Pen Tool Troubles

I should probably start by saying that I am a novice PS user. Yesterday I was using the pen tool, for a school assignment, to trace around parts of a picture in order to make a vector illustration. It was working fine for a while, but now when I click to start a new shape, it immediately closes that shape, and the next click opens another layer. In other words, instead of being able to draw a line, every click is seen as the start of a new shape, and opens a new layer. I tried restarting PS, restarting the computer, resetting the tools. I don't know what to do next. It's possible that I accidentally clicked on something, somewhere, and changed a setting I should have, but I have no idea what. Also, it happened within an hour of my trial period ending, and signing up for CC Photography. Might that have anything to do with it? Can someone please help me? Thanks.

Never mind. Of course, the minute I make a desperate post is when I finally figure out what the problem is. Apparently it had something to do with the fact that I was trying to create a new shape while inside an existing group. Once I selected a folder instead of a layer inside the folder, it started working again. Why Adobe would design it this way is beyond me, but at least I can continue with my assignment now. Thanks anyway. :-)

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Photoshop CS freeform pen tool trouble

Recently my photoshop will not let me do a stroke path with my freeform pen tool.
I create a path, and when I right click, and select "stroke path" and click "Ok" (With the brush tool selected) it only shows the anchor points, and does not create a path.
I have my brush spacing to 1% (which everwhere I check, it says that is correct) and I have my "Paths" icon in the option bar selected.
I have uninstalled and reinstalled photoshop CS many times, but it does not seem to resolve.
I really need this fixed! Please help!
Thank you.

Spacing will only have unchecked if a particular brush was saved with that option unchecked. That means how the brush came, or if you have unchecked it and saved the brush set.
For instance if you make changes to Brush Presets, and try to load a different brush set choosing to just OK rather than Append, you will be asked if you want to save the changes. If you have clicked on Yes, then you have overwritten the original settings.
However, you said you have reinstalled PS, which I would have thought would restore the defaults.
Windows 7 keeps brushes in:
C:\User\your user name\App data\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe CC\Presets\brushes
Note: you need Show hidden files and folders, checked in Folder options.
In that folder Standard.abr is 740KB and it's Date Modified is the same as when I installed Photoshop. If you think your Standard set is messed up, email me at trevor.dennis at xtra.co.nz and I'll email my Standard set to you.
Note 2: I have just over 90 brush sets in the above folder, and that's after culling out the ones I think I'll never use. What I have done by way of an ad hoc preset management, is to rename the sets so they group by type alphabetically, but leaving enough of the original name to identify the source.

Illustrator pen tool vs. Inkscape pen tool

hi there i have just switched from inkscape to illustrator, and i really like it and everything works out better. But the pen tool troubles me, and i would really like to use the all-in-one pen tool from inkscape do you know of a plugin or addon that could solve my problem?
thanks in advance
Elias

Thank you very much!! exactly what i was looking for!

Trouble with pen tool

I have Illustrator Cs5 (from Master collection 5.5) MAC. When I hover over my newly created pen tool lines, it used to reveal a thinner, coloured line (the colour referred to whatever layer this line was on) & anchor points of the line. Now it doesn't show that thin, coloured line and I have to click a few times in that area to make sure that the line I want is active. Is there an option to turn this back on? Thanks

Either View > Smart Guides
Or
View > Show Edges

Having trouble with pen tool.

I was going over a tutorial exercise again about using the pen tool. For some reason the pen tool has changed into a pencil with a line through it and I have no idea why?
I have no problem using the pen tool in a new document also right clicking does not do much of anything either.
Any help on this would be appreciated..

I was actually on the wrong layer that was locked.
Thanks for the feedback, if you didn't mention the layers pallet I wouldn't have thought to check there.

Pen Tool - PS CS4

I don't know if I found a bug, or if it's just something I need to do differently, but the pen tool is not creating a new layer.
It just seems to be there. I can modify the shape with the direct selection tool. But I can't apply a layer style or do any other modifications. It does not have a bounding box when I select the move tool.
It's the weirdest thing... Anyone else experience this?

I am having trouble with the pen tool in Cs4,
It has been fine but then after a few hours I have been having
a problem with the selection line (that it leaves behind) is not there?? is there something in the View / paths that I am missing?
And at the same time,my viewing line that falls behind the magnetic tool is not working!
It is driving me crazy and I know it is something so simple
that I am not doing...
Thanks to anyone that can shed some info
Regards Nick

Problem with Pen Tool CS5

Hi,
I just got Photoshop CS5 and I'm having a bit of trouble with the pen tool - namely, I can't see the path I'm creating. In CS3 I could clearly see the line between two points but in the new program the line is nearly invisible making it very difficult to create the path. Is this a setting I can fix?
thanks

I was having 32 bit while I upgraded from CS3 to CS4. The only problem with CS4 that time was with pen tool.Though I cannot precisely recall , I can say it t was very lazy and very frustrating and this was resolved totally after shifting to 64 bit.--If urs existing system is 32 bit try with 64 bit

After Effects CS6 11.0.2 crashes when using the pen tool (Mac OS X 10.8.2)

I'm using After Effects CS6 11.0.2 on Mac OS X 10.8.2. Whenever I use the pen tool to add a vertex, the application crashes. I've submitted several crash reports to apple (they get sent to apple automatically when the app relaunches).
My specs:
iMac
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Processor 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3
Memory 12 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 4670 256 MB
Software OS X 10.8.2 (12C60)
Anybody else having this problem or have a solution?

So I have discovered it only crashes when adding a vertex when I'm editing the max a few frames in. When I add vertices on the first frame of the comp I don't have any trouble. I've tried unchecking the box that says preserve constant vertex count, and it still happens.

Can't make lines on After Effects CC (Pen Tool)

Im having trouble making lines with the pen tool
I made a quick video showing what happens

In your video, you did not draw a line. You drew a single point with bezier handles.
Please, go through the basic instructional materials:
http://adobe.ly/AE_basics
Doing so will prevent a lot of frustration.

Is there a pen tool in photoshop elements 10?

is there a pen tool in photoshop elements 10?

No.
Cheers,
Neale
Insanity is hereditary, you get it from your children
If this post or another user's post resolves the original issue, please mark the posts as correct and/or helpful accordingly. This helps other users with similar trouble get answers to their questions quicker. Thanks.

How to find the pen tool

might sound silly, but having trouble find it. thanks:)

Not silly. You can't find it because it's not there. Pen tool is in Photoshop, not PSE.

Pen tool Q

I don't have a problem making shapes and design in photoshop with the pen tool, but I'm having trouble figuring it out in illustrator.
I can't see all the anchor points or the handles when I have my path selected. I can scroll over my path with the convert anchor point tool and find an anchor, but it doesn't show the handles until I click on it. Once I click on it the handles go back to it's originally point of origin and I have to start over. I can't seem to figure out how to get all the anchor point to show up with the handles so I can edit each one individually.
How do I get all the anchor points and handles to show like I have it in photoshop? When I have the selection tool selected and I click in the path selection the artboard shows up and once I scroll over the path it turns blue and says path, unless I scroll over an anchor point, which it then says anchor. Please help and explain what you can.
I'm working with CS5 on a PC.

I have tried the direct selection tool. Yes, it selects the path but all the anchor points still don't show. I only see an anchor point when I scroll over one and when I click on one the next one in the path will also show. I can move the anchor point with the direct selection tool and manipulate the handles initially; once I unclick though the anchor and handles disappear so I can't manipulate the handles individually.

Pen tool disfunction

I am using Adobe Photoshop 5 Version: 12.1.
I am trying to use my pen tool, but it seems to be glitching. I go to start my path, click on the pen tool, but nothing shows up. I can't see the selection lines that are being created, no anchor points show up, I can't make curves, I can't do anything. I basically can't use the function at all. This has never happened before, and I have to use the pen tool every day in my job. This is completely impeding my job. Someone please help give me a solution to this issue!
Thanks!

Have you reset the Tool itself yet?
What are the View settings?
Boilerplate-text:
Are Photoshop and OS fully updated and have you performed the usual trouble-shooting routines (trashing prefs by keeping command-alt-shift/ctrl-alt-shift pressed while starting Photoshop after making sure all customized presets like Actions, Patterns, Brushes etc. have been saved and making a note of the Preferences you’ve changed, 3rd party plug-ins deactivation, system maintenance, cleaning caches, font validation, etc.)?

True or False about the pen tool in Photoshop?

Since Photoshop is mostly a raster image program,
and the Pen Tool is better for vector drawing in vector programs,
the Pen Tool is virtually useless in Photoshop, even if you want to
outline and mask something.
I always thought it was easier to use the paintbrush.
The pen tool in Photoshop is just silly.

Buko:
Don't be silly. I use the pen tool all the time (for cutouts, as a tool, text on path, you name it). Read post 17 -- 75 hours a week for four months cutting paths. Only cutting paths. A client that wanted the path between the dark and light pixels in the USM halo. The psychological damage is probably starting to surface now.
I understand how paths can be useful. I also wonder if their usefulness might have run its course. The reason I used paths 10 year ago was that I **had** to use paths. Don't you use them less for your mag now than you used to? Aren't you a big proponent of PSD outlines? In my workflow I find less and less of a need for them. But I make Medicaid brochures. It would be great to hear from some folks who use vector masks and need them for x reason.
I'm having trouble visualizing x.
J

Path with Pen tool- Color

Is there a way to enhance (change color) of the path generated with the Pen tool. I don't mean "stroking" the path after the path is completed. I mean the original outline of the path with the Pen tool. I have a rather completed photo which I am having trouble seeing the path as I am generating the path.
Thanks.

Hi
I think I see what you mean... it is a fine line and unlike in other applications, I'm pretty certain I'm correct that you cannot specify a colour for it.
I can only suggest, and I don't know if this will help, but you could make the layer your complicated photo is on temporarily less opaque so: lighter in effect. Not actually lighter and not a permanent change you understand. I don't know how well you know PhotoShop so if you need me to explain exactly what to do, just say, no probs. I'll explain, it's easy.
I'm not sure it will help, but it's all I can think to suggest I'm afraid. I'm sure if anyone has a better idea, they'll be along soon to tell you about it :-)
Edit... ah... just beaten to it by Marlo with a better idea, lol.

Pen Tool Troubles

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