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laurad31782998
Participant
September 8, 2018
Answered

Cant create dotted line after "making work path"

  • September 8, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 2097 views

i have created dotted lines around images a ton of times by magic wanding the area I need, expanding or contracting, right clicking 'make work path', clicking on the custom shape tool, and then having no fill, stroke the color I want and selecting dotted line option...… for some reason today, it wont let me even click on the FILL color or STROKE at all! once I "make work path", it no longer allows me to make a line or color..... I even deleted and reinstalled PS! I have the newest version and just did the update. still nothing.

what could be going on? is there some setting I accidently hit, and now it wont work?

please help! its driving me crazy and im trying to get a project done. and now im at a stand still.

thanks bunches!!!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer davescm

    I've just re-read your first post

    After your step "Make Work Path", select the pen tool and in the options bar click "Make Shape"

    Now you can click on the shape tool and alter the stroke and fill

    Dave

    2 replies

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 8, 2018

    You can also stroke the path with the brush, (or any of the tools for that matter).

    A hard round brush will produce dots rather than dashes.  You need to adjust brush spacing to make it work.

    To make a dashed line this way, you need to make a short dash on a new layer and define it as a new brush preset (Edit menu).

    Then adjust spacing as before, and set Angle Jitter to Direction

    It is much better to use the Shape tool as Dave showed you, but stroking a path is such a useful and powerful tool, it's good to have it in your arsenal of Photoshop tricks and tips.  I use it for placing a white highlight on an edge, like on the bridge stanchions below

    Or if you have composed an object and it looks too sharp, Ctrl click to select its outline > Make the selection a path > and stroke with the blur tool.  You need to set the tool you are stroking with before applying the stroke.

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 8, 2018

    In the options bar , is the shape tool set to Shape or Path or Pixels. Only Shape gives you the Fill and Stroke options

    Dave

    L
    laurad31782998Author
    Participant
    September 8, 2018

    hi- it is set at shape.

    its so weird. I never had a problem b4.

    thanks for your help!

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    September 8, 2018

    I've just re-read your first post

    After your step "Make Work Path", select the pen tool and in the options bar click "Make Shape"

    Now you can click on the shape tool and alter the stroke and fill

    Dave

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