P: Pen Tool Not Working as it should

[David_Jacklin]

I have just updated Photoshop to v22.3 (10 March 2021). When I try to use the Pen Tool it puts the nodes in but doesn't create a linking line. I have closed everything and re-started my PC but the error still there. I've been trying to find a way to report this to Adobe but this is the only feedback area I can find. I have been using Photoshop for over 20 years and using the Pen Tool all that time. I need to complete a job but I'm now stuck as I need this tool.

Can I uninstall this update?

Anyone else having this problem?

Do Adobe monitor this feed?

[davidt3027049]

This seems to be effecting many users both on Windows and mac, so hopefully it will get fixed in the next update.

However i have not seen an official response from adobe yet.

[David_Jacklin]

Hi Christoph. Thanks for answering all the points in my call for help. I have installed the previous version of PS and completed the task I was working on successfully. I very much appreciate your help. Dave

[Klickflip]

COMON ADOBE! This is fundamental tools complete ballsup! 

I'm in the middle of a big really complicated path tool cutout & retouch job . 

First today had to update to 22.3 from 21.1 because the line tool would not show field to set fill px size. Read that is was a bug and to update to 22.3. 

Fixed line tool , but now I'm completely stuck as I need to draw hundreds of complicated paths. , and will continue to need to use line tool. 

As someone mentioned so many basic bugs the last couple of years, that have cost me time and money on jobs trying to solve Adobe problems. 

Could I offer to be a beta tester , please? 

Adobe you really need pro retouchers to test the most needed tools and smooth operation, who can stress test things to the max with 100 layer 30GB comps of each release. 

There's many of us that that is standard, and need PS to be fast and flawless. 

Back to cc 2019 for the time being.. which BTW still has a huge bug 

If you are using Rulers visible then it makes it unusable, when using clone or brushes or masking. There is a huge delay and jumping problem with brush input moves/ strokes. 

Thank you

S

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Have you tried the work-around of maintaining a Work Path while working on named Paths? 

[DERJUNG]

I also stumbled across the problem today. From now on I will ignore any Adobe updates. It can't be that with every update the programm has new bug. I don't understand why this is not tested properly internally. Now I seriously have to uninstall my Photoshop and install an old version? 
Please, before you release the next update, test it. What I also don't find cool is that I now have to set up a test machine for every update in order to avoid such problems in production. Think about when this happens in an agency with many computers. The whole department is paralysed for some time.

Please excuse me for writing in such a testy manner, but I had the problem once before that the path tool did not work properly and Photoshop always crashed and it cost me some nerves until the problem was solved. I am just tense!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

First off: For me the work-around (maintaining a Work Path while working on named Paths) works just fine. 

Secondly: If you re-install the older version make sure to back-up all your customised presets first. I think I have read from people who lost their settings when rolling back the Photoshop version. 

[Anti-Alias]

Yes, it's true, you can lose settings by rolling back.

I forgot to backup my PS settings in one of my rollbacks and had to drag them from Time Machine so no big deal but it's good to have a little folder with them where the settings are always there waiting for the next rollback. Not just the workspace, but actions and other presets got screwy. You can get them back from your backup drive if you have one.

[Dominik Sourcé]

The proposed workaround does indeed work perfectly fine. And to be honest it's even a rather easy workaround. Nonetheless I do want to emphasize that the number of severe bugs is growing and growing. And paths are one of THE most essential tools in Photoshop. So this annoys a lot of us many times a day. Please fix this within days or weeks not months.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Same problem here. This is costing me time and money. Grr

Thanks for the workaround suggestions.

[cherryj1977]

I have the same issue here for Photoshop CC 22.3.0, rubber band option and connecting lines not showing as before on Mac 10.15.7 Catalina. Advanced Graphics Processor Settings on Drawing Mode.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

The issue has been acknowledged; until a fix is released you can either use the work-around or roll back Photoshop. 

[cherryj1977]

Thanks, just adding more info if required. Rolled back to 22.2.

All the best!

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

WTF has happen to the path tool?!?!?! I can't work on any named path, it just draws individual nodes!! What an absolute joke!!! When will Photoshop start testing the release properly before releasing them, this impacts workflow massively!!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Work-around: Maintain Work Path while working on named Paths. 

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Phew! glad I found this post. I was going crazy, checked all my settings, deleted preferences, wondered what I was doing wrong... rolled back to 22.2 🙂 

Look forward to the fix. thanks

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

*Stuart Reeves 

I thought I was going to chuck my computer out the window. I burned a whole afternoon thinking I was doing something wrong, so frustrating.  Thanks for posting!!!

[PECourtejoie]

Hi, I removed the accepted answer as it is a workaround, while the current version seems to have a bug that might need to be addressed.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Making a dummy Work Path seems to be a workaround.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

On mac 23.3, creating a dummy Work Path seems a simpler workaround than reverting to a previous version.

[ReneDamkot]

Copy from my post here

There's another (new) issue with paths: I cannot create a path unless I first switch from shape to path and back. Otherwise I just get a bunch of unconnected path components.

Screencast of the issue (100% repeatable every time on my machine).

Dropbox link to screencast

Also, it seems to me that I see a lot more spinning beachball when using the latest version PS CC instead of 2019 but, since I need to get work done, I haven't been using 2021 a lot… 

Back to PS CC 2019 for me, I guess. Again.

OSX 10.14.6

Mac Pro (Mid 2010)

3,33 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon

48 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

AMD Radeon HD 7970 3 GB

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Same problem!!! I hope there is a fix soon!

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Thanks for the work around. It still slowing me down because if I want to edit an existing path I have to copy it onto a work path then rename it. I wish Adobe would test the bread and butter tools so at least we can still work and not problem solve! 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

That seems unnecessary. 

Just create a Work Path and then select the existing Path and work on that – as long as a Work Path exists working on named Paths should work as expected. 

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Paths that have already been created can no longer be edited. Once points are deleted, they can no longer be merged. With new paths, only segments and no anchor points are created. This is not just a scandal, it is a disaster. I wonder why more photo editors aren't asking for it.
Please help quickly.

[Dominik Sourcé]

Yes, it's really an annoying bug. But there is a workaround available: As long as you keep a Work Path in the document, named/saved paths behave as they should. See that thread for more details: https://feedback.photoshop.com/conversations/photoshop/photoshop-2230-pen-tool-not-working-as-it-sho...