Pen tool weirdness

Im having a very odd issue with the pen tool when using it to mask. I click my first point then the second but after that it changes to add vertex. It then adds my new points in the wrong places. If I make a new comp it sems to work ok but wont work in the comp I need it to. Im working with 3d layers and I noticed it happens when Im zoomed right in with the camera really far. If I zoom out it seems to be ok. WHy would this be? I restarted holding down shift comm option but it hasnt made any difference. What else should I do?

Though this thread is a year old, I found it while troubleshooting, so adding to it in case it helps others.
I've run into the same issue as Arrakis, and I just figured it out: I had the layer I was drawing the mask on parented to another layer that had been scaled up, so the effective scale value of the layer I was trying to mask was very small (but scaled up from the parenting). Clearly, AE is treating my layer as if it's 2% of full size, so all pen clicks past the second one are switched to the add-vertex tool, despite the fact that the image is full size on screen.
I'm sure the issue came up in the OP's 3D scenario because to have the the camera zoomed in really far, the layer in question would also need to be scaled really small.
This has happened to me a few times in the past, and I was always mystified, so in case this is going on for anyone else, that's the problem. For me, the fix was to unparent, draw the mask, then parent again. For 3D, you'd maybe want to mask first, then scale it down.

Similar Messages

What happened to the 'Shape Mode' shortcut keys on the Pen Tool?

For the longest time I've used both the Shape and Pen Tools for drawing vectors in Photoshop, but with CS6 I noticed a lot of weird behaviours. The one that is really getting to me is the lack of 'Shape Mode' shortcut keys when using the Pen Tool. When on the 'Shape Tool', fo example Cirle or Rectange, you can press the Shift to change the Shape Mode to 'Add', Alt to change it to 'Subtract' or both together to get 'Intersect'. This functionality used to exist on the Pen Tool too, but in CS6 I can't seem to get it working.
A collegue suggested to move over to Illustrator for all my Vector needs, and I know that this a good advice. However the lack of quick/integrated changing between 'Shape Modes' in either product (now) makes drawing things alot slower (for me).
Am I missing something, or is this feature now ommited in Photoshop CS6. If it is does anyone know if its possible to script something to allow this kind of behviour in Photoshop or Illustrator?
cheers,
Jon

The modifier keys "Alt|Opt", "Ctrl|Cmd" and "Shift" work differently depending on the tool being used but the individual keys seem to provide somewhat related functions.
For example the "Shift" key tends to be a constraining key Rectangle tools are constrained to square ellipse tools to Circles. However if there is an Active selection when you hold down the skey when you drag out a new selection it does not reset the current selection instead the new selection is not constrained and is added to the current selection. Shift constrains Transform tool to current aspect ratio, Shift constrains Line tools to vertical, horizontal or 45 degree angles. Pen tool like line tool shift constrains the angle.
The "Alt|Opt" key changes the way tools operate. Transforms are from the center not from the side or corner being dragged. Selection tools like the rectangle and ellipse will cause the intal drag out be from the center however it there is a Active selection dragging out a new selection will be subtracted from the current selection. This key changes the Pen tool from draw mode to anchor point adjusting.
The "Shift" and "Alt|Opt" modifier keys can be used together to have an operation be both constrain and from the center.
The "Ctrl|Cmd" key seems to change the way a tool works on a control anchor point. The Pen Tool changes from Pen Draw mode to Direct Selection tool to facilitate moving the point. Transform can be distorted a single corner point can be moved and distort the rectangle bounding box.
These keys may have other functions I don't know about. Photoshop has many features so many I don't know if any one person know and uses all of them. For the rest of us they seem to be Photoshop hidden secrets.

Pen tool smoothness

Hello,
I have been using Illustrator for a while, but still have a lot of the nuances to work out.
The issue I am having is when I either use the calligraphy brush, or the pen tool to create an outline some of my edges look pixelated (i.e. stepped). I used the pen tool to create a pattern around the edge and it looks beautiful and smooth, yet the lettering shape (a chinese symbol) and the circles looks slightly jagged. This may not be an issue when it is blown up larger (the steps become smaller in relation), however it seems more noticeable when it is at 100% (it is only a small design for printing on an object - 40mm).
I am attaching a screen shot to demonstrate.
You will see the border gradient-shaded pattern is pretty good.
In addition, if I select the outer pattern and then paste it also becomes stepped as well. I need to use this border design for a few designs, but hate to lose the immaculate look.
The weird thing is if I save it as a SVG and open in Inkscape it looks smooth again. I have tried closing and reopening this file but it looks the same, in fact it may even look worse. Also if you notice, the edges almost look white as well.
Thank you for any help with this.
Rachel

I know you say it is fine and it is fixed but just in case you look in on ths thread again I want to perhaps point out a little problem you might have reproducing this art in probably any form.
Art work when scaled to a smaller dimensional size becomes visually compressed for instance in the screen shots you show the space between some of the circles completely disapear and that will happen even more so when printed.
When drawing art to be scaled down one has to take int consideration this visual effect.
That is you shpould adjust the geometric relationships and weights of the design one for larger reproduction and one or possibly two versions for smaller reproduction.
You mght get away with it at 40 mm though I think if you reconsider the narrower spaces and and djust them and then reduce the size and compare it to a larger version then youy will see that they look more alike then if you just take art that apears fine large and scale it down.

CS5 Pen Tool Issues

I use the pen tool more then almost any other tool as all images need to have a clipping path. But sometimes I get the issues where the pen tool gets stuck in "Add to Path Area (+)" instead of the normal "Exclude overlapping path area". It will get stuck randomly and will not let me change it in the tool. If I go to the path selection tool it lets me change it there but the pen tool still remains stuck. It is kind of annoying to have half the path be what I want and the other half be added so when I remove the background all the holes in the center that I have are still filled. If I change to the ellipse tool it will go back to exclude(where it defaults on that tool) and work for a while then go back again on another image. Thing is that it always goes to the "Add to path area(+)" It is really beginning to get to me fast. Anyone else having this issue or know how to fix it? I am using it on Snow Lepoard 10.6.8 with the last version of photoshop(though it has been doing this since I got this mac 2 years ago). Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06ghz, 16gb ram and NVIDIA GeForce 9400 256mb GPU. Nothing too special but it does not happen on my PC, only mac and it is really irritating.
Nick

I tried it in CS4, and it does both of it there too, ugh. Thats weird, I'm surprised. Especially because both tools work properly when sample all layers is on, even with geometric shapes.
Something Adobe overlooked maybe? I dunno, thanks charles.

Type tool anchor and pen tool problems CS4

I have been working in In-design for my classes and everything is working fine. But recently I needed to do some work in Illustrator but when I opened the program up, some of my tools seems to be slightly bugged or something.
The type tool will not make the anchor where I initially click. It creates the anchor around the center point of the type box. This is really annoying because if you have a specific grid, it will not line up to it. I have never adjusted this I don't think because now I have no clue on how to fix it!
Also, my pen tool seems to be messed up. I first create the starting point, but then when I make the second point and try to drag out the node arms to make a curve, it only has one arm! Thus, the curve never is created, so I can't draw with the pen tool, therefore I fail my classes... haha
I have a big project starting soon and any help with this odd problem would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much for any potential help
-- Jordan

To try to make things more clear:
When I click on the type tool, the line tool, or the rectangle tool (any tool used by clicking on a starting point 'anchor' and dragging it) if I click and drag to the bottom right, it creates a rectangle that around the center point of the bounding box. Its really freaking weird. I've asked all my design friends and they don't know either. BUT! If I click to make the initial anchor, then drag to the upper left it works as the type tool bounding box usually does. Meaning, I can make the box to conform to grid lines, or the like. The rectangle tool does this as well.
Now, the line tool is messed up as well, but a little different. When I select the anchor point and then start to drag (click then drag to the right) the anchor does not stay in place. IT GOES OFF TO THE LEFT. It is so annoying. So If I'm trying to make a line that goes from the top of the page down, the line will go down with my cursor as I drag down, but it will also go up at the same rate. Its real dumb. Any help would be great.
As for the pen tool:
I'm not a new user to Illustrator. I've been using it for years now and never seen this problem. I showed it to my professor and he had no clue. I have used CS3 and CS5 as well and both operate normally and much different from mine. I can't exactly explain it for it is that weird, but if there is any way I can reset the tool, or put it back to its defaults that would help a lot.
Thanks in advance,
Jordan

Using pen tool, no fill no stroke but still colored line?

I have used the pen tool to draw shapes in Illustrator. Some shapes have normal paths and some are weird. The normal paths disappear when they aren't clicked on, the weird ones have a green stroke always. There is no fill and no stroke on so I am confused. Also when I click on the normal ones and then try to use the pen tool, it creates a normal path. When I click on the weird ones and use the pen tool, it copies it and makes a green line. If I put on a stroke, its like there's an inner stroke. Please help!!

You sure that the green ones aren't Guides. I believe the default color for Guides is green. What happens if you go to View>Guides>Clear Guides? Do the green paths disappear? Cmd(Ctrl)-5 is the KBSC for Make Guide. If you accidentally hit that with a path selected it will become a guide.

HELP! Illustrator CS2 pen tool problems

Hi, All
new to the forum...great resource...
I'm having a problem with my CS 2. Specifically my tools are acting weird..
The pen tool will not allow me to place points where I want them, or adjust the handles with any finesse. When I go to place a point in a certain spot, and click the mouse, a point appears nearby but not where I want it to. Then, when I try to move it, or adjust its handles, it only will go where it wants to...not where I'm telling it to go.
I can select objects, but cannot place them where I want them!!!! ( I can get close, but no cigar!)
This is most frustrating!....
I have re-installed the program.
I have also restarted the computer.
I have not trashed my preferences folder....not sure where that is or if that might be the problem.
Can any of you guys (and gals) help?!?
many thanks in advance
JP

DUH!
Thanks very much JET.....that was exactly it.....though how it got turned on, I dont know....(couldnt have been anything I did!!!) lol
JP

Selection Tools (Polygonal Lasso, Pen Tool) adding extra selections

Ok, so I'm having a weird problem in Photoshop CS4 for Mac OS X on 10.6.3. When I try to make a selection and complete the selection Photoshop is just randomly adding extra selections. Here is an example:
Above, I made a pretty straight-forward selection with the Pen Tool, nothing fancy or anything.
And then, when I right-click and Make Selection I get this crazy selection above that is no where near what I had originally selected.
It does this with the Polygonal Lasso Tool as well. I've tried reseting the tools, restarting Photoshop, and restarting the whole Mac and the problem won't go away and now it's starting to drive me crazy.
Anyone have any idea on what is causing this and how to fix it? Please and thanks!

I wasn't sure how to search for the problem, and anything I did find didn't offer a solution. If you could point me to some of these posts that would be awesome. Thanks.

Pen tool not working the same

I don't often use the Pen Tool as it is not needed but when I do, I do the same kind of thing and that is draw around something so that I can use a filter on the selected area.
I was able to create a shape within a shape so there is a hole and then apply my filter to it. However, when I try to do the same thing it is all weird!
I create a shape and then put a shape inside, right click and choose Make Selection and the inner shape disappears leaving the larger outer shape.
Does anyone know what might be causing this and how I can rectify it. Another weird thing is that when I use a filter it applys it outside of the selection, but this is not as annoying as the original issue.
Any hwlp would be hugely appreciated!
Nig

function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
UltimateTop Trumps wrote:
I create a shape and then put a shape inside, right click and choose Make Selection and the inner shape disappears leaving the larger outer shape.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
UltimateTop Trumps wrote:
Another weird thing is that when I use a filter it applys it outside of the selection, but this is not as annoying as the original issue.
This occurs when you use the quick mask to create a selection. Did you?
miss_marple

LACK OF FULL PEN TOOL FUNCTIONALITY WHEN CREATING A SHAPE LAYER

Hello, I'm going through Chris Meyer's video course on being an AE apprentice and have spent over an hour on the following issue.
Here is what I know.
I know I am trying to create a shape layer, not a mask, to create a frame to surround the video of the green field on the attached screenshot. Therefore, I pressed "F2" to make sure I am doing so.
I want to define the borders of this picture frame by using the pen tool to draw a path on the layer entitled "Windy Peak".
I have highlighted that layer in my timeline.
This video was pasted on to a placeholder shape that I had created using Command Option "/" on my Mac.
I do have limited use of the pen tool, because it displays properly when I hover it above the borders of the video to be framed.
But I lack access to the toolbar controls I want to complete my assignment.
For example, I would like to create a gradient to define the internal coloration of this frame, but I have no use of the eyedropper when I click on the Color Picker.
Also, I am unable to access or manipulate any of the standard fill or stroke options for use of my pen.
This is what I know.
Thanks for your help! Matt
Message was edited by: Matt Dubuque to add the fact that the video had been pasted on to a placeholder shape image by pressing Command Option "/" on my Mac.

Thanks for pitching in Todd and Rick, I appreciate it very much.
As previously stated, I do have use of the pen tool, but it only has limited functionality as demonstrated by the path I created on the green meadow. My Tools Panel remains activated .
My core problem remains that I am unable to adjust the fill or stroke settings for my pen.
I have tried changing and resetting various work spaces and this has not helped.
I'm scratching my head here.
Matt

Capture with new MBP, plus Pen Tool Question...

Good Day everyone, I've searched the forums but have not been able to find my answer so I thought I'd post.
Question 1...
I've just received my new 17"MBP a few weeks ago. With my old PB, I would connect my camera via FW400 and capture the footage to an external LaCie drive via FW800 out of the computer.
Now with only one FW port on the MBP, it looks as though I need to capture via FW800 (4pin to 9pin) and go out to the LaCie via USB? Is this correct? How are any of you doing this. It bums me out that I can't go out FW800 to the drive. I suppose there is always the option of getting an Express Card 34 with FW800 connections?
Question 2...
Why can I not get my pen tool to work in the timeline? I want to adjust opacity and audio levels but am unable to do this. My old version of FCP (v5) seemed to let me do this. Overlays are 'on'? Any suggestions? I find it easier and faster to be able to do these functions from the timeline, there must be a way?
FYI...
New 17" MBP 2.66 w/4GB RAM
FCP (Studio2)
I'm sure question 2 is just something stupid that I just haven't set up.
Appreciate everyone's help as always!
Rene.

To be honest, nobody but Apple knows what Apple is thinking but usb is not a good alternative. I also don't know of too many professional post houses or broadcast studios that have anything to do with firewire infrastructure at all. You can get firewire 800 to firewire 400 adapter cables for cheap, search the internet. You can then daisy chain your camera/capture device in line with your storage device.
The better alternative is to get a express firewire card for your MacBook pro as you mentioned which would create two firewire buses; one for capturing, one for storage. Again, you can search the internet and here's a place to get you started http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Sonnet%20Technology/FW800E34/
I guess I would have thought maybe some research into a product of the expense of the MacBook Pro would have warranted some research about these things.

How can I get the Fireworks pen tool to disengage from an open path shape (and stay disengaged)!

I am so frustrated! I can't get the fireworks pen tool to disengage when I am finished creating an open path shape (double clicking the end-point isn't working). The only way I can disengage the pen tool is to click on a different tool, BUT ...if I do that (i.e., click on a different tool), and then go back to the pen tool (with the intent to create another open path shape), the pen tool automatically engages the last point of my prior open path shape ... and ... no matter what I do, I can't get the pen tool in Fireworks to stop doing this with my open path shapes.
If anyone has any helpful advice, it would be much appreciated!
Thank you!
(note: I prefer not to have to go back and forth creating open path shapes in Illustrator then bring them into Fireworks, but if all else fails, I suppose I'll have to as a work-around.)

Have you tried holding the Command key and clicking away from the last point? The Command (⌘) key will bring up the Subselection tool; clicking on the canvas with it will allow you to disengage from the path. Once you release the key, the Pen tool will return and you can begin another path.

How To Use The Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign CS6 | Creative Suite Podcast: Designers | Adobe TV

In this episode of the Adobe Creative Suite Podcast Terry White shows how to use the Pen Tool to create Art, Frames and to trace images in Photoshop CS6. If you've never used the Pen Tool before, this is your video!
http://adobe.ly/STegFg

With the pen tool in Indesign, is there a way of making the points not join if you want to make a few single lines?

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

Photoshop CC - Making the Pen Tool on a new layer?

So I've never had this problem in previous versions of PS. When selecting the Pen Tool and drawing on the document usually leads to it making a new shape layer. However for some reason this option is greyed out in CC. As a workaround I've had to draw a shape box, then draw with the pen tool and delete the shape box afterwards. Is there a reason for this, a bug or something I'm missing?
Thanks

It should not be grayed out Pixels are grayed out.

Pen tool weirdness

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for