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Luna Hsu
Participating Frequently
August 21, 2023
Answered

Why do my paths disappear when I use free transform?

  • August 21, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 753 views

 

Is there anyway to keep paths on the canva when I use free transform?

Thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Conrad_C

This is similar to a question you posted earlier. In both cases, it is not clear whether you have drawn just paths, or shape layers.

 

For both questions, if you have drawn paths, paths have no stroke or fill, so they are not visible except when selected. If they are paths only, they also will not print or export. If you want path visibility to persist, they must be shape layers. Like in your previous question where you were asked whether the tools were set to Shape, Paths, or Pixels in the options bar. If they were set to Shape, they would become shape layers that remain visible when not selected.

2 replies

Conrad_C
Community Expert
Conrad_CCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 21, 2023

This is similar to a question you posted earlier. In both cases, it is not clear whether you have drawn just paths, or shape layers.

 

For both questions, if you have drawn paths, paths have no stroke or fill, so they are not visible except when selected. If they are paths only, they also will not print or export. If you want path visibility to persist, they must be shape layers. Like in your previous question where you were asked whether the tools were set to Shape, Paths, or Pixels in the options bar. If they were set to Shape, they would become shape layers that remain visible when not selected.

    L
    Luna HsuAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    August 21, 2023

    To answer your doubt, I only drawn paths for perspective guide so I can move them when I need it.

    (as the video you can see)

    And I kind of understand now, unless the paths were selected or I set them to shape, they would be gone if I selected other stuff to move or transform it right?

    Bojan Živković11378569
    Community Expert
    Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 21, 2023
    quote

    And I kind of understand now, unless the paths were selected or I set them to shape, they would be gone if I selected other stuff to move or transform it right?

    By @Luna Hsu

     

    Thats correct, you can see paths on your canvas but you must have path selected in the Paths panel, in that case you can not select layer and enter free transform mode, it will enter transform mode for paths not layer content.

    As shown on screenshot above, selected path (1) will cause perspective lines to be visible on canvas but also and transform command (3) which will allow you to enter free transform path despite the fact that layer is selected in the Layers panel (2).

      Bojan Živković11378569
      Community Expert
      Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
      Community Expert
      August 21, 2023

      What you mean by "keep paths on the canva when I use free transform"?

       

      Can you further explain what exactly you want to ask.

        L
        Luna HsuAuthor
        Participating Frequently
        August 21, 2023

        Sorry for my poor English,

        The gray lines in the video are the paths made by pen tool, and I use them as perspective guides, but when I use free transform to paste the graphic(align the guides), they just disappear...

        Bojan Živković11378569
        Community Expert
        Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
        Community Expert
        August 21, 2023

        Why you enetr free transform mode when pasting graphic is my first question. You can not be in transform mode and to paste, before pasting you must commit transformation.

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