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Participant
April 25, 2026
Question

Path won't fill in my document but fills if pasted into another document.

  • April 25, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 35 views

Using the pen tool, I have created a path.  It will not fill, despite the fact that it is a positive “Combine” shape and is a completely closed path.  If I copy and paste it to a new document, it fills just fine.  Paste it back into my working document, and it won't fill.  I have another path near it, on the same layer, which is filled.  I've tried using "Combine Shapes" to make sure it's a positive shape, I've made sure it is on my top layer, I've made sure the fill color doesn't match the color behind it.  This has happened before.  Windows 11 Pro, updated; all drivers up to date; Photoshop 27.5.0. 

    2 replies

    Inspiring
    April 25, 2026

    Can you upload a movie of what is going on so we can better see what is going on? Have you tried to convert the path to a selection and try to fill that?

    Participant
    April 26, 2026

    I worked around the issue by creating a second document of the same size and resolution.  With my path pasted into doc 2, I opened a layer and filled my path.  Then I copied and pasted the layer to my doc 1.  

    jane-e
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 25, 2026

    @oneredfish wrote: “I have another path near it, on the same layer”

     

    Paths are independent of layers (just like selections). When you fill or stroke a path, those pixels go on the selected layer.

     

    To better assist, we need a screenshot that includes:

    • Canvas
    • Toolbar with tool selected
    • Options bar for the tool you are using
    • Layers panel with layer selected
    • Paths panel with path selected

     

     

    To confirm, you drew a Path and not a Shape, is that correct? Also, which (exact) tool did you use to create it?

     

    Jane