Participant

Answered

Auto Select Path Points - Can't Drag Select

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
December 4, 2017
8 replies
19978 views

Hi All,

Since I've installed AE 2018, whenever I try to drag-select several points on a path I created from a shape, it automatically selects the closest point/side of the shape and moves it (even when I click outside the selected shape). Does anyone know how can I turn this option off?

Thanks!

Omer.

Correct answer Rick Gerard

This sounds more like user error than a feature.

If you have created shapes with the parametric tools (Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon ...) then you must convert the parametric shapes to a bezier path before you can edit the points.

To edit path points on a shape layer or mask you should have the pen tool selected(g). Trying to use the selection tool to edit vector paths is ineffective and frustrating.

Use the Ctrl/Cmnd and Alt/Option keys as modifiers.

If one point, multiple points, or no points are selected hovering over a path will give you the Add Point tool, hovering over an anchor point will give you the select point (black arrowhead) selection tool for selecting that point. Hovering over a bezier handle will give you the selection tool to grab the handle.

If all points are selected holding down the Ctrl/Cmnd tool will change the pen tool to the group select tool (white arrowhead) which will give you the option of dragging a selection around multiple points or just selecting a new single point. If you have multiple points selected pressing Ctrl/Cmnd + t will enable the transform rectangle allowing you to scale rotate and move multiple points. The escape key or enter/return key will exit the transform tool. Using the transform feature changes the tool back to the selection tool so you have to remember to activate the pen tool for further editing. I am in the habit of pressing the "g" key right after enabling transform so I don't forget to go back to the pen tool after transforming vertices. Holding down the Ctrl/Cmnd key will also change the tool to the delete point tool if you hover over a vertex.

Holding down the Alt/Option key will change the pen tool to the Convert Path tool and allow you to select bezier handles, modify the tension on Rotobezier paths or remove the curve on a selected vertex. The Add Point tool pops up when holding down the Alt/Option key when you hover over a line segment.

I don't think I missed anything. If this workflow does not work for you make sure you are running the latest build of AE. If you are still having problems let us know.

S

Swemba

Inspiring

This issue is still ongoing 22.0.1. If there are keframes on a shape layer you cannot correctly select multiple points or draw a selection point to select multiple points.

S

Sumairex

Participant

I also found the issue in 2022 version, but looks like we don't have to remove keyframes but only need to remove

expression if any added to the layer, then the ability to edits paths become available.

P

phoenix_darkdirk

Participating Frequently

This is the actual solution - turn 'fx' off for the layer that has the mask (in the layer options area on the left, 4th option from the left), you will be able to drag, or 'marquee' select vertices again. Turn 'fx' back on, and you will be back to this annoying not-able-to-drag-select issue that everyone has been having. Can not actually believe that someone was adamant this was a mouse/display driver error. No matter how long you have been working with a particular software, keep your mind open to new issues, different workflows that may require new solutions. I would suggest that the other user has never experienced this as it was simply not a part of their workflow. For me the issue was Animation Composer transition presets, but I think any expression-controlled layer effect or system may cause the same issue.

M

Max in Motion

Participant

This is defimitely still ongoing. I've been using AE professionally for seven years and can confirm it's not user-error. I had an AE shape that I converted to bezier, and was able to lasso points as expected. As soon as I applied keyframes to the shape layer (a simple scale-up), the lasso function stopped working, and instead it would simply select the closest point to the cursor and drag the bezier handles from that.

D

dskessler

Participating Frequently

I've also been using AE for 20 years and am currently experiencing this bug with AE2021. This is not user error, Rick. I know how to work with bezier shapes and select individual points. It's simply not working the way that it used to, Rick.
The shapes that were giving me problems were imported over from Illustrator. They are bezier shapes but individual points can't be selected. The only solution for me was to redraw the shapes that weren't working in AE. Fortunately, they were simple shapes. Hopefully, AE will fix this soon.

Z

Zamboni4231

Participant

Would also like to confirm this unexpected behavior in hopes that Adobe will take notice. This is not a driver issue nor a simple failure to ensure the shape is created with bezier paths. They are infuriatingly unpredictable and selections most often require outlandish workarounds due to the inability to marquee select. Haven't tested extensively enough to vouch for whether or not this issue is isolated to Illustrator imports, but it is present and makes editing shapes a true nightmare.

RFred

Participating Frequently

It is not exclusive to AI imports. I created simple chat bubble starting with ae rectangle, convert to bezier, edit. Then later try to edit again and I can not select a single point any longer unless i create a key frame then delete it. Then I can edig for a few moments until it stops and i make a keyframe and delete it again.

T

TheScotsman86

Participant

I seem to be having serious issues where i can't move individual points like in other Adobe programs. Very inconsistent and very frustrating. I have no idea how to edit a single point in a shape and have to rely on importing custom shapes made in Illustrator and imported as PNGs. Absolutely ridiculous and a terrible example of a poor UI. Sort it out Adobe and create some consistency within your software programs.

R

Rajovo

Inspiring

It's still the same. I work with AE for almost 20 years, yet I have huge issues keyframing shape layers (paths) precisely because of this. You select two points on a path, yet the whole thing moves. You then shift-select two points, yet a single f***ng point moves. I can't wrap my head around this. I dread working with shape layers.

eva nage

Participating Frequently

From what experiments I tried now, this only happens when you have keyframes applied to that shape layer and then try to modify the paths. The moment I removed the keyframes, I was able to drag-select the points again as before.

-- * -- More colour-coded stuff in all Adobe apps, please. --*--

thejohnnyluu

Participating Frequently

THIS SOLVED IT FOR ME!

B

benj18988325

Participant

i also had this issue and found that htis worked right away.

im using CC2018

After Effects CS6 || Converting a Shape into a Bezier Path - YouTube

basically redraw your shape but hold down ALT while your drawing your shape, it makes it a bezier shape.

T

tdoherty0610

Participant

Go to the layer, find the shape path and right click to convert to bezier path. Then you can select individual anchor points

R

Rick Gerard

Correct answer

Community Expert

This sounds more like user error than a feature.

If you have created shapes with the parametric tools (Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon ...) then you must convert the parametric shapes to a bezier path before you can edit the points.

To edit path points on a shape layer or mask you should have the pen tool selected(g). Trying to use the selection tool to edit vector paths is ineffective and frustrating.

Use the Ctrl/Cmnd and Alt/Option keys as modifiers.

If one point, multiple points, or no points are selected hovering over a path will give you the Add Point tool, hovering over an anchor point will give you the select point (black arrowhead) selection tool for selecting that point. Hovering over a bezier handle will give you the selection tool to grab the handle.

If all points are selected holding down the Ctrl/Cmnd tool will change the pen tool to the group select tool (white arrowhead) which will give you the option of dragging a selection around multiple points or just selecting a new single point. If you have multiple points selected pressing Ctrl/Cmnd + t will enable the transform rectangle allowing you to scale rotate and move multiple points. The escape key or enter/return key will exit the transform tool. Using the transform feature changes the tool back to the selection tool so you have to remember to activate the pen tool for further editing. I am in the habit of pressing the "g" key right after enabling transform so I don't forget to go back to the pen tool after transforming vertices. Holding down the Ctrl/Cmnd key will also change the tool to the delete point tool if you hover over a vertex.

Holding down the Alt/Option key will change the pen tool to the Convert Path tool and allow you to select bezier handles, modify the tension on Rotobezier paths or remove the curve on a selected vertex. The Add Point tool pops up when holding down the Alt/Option key when you hover over a line segment.

I don't think I missed anything. If this workflow does not work for you make sure you are running the latest build of AE. If you are still having problems let us know.

torid79165468

Participant

I am having the same issue using AE CC2018. I do not believe it is user error, as I have worked extensively with shape layers and have never had this type of issue in the past. All my paths are bezier paths, and I find that when I click and drag outside of the shape's area in order to lasso and select several points, instead of dragging a lasso around the points to select them as it has worked in the past, AE chooses the closest vertex to the cursor and moves it. I have also found that if I simply click in a random area (not on path or even necessarily in the shape's area) AE will select the closest vertex. This is extremely unhelpful and limiting my workflow severely. Wondering if auto selecting the closest vertex is a setting that can be toggled off or if it is a new "feature" that doesn't work the way it should.

R

Rick Gerard

Community Expert

That sounds like display issues. Is your version of AE up-to-date? How about your GPU drivers? What os? Dual monitors?

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