when creating a vector mask-heavy document, with trying to select vector mask points by dragging a rectangle only to find that it instead selects a layer higher up which has a larger vector mask.
    The only workaround is to manually select the points of my mask or to drag a rectangle from outside the canvas, meaning I have to zoom out or scroll to the edge - sometimes annoying if I am zoomed in quite far.
    Does anyone know any resolution for this?
    I know that the move tool can be set to automatically select a layer, depending on what part of the image is clicked, but why is there not an option to turn this off for vector editing?

    What version of Photoshop are you using????
    The White Arrow tool is the direct selection tool and it work best way you point it at a path segment line and click once.  When you do all the control points in a close path segment will be marked with little squares and the two control point adjacent to where you clicked will have handles you can adjust.
    You can also drag out a rectangle with the direct selection tool. When you do you may select many closed paths in a path a path may have many sub paths and each has a mode like add, subtract, intersect etc, and each has a stacking order like in a layer stack. So if you drag out a rectangle many paths control points will be marked and control point adjacent to crossing rectangle will have handles. Can be very confusing.
    Here are two screen capture the first on shows the layer palette and path palette.  You can see many shapes and path with sub paths and modes. I also targeted layer a vector mask. The selected the direct selection tool and in the image window I pointed at the 45 degree oval path near the top right. You cab see the four control points and two with handles.   The second screen capture  I only captured the image window. I used the direct selection tool and draged out a rectangle and you cab see many segments control points and many have handles. I have no problem selecting what I want to select

  • How do I replace one vector mask with another?

    I have a template for a web site that I'm trying to figure out as I learn CS5.  The template has a vector mask created out of some writing that was converted into an object/vector mask.  I would like to replace with a layer I created that has different writing in it.  How would I replace the vector mask in the template with the new object I created?
    Thanks for any help you can give.
    Best -- Catherine

    • In the Layers Panel draw the Layer’s Vector Mask icon onto the trashcan-icon
    • move that Layer above the new Text Layer
    • invoke Create Clipping Mask (command-alt-G) from Layers Panel’s fly-out menu or alt-click on the line separating the two Layers’ icons

  • Replacing subPathItems in a vector mask

    It seems one can fairly easily replace a Layer’s Vector Mask with another one’s, but I fail to see if I can simply replace the Vector Mask’s subPathItems with a new array.
    A pathItem’s subPathItems being read only this seems improbable, but still …
    And on a related note: Do any of you know if one can create a Vector Mask without first creating a pathItem proper?
    Because currently I have the Scripts create Paths, create Solid Color Layers with the Paths selected and then delete the Paths again, which seems to be a longish route.
    Thanks for any input.

    You can create a empty vector mask with a script.
        var desc13 = new ActionDescriptor();
            var ref10 = new ActionReference();
            ref10.putClass( charIDToTypeID('Path') );
        desc13.putReference( charIDToTypeID('null'), ref10 );
            var ref11 = new ActionReference();
            ref11.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Path'), charIDToTypeID('Path'), stringIDToTypeID('vectorMask') );
        desc13.putReference( charIDToTypeID('At  '), ref11 );
        desc13.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Usng'), stringIDToTypeID('vectorMaskEnabled'), charIDToTypeID('RvlA') );
        executeAction( charIDToTypeID('Mk  '), desc13, DialogModes.NO );
    But as you pointed out pathItems are read only so it doesn't do much good unless you want the script to create a blank vector mask for the user to edit after the script is done.
    Because you can't edit an existing path, the way you are creating vector masks is the only way I know. New path, mask from path, remove path.
    The only way I know to 'edit' an existing path with scripting is to read the existing path converting into SubPathInfo and PathPointInfo which can be edited. Then delete the old path and create a new one from the edited data.
    For a vector mask you add the extra steps. i.e. you read/convert the vector mask's path data, delete the mask, create a new path with the edited points, make a mask from that new path, then delete the new path.

  • Pasting a path automatically creates a vector mask...

    Hi, it appears that Adobe has modified the way pasting paths behaves. Prior to CC when you pasted a path it would paste as a path, as expected. Now when you paste a path it automatically pastes the path as a vector mask. Is there anyway to stop it from doing this. The only workaround I have found is to create a new path layer first and then past the path which is totally unnecessary and a waste of time. This is another slight tweak that Adobe has undertaken that has totally ruined my working process. At this rate I will be cancelling my subscription. Why meddle with and tweak things that do not need fixing? I really hope this can be solved.
    Thanks.

    There have been changes to pasting paths.  Here is what Adobe told me about it:
    The general rule is that the topmost selected path, if it exists, will get the pasted path. Otherwise if a layer is targeted a new vector mask will be made of the pasted path for that layer. Otherwise if no path or layer are selected, the work path will be set and targeted. Note a subtlety here: if a layer with a vector mask is targeted but the vector mask itself is not selected in the paths panel, a paste will replace the vector mask instead of append to it. In such a case if the user wants to append to the layer's vector mask they should select it in the paths panel first.

  • Vector Mask Thumbnail Photoshop CC

    Why can't I select the vector mask thumbnail in Photoshop CC after it has been disabled on the layer. In previous versions of Photoshop, I was able to click on the vector mask thumbnail after it has been diabled and edit what I want to exclude from the vector mask or edit the paths that I created.

    I'm having this problem as well: I can't edit vector masks when they're disabled. This is majorly annoying, because I relied on this feature before to be able to shape vector masks accurately against a photo. I can't think why they would eliminate this feature, since it is so useful. Please restore it!

  • Layer Thumbnail Preview Problems CS4

    I recently started having an issue with the layer thumbnails.  In the past, when I would create a new shape (with the rectangle tool for instance) the layer thumbnail preview would look like the first image I've inserted.  Now when I create a new shape with the same tool (in a new file) I get a layer thumbnail preview like the second image.  All the panel options are the same, so it isn't the thumbnail size setting under panel options.  I prefer the thumbnail preview from image 1.  I am creating documents that many people will be using (most have basic photoshop skills) so the preview from image 1 is much easier to use and understand.  Any help with this situation would be much appreciated, as I cannot figure out what back end setting has changed?

    Thanks!  They are exactly the same in every way.  I think I've figured it out.  It seems the layer preview is based on the size of the file or document.  For instance, the problem started when I created a business card file sized at 3.75" wide by 2.25" high.  Don't know what the magic number is, but when I created a file sized at 5" by 5" square, the layer thumbnail preview looks the way I want it to (image 1).  It's strange, but it looks like I'm going to have to live with it when creating file sizes like this...

  • Where is the vector mask thumbnail?

    before CS6 version, I can search the vector mask thumbnail.
    but...
    Wow...
    where is it? Please help...

    Yeah, I have another thread (over on the photoshop for beginner's forum) that talks about this. Apparently as of CS6 the thumbnail is now hidden for shapes.
    However if you use paths, you can still see the thumbnail.
    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1257887?tstart=30

  • Feature request : color fill vector mask thumbnails in layers panel

    I find that the color fill vector mask previews within the layers panel are not as helpful as they were in CS5. Having the vector path along side the color swatch worked better.

    You should know that others have requested this, starting with the public beta.  I happen to agree with you on this, showing the color and shape separately was more useful.  But it must have been difficult for new users to understand or something.
    There's a known bug that causes the shape icon to be hidden sometimes behind the little overlay.  Adobe is looking into fixing that, and with some luck in an update we'll see the shapes become more visible, but of course this doesn't help with the shape of things like thin lines that you can't see at that scale, and complex coloring (e.g., gradient fills) doesn't show at all.
    It would be great if they'd offer an option to display an additional color icon - if not in the Layers panel then in the Properties panel!
    Oh, and I suppose it should be pointed out that fill layers with PIxel masks (vs. shapes, which are fill layers with vector masks) still look the old way.  I don't know whose idea this was, but it seems a little half-baked.
    Unfortunately, Adobe does not have a habit of changing functionality in any significant way after release.  I think we're stuck with what we have, save for maybe that bug fix I mentioned.
    -Noel

  • How to change 'half-moon' Layer Thumbnail to a graph

    I've noticed that in some of my images, the Layers Thumbnail -- the black & white circle between the Layer Visibility and the Layer Mask -- is not a circle but a graph. How do I change from one to the other?
    I can understand the graph, but what is the circle supposed to represent?

    Thanks Zeno, for the suggestion. I had already checked out the section in PS Help that you provided the link for, but I couldn't work out why, when the setting for Layer Thumbnails were all set to small, that some of the images had graphs and other had the circles. You confirmed the solution and now I know where the problem was:
    * the images that had the graph were vertical format and there was enough vertical space to fit in the graph;
    * the images that had the circle were horizontal format. The vertical dimension must have been just under the size limit for the graph.
    A bit confusing. I assumed the thumbnails would be scaled so that on a certain thumbnail size setting, the vertical dimension of the thumbnails was the same so that the spacing of the various layers remained constant. Not so. The longest dimension appears to remain constant.
    Anyway, problem fixed. Thanks.

  • How do I move a pattern layer independent of its vector mask?

    I've created a pattern fill layer and assigned a vector mask to it. How do I move the pattern around without affecting the mask? I realize if I want to rotate the pattern I'd need to convert it to a smart object, but if I only need to adjust the pattern location there must be some way to do that without moving the vector mask along with it. A traditional layer shows the vector and raster mask layer with a lock icon, but fill pattern layers are different for some reason. Can someone "fill" me in?

    rcraighead wrote:
    Yes, I understand that. I am working with pattern layers, not layers filled with a bitmap pattern.
    That is not what your showing above in red above your showing a shape layer in CS6 a pattern fill layer with a vector mask is a cs6 shape layer. Even the icon on the layer's content in the layers palette shows its a shape layer.  You can edit the vector mask you can not unlink it. For its a cs6 shape layer.  As you noted you can first convert pattern fill layer into a smart object layer. It then acts like a normal pixel layer with an associated transform to the canvas size. Your no longer dealing with a pattern fill layer. When you rotate it you will have the same problem with the layers corners areas.  CS6 changed shape layers design they have more options then prior  versions of Photoshop and prior versions of Photoshop can not handle CS6 shape layers that used cs6 shape options like stroke, line type, and pattern fills.

  • Problem creating vector mask with Pen Tool

    Using Photoshop CS5, Mac OS 10.6.8
    I'm trying to create a simple vector mask using the pen tool to create a curved line at the top and bottom of a photo. Here's what I'm doing:
    1. Create a new layer and select it.
    2. Select Pen tool.
    3. Choose "work path" by selecting button at top menu.
    4. I draw my shape with the pen tool.
    5. Now comes the problem... I can not select this shape, or assign it a color. When I create a clipping mask, it does not recognize my path. When I throw away the layer, the shape is still there in outline only. What am I missing here? I'm familiar with doing this in Illustrator, but I don't understand how it works in PSD.
    I need some help, please.
    Thanks.

    The main thing i use paths for in photoshop is extracting objects from photos.
    Other uses include stroking paths with the paint tools. For example, if you had
    a powerline to remove, one could trace the line with the pen tool and then stroke
    the path with spot healing brush set to content aware fill.
    more info on photoshop paths:
    http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-73ada.h tml
    MTSTUNER

  • Layer transform lag solved by turning off layer thumbnails

    I was looking into why layer transforms was lagging this morning and found some results in the pshop cs6 beta threads, one user suggested hiding the layers panel / swapping with channels. I did that and it was faster, then I thought maybe it was the layer thumbnails that was causing the problem, so I turned off the thumbnails and there was a noticable speedup in dragging grouped layers.
    Before I did this thumbnails were set to crop to layer bounds, so I THINK something is not quite right there.
    -ryder

    Turning off thumbnails works to a point, but if you are moving massive amounts of layers photoshop cs6 will take a long pause. I am guessing the layer stack i'm moving around 60 layers nested (user interface elements)
    The system is a dell M6600 / quadro 4000 / win7 (64-bit) / 32gb of ram, I just updated to the latest nvidia drivers today, made sure of it. (296.70)
    The issue is similar/same as the one discussed in:
    http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/photoshop_cs6_slow_compared_to_cs5_1 _with_large_files

  • What is the purpose of the chain (lock symbol) between a solid color layer and its vector mask?

    What is the purpose of the chain (lock symbol) between a solid color layer and its vector mask in the layer panel when creating shape layers with a shape tool? I'm just curious when locking or unlocking the solid color layer and its vector mask can make a difference.

    I don't understand what you said and your shape layer looks different then mine using CS5.
    When the chain is deselected, I can't do anything with the move tool on the shape layer. This is the only difference I can find. Making the solid color uniform or not doesn't change anything.
    Your example shows that you moved the position of the solid color, how did you do that? I can create a solid color layer and change its uniform look by applying an effect like gradient but I can't move the solid color itself around. How is this possible?

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