Participant

Question

2 point line (pen tool) bug

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
December 8, 2017
5 replies
7588 views

I'm trying to create a simple line with the pen tool (shape layer). 2 points, straight up and down.
For some reason after effects wont let me select this shape unless i select a random dot in the middle of the screen. As soon as I move one of these points over a bit so that the line is diagonal it seems to work fine. Same goes for if I curve one of the points. But If the line is straight (horizontal or vertical) after effects puts a random point in the centre of the screen. If i click on this point it removes my other anchor points.

This has never been an issue for me in older versions of after effects. The same issue is happening to the person I work with.

I cant seem to find any info on it.

This topic has been closed for replies.

Giedriuqaz

Participant

It is likely a bug. I did some tests and find out it appears when you draw a straight line vertical or horizontal (it always occurrences when drawing with shift)

E

Electric_fierceness157F

Participating Frequently

This is still not fixed? I am totally new to After Effects and ran into this issue today. It's too bad that Rick isn't understanding or addressing the issue. Not only can I not select and move the straight line but sometimes it even disappears from the screen. Additionally, automatically centering the anchor point is also not possible. There is some rogue blue point off to the side which is not selectable. In search of the reason and found no solution in multiple forums.

Roei Tzoref

Legend

Reason -I assume some kind of anomaly since the bounding box of the layer has no pixels (since the path is completly straight) - this needs fixing of course.

solution - the workarounds are fair. Nothing else to do but voting to fixing it. Not sure if there's a vote for it in the Ae user voice page.

Kevin-Monahan

Community Manager

Hi TomS,

Have you filed a bug yet? Please do so, so that the developers can provide a fix.

Thanks,
Kevin

Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community and Engagement Strategist – Adobe Pro Video and Audio

B

brianhorne8

Participating Frequently

I filed a bug report the day I discovered the issue. The Adobe team is aware and has notified me they're looking into a fix.

Husni_Hidayat

Participant

Has this bug been fixed?

B

brianhorne8

Participating Frequently

I just noticed this bug as well while trying to create a comp with a lot of straight lines. If I use the pen tool to make a 2 point straight line, I cannot use the move tool to highlight the line and move it. It has to be selected in the layer panel and then moved using either the anchor point or the arrow keys. However, if I make a line that's not perfectly straight, I can drag my move tool over it and see the path highlighted, as well as being able to click and drag the layer to move it as desired.

Here's a quick video showing the issue:

After Effects Path/Straight Line Bug - YouTube

Hopefully Adobe can fix this, or hopefully it's something I'm just doing wrong. It's late and I could possibly be having one of those moments, but it seems like a bug...

R

Rick Gerard

Community Expert

Most likely cause of your problem is user error. You need to use the Alt/Option and Ctrl/Cmnd modifier keys to have access to all of the pen tool options and you need to pay careful attention to the cursor. This shows a mask path but the technique is exactly the same for a shape layer created with the pen tool.

P.M.B

Legend

Note the title of the thread.

~Gutterfish

P.M.B

Legend

I have seen a post like this before but I cannot remember if it is a known bug or not.

I cannot duplicate the behavior exactly though.

When I draw a two point line (straight) and center the anchor point I DO get the ghost dot at the center of the screen

however I CAN select my line and move it around (the ghost dot moves with it) nothing happens if I click the ghost dot.

The preceding is in AE 2017.

In 2018 everything is the same for me except when I click on the ghost dot the path vanishes completely (both visually & also in the shape layer's attributes)

and the ghost dot moves to where the anchor point was.

~Gutterfish

P.M.B

Legend

This is my earlier post. There is definitely some weirdness going on.

Gutter-Fish wrote
I cannot duplicate the behavior exactly.
When I draw a two point line (straight) and center the anchor point I DO get the ghost dot at the center of the screen
however I CAN select my line and move it around (the ghost dot moves with it) nothing happens if I click the ghost dot.
That's in AE 2017.
In 2018 everything is the same for me except when I click on the ghost dot the path vanishes completely (both visually & also in the shape layer's attributes) and the ghost dot moves to where the anchor point was.

To anyone else who may be reading this: the "ghost dot" is NOT the anchor point. The ghost dot remains even after centering the AP.

~Gutterfish

R

Rick Gerard

Community Expert

I did not see the tool change when you were selecting the endpoints. I can reproduce the selection issues if I am a little sloppy in my technique but holding down Ctrl/Cmnd and waiting for the open selection tool gives me the ability to drag around either endpoint to make the selection and then move it anywhere I want. Even if I select the entire line with the solid selection tool, then hold down Ctrl/Cmnd and move the tool off the line to get the open selection tool, I can drag around either endpoint and make a selection then drag the point around anywhere I want to drag it. There is no change in behavior from any previous version of AE that I recall that has the pen tool.

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