Transform Vector Mask on Set [CS4]

Hello,
I have problem with transform vector mask in CS4. Its impossible to transform ONLY vector without content in set. Previously, in CS3 it was easy, just select vector mask thumbnail and you could resize/rotate/move vector only.
Thanks.

denniskestelle wrote:
Hello all,
I've jumped from CS5 to CC and I notice working with vector masks (drawing a path on a layer) works completely different.
I've got 2 issues, I can't seem to find a solution for:
Issue 1: When I draw a path on a layer it becomes a mask for that layer.
Not on my machine you must be adding the path to the layer as a vector layer mask perhaps clicking the layer mask icon. Here is what I see on my machine. Or your creating a shape layer and not drawing a path on the layer. Look at the mode in the tool option bar was you draw the path.
Here I transformed the path. Then I change the Path mode to be of the head not the background. Then clicked the mask button in the tool option bar to add the path as a vector mask.

Similar Messages

Question on Vector Mask Functionality

Hello everyone, I'm fairly new to Photoshop CS 5 so I apologize if I am asking the wrong type of questions, here goes:
When working with Vector Masks can you:
1) "Link" or "share" one image's vector mask with other images? (ex. If I made "Building A" then duplicated it, but then wanted to change what Building A looked like, I would only have to change the source mask and the copies would be updated.
2) Move the image independent of the vector mask (it seems like I can only move the vector mask, not the image itself). Or in other words: can I move the image and have the mask follow it, instead of only being able to move the vector mask inside of the image boundaries?
My application of the question:
I'm making a 2D top down layout of a "city block" type area. To fill in the buildings, I've made Building A,B,C etc, and use multiple copies of each building. Ideally, I would like to be able to "link" or share say Building A's vector mask with all the other instances of Building A (so that when I change the master, they all change to the new mask shape). The second behavior I'm trying to find is the ability to move the layer without moving where the Vector Mask is on that layer (since it seems that you can only move where the mask is, meaning that even if I could share masks, they would all end up in the same place meaning I would have to re-position each one by hand again.
Any ideas are appreciated, thank you for reading.

When working with Vector Masks can you:
1) "Link" or "share" one image's vector mask with other images? (ex. If I made "Building A" then duplicated it, but then wanted to change what Building A looked like, I would only have to change the source mask and the copies would be updated.
Yes, this is possible, but not with the classic layer vector mask system in Photoshop. Layer masks are part of a layer, and not individual layers themselves, so they cannot be converted into a reusable object.
The solution is to avoid vector layer masks, and use a clipping mask/layer instead. A clipping mask/layer CAN be converted to a reusable smart object, and when you change one, all the other instances change as well.
The second part of the solution is to convert both the content layer(s) and the clipping mask/layer to a smart object. Then group the lot. Incidentally, if your buildings are made up of several elements you merely have to include those additional elements in the clipping group. Another advantage is that each elements can still have its own regular layer mask. Win win situation. And layer effects can be applied to clipping layers/masks, which is again impossible for layer masks. It also opens up the gates to a far less destructive workflow.
2) Move the image independent of the vector mask (it seems like I can only move the vector mask, not the image itself). Or in other words: can I move the image and have the mask follow it, instead of only being able to move the vector mask inside of the image boundaries?
This is also solved when using clipping masks/layers - both the content and the mask can be moved independently as regular layers. Another advantage is that both can also be transformed individually.
My application of the question:
I'm making a 2D top down layout of a "city block" type area. To fill in the buildings, I've made Building A,B,C etc, and use multiple copies of each building. Ideally, I would like to be able to "link" or share say Building A's vector mask with all the other instances of Building A (so that when I change the master, they all change to the new mask shape). The second behavior I'm trying to find is the ability to move the layer without moving where the Vector Mask is on that layer (since it seems that you can only move where the mask is, meaning that even if I could share masks, they would all end up in the same place meaning I would have to re-position each one by hand again.
Any ideas are appreciated, thank you for reading.
So here is my solution. I made a sample with two top view buildings that should be reused the way you want:
1) FIrst create groups for each building, and put the content in those. Then trace vector layer shapes over the content. Set the transparency for the mask layers to a sensible opacity setting for easier masking.
2) Put the vector shape below the content layer for each building. Then for (1) and (2), <ALT> click on the border between the content and the shape layer. (<OPTION> for Mac) This will mask the building content. (3) Do not forget to reset the layer opacity for the shape layers back to 100%!
3) Next, let's convert these building into recyclable objects. Convert each content and clipping mask layer to a smart object. Then rename those smart object layers to something sensible (honestly, I forgot to label the layers properly earlier, but you catch my meaning here ;-)
Done! To clone each building, duplicate the layer groups. For each instance you can move the content (handy if you are sharing multiple building graphics in the same bitmap or illustrator file), or you can decide to move the mask instead. Or both. Same holds true for transforming. Your choice. To move or transform a building, select the layer group.
To change or amend the masks or content, double-click on the smart object of your choice, and make some changes.
Also, don't forget that you can insert additional elements in a clipping group by placing it above the first clipped layer, and then <ALT> clicking again on the border between them. So in theory you could start constructing different looking buildings by adding in other smart objects in the clipping groups. The sky is the limit! This way you can create several building blocks to construct various buildings with different looks. And still limit the number of blocks - and all update-able.
Unfortunately, this is where the workflow breaks down a tad: due to the smart object's implementation in Photoshop you CANNOT edit the mask or building's content in context - instead it opens up in its own file window. This can be somewhat mitigated by placing both windows side by side (window->Arrange-->Two-up Vertical).
This brings us to the second caveat: when you do make a change, the edits are not updated in realtime in the master document. You must first save. Again a bit of a workflow breaker, but still... At least you now have a non-destructive instanced workflow.
The smart object content can be replaced easily with a right-mouse click on the smart object layer itself. Or use a externally referenced smart object instead if you prefer to generate your buildings in an external application.
Btw, Photoline's layer system is far more logical and easier to use for this type of work. Layer masks behave like regular layers. Layers, groups, masks, external file layers, and so on can be virtually cloned and instanced like smart objects, but the master object is editable in context, and all the other instances update in realtime. So it is more convenient. At least, that is my experience.
Hope this was helpful! Now go build your cities. :-)
PS: I was thinking: isn't Illustrator or InDesign is far more logical choice for this type of work where you need access to reusable blocks of content? It would also be a more efficient and speedier workflow - Photoshop isn't really meant for this type of work. And Illustrator and InDesign potentially provide better output quality. You can also divide your work in pages, and so on. Then again, you would probably lose the flexibility of smart objects.

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

Vector Mask Feather

When I use the feather options on a Vector mask, it works but when I save the file, close it and open it again the feather settings are reset back to zero. I am using Photoshop CS4 Extended on windows XP. I saw that a mac user was having the same problem but they asked their question a while ago and their question hadn't been answered yet.

Please explain, step-by-step, what you have tried.
Take us from opening the file through what you've done to try to feather out the vector mask.
LenHewitt, "How To Get Help Quickly" #, 4 Mar 2004 8:27 am

Change path inside and outside areas in vector mask

Hey all PS/CS lovers,
     That's probably an easy one, yet, being rather new to this, I have to ask.
     So I have this vector mask on a layer, and while singing along to the Beatles I'm editing paths on it. Well, all it is is a rectangle to reframe a photo, nothing crazy. But that rectangle is too big to my taste - so I just draw another, smaller one inside it and plan on deleting the first one.
     But ! The second, smaller rectangle is viewed as a takeout from the first one (so its inside is considered "black" mask-wise, i.e. cut out, and its outside is "white", i.e. kept in). Thus, when deleting the first, bigger one, the entirety of the picture appears, except for the part I want in the middle, that's cut out ! Yes - that's the opposite of what I want.
     Now, I tried using the path selection tool and changing the fill color of the rectangle, but you can't ... So, how do you invert inside and outside of a closed path ? Thanks in advance !
Charles

So, how do you invert inside and outside of a closed path ?
Select the Path with the Path Selection Tool and in the Options Bar change the Path Operations setting.

Bug related to making a vector mask in 2014 release of Photoshop CC?

I am following these instructions:
1. Create a work path.
2. Save the work path.
3. Select the layer I want to mask.
4. Select the saved path in the Paths panel.
5. Choose Layer>Vector Mask>Current Path.
The result is a vector mask the HIDES the contents inside the selected path.
I expected the contents inside the path to be the visible area, as it was in previous versions.
(See the attached screen capture to see the result I'm getting.

What is your current setting of this?
-Noel

Brush tool with vector mask

I have Photoshop CS2 and I am trying to "fix" a photo. I'm using a tutorial,and it worked on a previous photo but seems to have quit on me.
I made a new layer from the original layer, used filter> other> high pass (set to 3.5) then image> adjustments>desaturate. Inverted the layer added a vector mask and inverted that as well. I set the blending mode to overlay, and the foreground color to white.
When I go to paint over the skin, nothing happens. I'm not sure if I have changed some setting accidentally or what, like I said, this did work for me earlier, but doesn't now. When I hide the original layer, there is nothing!! I'm not very proficient in any area of photoshop, so if someone has an idea about what I've done, the more specific you can be the better!
I've closed the program and reopened it and it still does not work. I'm not sure what else to do!
thanks for any help!!!
http://www.photoshoptalent.com/photoshop-tutorials/how-to-smooth-a-skin.php?p=2
this is the tutorial I'm using, I'm on step 10.

Is your brush set to normal blending? Opacity of brush at something reasonable (10-100%)? Opacity of overlay layer at 100%?
Try re-inverting the mask and see if the "blurred effect" reappears. If it doesn't, then something is wrong with the overlay layer. Your steps seem OK (except the vector mask ;) ).

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

Vector Mask - Arrgh! (Bug or Feature?)

I'm frustrated by some behaviors of Vector Masks. I'm asking the forum about this because I'm curious how many others have experienced these issues
• When I'm working on a layer that has a VM, (i.e. when that layer is active), it is IMPOSSIBLE to load any other path as a selection.
For example: I've made a layer that has both a Layer Mask and a VM. I need to load some other paths as selections in order to further modify the Layer Mask. With the LM active, I Cmnd Click on another path in the Path Palette, but it is the VM of that layer that gets loaded as a selection. The VM seems to override all other paths. The only work around is to click to another layer, load a path as a selection, and then click back to the LM of the layer with the VM.
• If I click on a layer with a Vector Mask the Vector Mask then becomes active (lines around it). This occurs even when clicking the layer, NOT the Layer Mask or the Vector Mask (VM). Even with the VM inactive, mousing over it in the layer palette makes the VM path appear, briefly. Having the path pop into visibility is distracting when I'm trying to look at something else.
Everyone in our studio experiences this behavior.
What makes VM paths so dominant? Is there a pref somewhere that controls this? Is this an Open GL glitch? Is this a feature that I am using incorrectly? Or is this a documented bug?
(Because someone will ask, "Why have both layer mask and vector mask on one layer?"
I have both LM and VM because it gives me flexibility in editing, for instance I can have the LM hard edged, and the VM feather 10 pxl so it is easy to create a mask effect that has different qualities of edge blur within it).
Thanks in advance for anyone's input.
Craig
Photoshop CS4 Extended (vers. 11)
OS X 10.5.5
2x2.66 Dual Cor Intel Xeon
8GB memory

Ginger,
Using paths is an extremely powerful function in Photoshop and Illustrator. If you intend to do high-end work in either program learning the path tool is fundamental. It gives you the ability to create very smooth and graceful shapes. Often I find that I can create a path on an area of a photo that is much cleaner than the shape captured in the photograph of a product. Manufacturing runs, especially preliminary runs, have defects in the mold/process that when photographed at high resolution appear objectionable. Using the Pen Tool I will draw a better shape, the shape intended by the product designer, and use that mask to clean up manufacturing errors. Since these images are used in high-end display images, the cleaned-up image is acceptable to the client whent the straight photo would not be.
The Lasso tool is defintitely a "go to" option, but there is no substitute for the Pen Tool in making perfect selections. They can be converted into layer masks. They can have feathering applied. I often have layers with BOTH Layer Masks and Vector Masks because of the variable feathering that gives me. I can only suggest that the Pen Tool is a must-have in any Photoshop artist's tool-kit.
Craig

Vector mask missing

The "Auto Vector Mask" in Fireworks comes up totally blank when I try and apply it to one of my projects. Has anyone else experienced this, and if so can you please help? I do not receive any error message just an empty pop up window. I have uninstalled and re installed about 10 different times with any success. Please help ASAP. Thanks in advance.

A lot of glitches in Fireworks can be solved by deleting the preferences file. First you will have to make sure your Library folder is viewable and you are accessing the root folder on your hard drive. In recent releases of Mac OS, it is hidden by default.
First, show your Hard Drive by following these directions:
In the Finder, choose Preferences from the Finder menu.
Click the General icon on the toolbar.
Select "Hard disks" in the "Show these items on the desktop:" section.
Close the Finder Preferences window.
Next, you'll have to unhide the library folder by following these instructions:
In the Finder, choose View > Show View Options (or press Command-J).
Near the bottom of the resulting View-Options palette is a setting called Show Library Folder. Enable this option. Your Library folder is immediately visible.
In that folder, find the Preferences folder. Then in the preferences folder, find the file with this name (or similar): "com.adobe.Fireworks.12.0.0.plist" and delete it.
Restart your machine and Fireworks and your problem may be solved.

Unlink shapes from vector mask in PS CS 6

Hi guys,
Do you know how I can unlink the shape from vector mask like in Photoshop cs 4?
cs6:
cs4:
This is especially interessting for if I want to move pattern overlay or something else. I hope you can help me.
thx
http://xd-artist.de

It is relatively easy to create Collage PSD Template for Photoshop. There are several ways to design them. One way is to create image place holder layer with layer mask that you insert images into when you populate a copy of a template. Photoshop support thousands of layers.
The way I do it is to user Alpha channels to map where images go. Photoshop only supports 53 Alpha channels so my collage templates are limited to 53 images. I populate my template using Photoshop scripts. The Alpha channels are use to resize placed image files to fit the alpha channel sizes. Also to position the resized image and to virtually crop the resize images by adding the alpha channels to the image smart object layers. I have scripts that batch populate templates, Populate one and remain open in Photoshop for further tweaking. And a interactive script the allows you to select image as the template is being populated and tweak their placement and sizing. The script also have options for adding text layer with filename over the images in one of 9 locations. Layer styles can also be optionally added to image and text layers. Animated Templates are even possible.
Photo Collage Toolkit: http://www.mouseprints.net/old/dpr/PhotoCollageToolkit.html
One I populated today click on image for a Video Demo:

How do i remove transparent corners left by a vector mask?

Hi i'm new to photoshop but i've managed to create a logo that i'm quite pleased with. Mainly by fluke i think. I have created a vector mask for the background that has a gradient fill in it. The vector mask is a rectangle with curved corners. When i did image>trim most of the transparent stuff was trimmed leaving only the corners around the curved corners of the vector mask. ie i have a curved corner rectangle that has extra, square corners of transparent stuff. Hope that makes sense!
I have been advised to export the logo as a tif file but when i do the transparent corners show up white, ruining the effect of the curved edged border. Hope someone can help.
Zac

My Crafting Action Package has a sample action that can add Watermarks to any size image with layers containing transparent areas the actions uses three types of layers. A vector shape later, a text layer and a custom logo layer is place on to the image. The custom Logo layer is a file that contains transparency could be a gif file, Png file or PSD file. I used a PSD file . If you use a PSD file the Custom color logo layer itself can be edited by opening the smart object layer in Photoshop to make changes to it.
http://www.mouseprints.net/old/dpr/JJMacksCraftingActions.zip
Contains:
Action Actions Palette Tips.txt
Action Creation Guidelines.txt
Action Dealing with Image Size.txt
Action Enhanced via Scripted Photoshop Functions.txt
CraftedActions.atn (Sample Action set includes an example Watermarking action)
Sample Actions.txt (Photoshop CraftedActions set saved as a text file. This file has some additional comments I inserted describing how the actions work.)
12 Scripts for actions
Example of the Watermarks layers

Rasterizing Vector Mask Issues

Hello,
I'm running into a problem with CS3- all of the sudden.
I'm on XP running PS 10.0.1 with two gigs of ram
so... I create a vector shape and then rasterize it.
Until Friday, I was able to use my marquee tool to select a piece of that rasterized vector mask and then cut out the part.
Since Friday, when I use my marquee tool to select a piece of the rasterized vector mask, and then hit control x, the selection is added to the vector mask.
I'm sure that I, inadvertently, selected some setting or hit a keyboard short cut leaving me in this lurch, but any help would be soooo greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Sabrina

Hello Sabrina,
Make sure your background color is black at the moment.

Vector mask not crisp

1) Drew a solid green rectangle
2) Chose the shape tool again and set to Path option instead of shape layers
3) Draw out an oval or rectangular path
4) In layers panel, chose add vector mask
Even though Density is at 100% and Feather 0px in the Mask panel, I'm getting fuzzy / faded / or jagged/pixelated borders. Is there some setting I need to adjust to make this a sharp vector mask. I think it looked right before (with crisp borders) - not sure if I accidentally messed something up.
Thanks

Depending on what you're trying to mask, any pixels crossed by the border of the vector mask will certainly be partially masked in the interest of creating a smooth edge.
But upsample the image to a higher pixel count and the edge of the vector mask remains as crisp as it was.
Maybe I'm not understanding what you're expecting to see.
This is normal:
-Noel

Transform Vector Mask on Set [CS4]

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