Skip to main content
Inspiring
Nov 2, 2026 2:30 AM UTC
Open for Voting

Photoshop 27.11 marquee gets stuck in subtractive mode

27.11’s marquee tool keeps switching to subtractive mode and not switching back.  This was pretty confusing the first time it happened.  I finally found a consistent repro:

  • Drag a marquee normally (in normal mode).
  • Hold alt, which temporarily activates subtractive mode when a marquee is already active, and drag a marquee completely enclosing the first marquee.  This will completely deselect the marquee.
  • Release the alt key.  The marquee mode doesn’t return to normal.

The temporary subtract mode isn’t deactivated when alt is released if the drag completely deselects the current marquee.

 

1 reply

D Fosse
Community Expert
Community Expert
Nov 2, 2026 9:58 AM UTC

Actually it makes sense, and it’s fully consistent with any other scenario where a selection is deselected. When you don’t have a selection, the tool stays on the last settings.

As it happens, I wrote a passage in another thread just now, which fits perfectly here too:

“ For what it’s worth, I’ve always found it much easier to adapt than to fight. As long as I know how the software behaves, and it’s predictable, I work with it. I don’t have a problem working with this.”

Translate