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.

Similar Messages

Photoshop CS4 Crash Using the Pen Tool

We have experienced an issue where creating a line/path using the Pen tool in Photoshop CS4 caused a system-wide freeze, regardless of operating system, other software installed, etc....
Not even a kernal panic, but just a complete freeze.
We found that it only occurred on our white, 24-inch iMacs (2.16 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo). I tried it on 5 different white iMacs, with various builds of Tiger or Leopard, and they all froze up completely.
We had a plain 10.5.8 image on one of the white iMacs, with nothing extra except Photoshop CS4, and it froze up completely using the Pen Tool on a new document as well.
Oddly enough, the workaround was having Photoshop CS4 run using Rosetta, and then the Pen Tool works fine. It is odd considering the iMacs have Intel processors, and not PowerPC that would need Rosetta.
I have not found anyone else with hardware specific issues like this. So, I thought i should share our (hopefully) temporary workaround.

A complete system freeze means a kernel or driver level bug, or a hardware problem.
Rosetta won't process as fast - meaning that the processor is less taxed, and it may call the drivers differently.
Upgrading to MacOS 10.6 might avoid driver problems (that were in 10.5), but hardware issues would remain.
But first you might try disabling OpenGL drawing in preferences (avoiding the most problematic drivers, and reducing the load in the graphics hardware).

Better ways to work with the pen tool

I'm finding the pen tool a real aggravation to use... first off you cannot hardly see the points once a path is completed. Even blowing the artwork up really big doesn't help much.
Then its really easy to loose the ability to move individual points... at least I've found that at one point I can select and move the points easily with keyboard and somehow I loose that ability and seems to difficult to regain it. Instead I'm moving the whole path.
I wondered if any of the plugins out there might be dedicated to making the pen tool points easier to manipulate and edit. Just making them easily visible would probably be enough.

Jacob Bugge wrote:
Harry,
The Direct Selection Tool is the one to use for moving Anchor Points after the path has been drawn. Always work on paths without anything selected when you start; this is one place where Smart Guides are your friends because they let you see highlights of what you may select.
If you Click an Anchor Point, you will see that it is shown as a filled square; the other (non selected) Anchor Points are shown as hollow squares; you can select additional Anchor Points by ShiftClicking them.
With the desired Anchor Point(s) chosen, you may ClickDrag (either of them), or use the Arrow keys, or Object>Transform>Move, to move it/them.
You can also ClickDrag across the desired Anchor Point(s), starting from an empty spot with no fill (normally outside the path).
If I'm following you above... I do not see that behavior here. I speaking particularly of your third and fourth points.
You are talking about doing point 3 and 4 with direct select right?
To make it simple I'll just work with one point on a closed path :... I first click on an empty part of art board, then click a single point. At that point all the points light up and show there handles. The clicked one is a solid red dot, the others are a hollow dot with red stroke.
Now according to what I got of your comments, I should be able to move that single selected point with the arrow keys.... but I cannot.
Far as point 4, same thing applies... It is good to know that I can select multiple points that way, but after selecting ... the keyboard arrows do nothing to the selected points. But at least I can quickly pull mutiple points around with the mouse... so thanks for that bit.
Are you able to select a point on a closed path, and control it with arrow keys?
Is there some circumstance I may have initiated inadvertantly that would prevent the arrow keys moving points around.
I pretty sure there was while early on where I was moving individual points with keyboard but cannot get it to happen now.

Creating a bell-shapped (Gaussian) curve with the Pen Tool

Hello everyone,
I'm trying to create a bell-shaped (Gaussian) curve in Photoshop CS3, using the Pen Tool, however apparently I am not good enough with it... I can create a curve that resembles a simple parabola - like this one http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BhBX8ycVeL4/SIHhJYmDCgI/AAAAAAAAA-g/2Dc_Tf1Kz5c/s400/400px-Para bola.svg.png only upside-down; however I can't figure out how to further go from here in order to add the extra inflexions on the sides that make the parabola into a Gaussian curve, that would look something like this: http://naturalcureinsomnia.com/img/Bell-Curve.gif
Can anyone help? Thanks in advance!

Art,
Correct me if I'm wrong---I believe you want a schematic Gaussian curve rather than a mathematically precise one.
If so, set up two horizontal guide lines, one running through the desired apex and the other through the curve's baseline. Add three vertical guides, one through the apex and the other two equally spaced on the left and right sides of the guide through the apex.
Let point A be at the intersection of the left vertical with the baseline, point B be the apex, and point C be the intersection of the right vertical with the baseline.
With the pen tool at point A, drag horizontally to the right a fraction of the distance to the central guide. Release the mouse, move the pen tool to point B and drag horizontally to the right about the same distance or until the left half of the curve looks Gaussian. Release the mouse, place the pen tool at point C and drag horizontally rightward until the right half of the Gaussian curve matches the left.
To close the curve, release the mouse and click at a point on the baseline well beyond point C, connect from below with a path of any shape to a point on the baseline well to the left of point A, and then close to point A. Stroke the path, delete the path, and erase all but the Gaussian part.
Experiment with the ABC positions and the drag lengths until you get a decent curve. Should you want a precise curve it would be better to use one of the freeware curve programs out there. But if you want a bit of precision with the pen tool, that's possible by calculating one or two intermediate points between A and B and symmetrically between B and C and then dragging the pen so that curve comes reasonably close to passing through them.

Using the Pen Tool As a Guide?

Is there a way to use the Freedom Pen Tool as a guide? I used the 'Auto Blend Layers' and there a few misalignments. So I am using the Freedom Pen Tool to outline where the blend was made. After I correct the misalignments, I want to get rid of the Pen Tool outline. I tried putting the pen tool on its own layer but when I deleted the layer, the pen tool marking was still there. Is there any way to get rid of the pen marking after fixing the misalignments?
Thanks,
Lou

loudiamond wrote:
Is there any way to get rid of the pen marking after fixing the misalignments?
Delete it from the Paths panel.

Diagonal line through the pen tool icon and blocking it's use.

I am trying to change a map.ai file. When I click on the pen tool and move the cursor to the map it shows the pencil tool with a diagonal line through it prohibiting me from using it. How do I get rid of the diagonal line and use the pen tool? In addition, at the top of screen underneath file, edit, etc. it says "No Selection" on the left side. This must relate to the problem as I can use the pen tool with a new *.ai file.
Thank you for your help.

Scott Falkner suggested I unlocked all 13 layers. It still did not work. Now what?
Thanks,
Paul

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?

Photoshop CC - Cannot control + click to select a different shape while using the pen tool?

I used the pen tool constantly in photoshop cs6 and would often use control + left click to select a different shape while still using the pen tool.
I'm now forced to switch to the move tool to select another layer? Why was this feature removed / changed?
Fix: After fooling around more, here is how I fixed it:
The new Direct Select Tool by default is set to "active" layers. Switch it to "all layers"
Message was edited by: Joe Horan

A new problem = Selecting multiple points with control + click + drag is selecting ALL shape layers... Jesus christ, why was this changed????
I now have to double click the shape I want to select? Why? What is the point of this?

Ai Beginner, Can I make the pen tool function like it does in Photoshop?

I have been using photoshop to do various things over the last few years, and I am trying to move over to Illustrator. The biggest problem I have already is the function of the pen tool in Ai as opposed to Ps. I have to select an entirely different tool to move points? I can't just hold control and move the point? Is there a way that I can make the hot keys and what not function like the pen tool does in Ps. Why the change in the first place?
(Also, I am using CS4)

A feature request maybe? But then there's no-one from Adobe listening out there anyway, so what's the point?
That's not at all true I have made many feature reques and had quite a few realized. Although one of the bestones was killed.
But if you make a feature request the right way and you give a good argument for it they will look at it and see if they think it is practical for them to implement.
The key is practical and a really good reason for the feature.
And I do know from experience.

How do I turn off the alt scroll zoom? When I'm in Adobe photoshop and illustrator using the pen tool, alt is utilized for another short cut. I would like to use the alt command for the pen tool instead of zooming into the screen.

How do I turn off the alt scroll zoom?
When I'm in Adobe photoshop and illustrator using the pen tool, alt is utilized for another short cut. I would like to use the alt command for the pen tool instead of zooming into the screen.

I tend to select things from left to right and every time I am moving in a downward right diagonal motion during lasso selection I am missing a clear view and I am tending to have a more sloppy selection. All this does is slow me down since I need to go back and hit those areas again. The big arrowhead just get's in the way. The original lasso tool with the thin line and small active point at it's lower left was far better for me.
I don't like turning the cursors to precise because I like to see the active tool icon where my cursor is and as the icon changes as I hold modifier keys down. If I am forced to get comfortable with using pricise cursors I guess I will, but man, I've never had to do this in my 15 years of photoshop use...
I would absolutely LOVE to find a way to get the old lasso icon -- without the arrowhead above it.
Is there any chance this option could be inlcuded in cursor preferences? I'd give much thanks, Adobe.

Does photoshop elements 13 have the pen tool and where is it?

Does Photoshop Elements 13 have the pen tool and if so where is it?

I don't understand what you mean about the white line, but many tools in PSE are actually groups of tools. The blur tool shares a slot with the sharpen tool and the Smudge tool. Click hold on the one that's visible for a popout menu, or keep tapping the R key till the blur tool comes into view.

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

Adobe Reader deselects the pen tool after making a single mark. How do I fix this?

I have a Surface Pro 2 tablet that deselects the pen tool after I make any kind of mark with it. It works occasionally with the mouse but not the stylus. For example, if I were to write a "41", I'd have to make one stroke, then select the pen tool, and then make the other stroke to complete the "4", select the pen tool again, and then write the "1".
The Adobe Reader is updated to the latest firmware (11.0.10).

Wow lol I think that might have been the issue I pressed it a few times and it stopped, thank you!

Hi, I am having a hard time grasping the pen tool in Illustrator

Hi, I am having a hard time grasping the pen tool in Illustrator, but have a decent knowledge of it in Photoshop and was wondering is there any quality loss when making work paths in Ps and exporting to Ai?

EZEILL wrote:
None of these replies answer the question. Is there any quality loss when making work paths in Photoshop and exporting them to Illustrator?!
Do we know what version of Photoshop and Illustrator you are using? If you have a full CC subscription, then you can use Libraries to share assets between your Adobe apps. As far as I can tell, you need to turn your work paths into shape layers for this to work. Just select the Move tool, and drag from the document window into the Libraries panel. Even if Illustrator is still open, you switch to it, and your shape will be there in the Illustrator Libraries panel, and be fully functional (as in way more options that it had in Photoshop).
Photoshop
Illustrator

Photoshop CS5 Smart objects, Pen tool, Layers.

Hi Ive got few questions about Photoshop CS5.
Every time I open new image in my project photoshop opens as Smart Object and I always have to Rasterize its really annoying. How to change it?
When im using Pen tool and making selection its selects now the part which I selecte but background so I always have to inverse selection to select the part I want to its never happens in Photoshop CS3
When im working on two different projects and I want to copy layer from one project to another how you do it?
Thanks for your help.

1. If your dragging or placing into the image, you can go to Edit>Preferences>General and uncheck Place or Drag Raster Images as Smart Objects.
2. When using the Pen Tool enable Add to Path Area before drawing the path. You can change it after drawing the path by using the Path selection Tool.
3. If your using tabs you can select the Move Tool and drag from the document area on the screen to the other tab and the other document should reveal itself.
Another way is to right click on the layer in the layers panel, choose Duplicate Layer and then in the dialog that follows choose the document under destination.

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

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for