Editing Shape Properties after Masking

[Meg Cook]

Hello,

I'm created a simple shape and applied a clipping mask to it. However, I am unhappy with the line thickness of the outside stroke. I selected the shape and went to the properties panel, but now it only shows the properties for a shape mask. Even when I switch the clipping masks back to regular layers the ellipse is still only showing shape mask properties. Is there a way around this?

Thank you in advance!

[Earth Oliver]

When asking about a potential bug, always include your OS and the exact version of Ps you're using.
I think the mods here need to make an effort to add a prompt for this info when creating new posts.

[Meg Cook]

Sorry - I didn't think I was reporting a potential bug, I thought I was just not understanding a feature. 

PS: 2021

OS: Catalina - 10.15.7

However, I have found a way around the issue I reported. I can use the Path Selection Tool to select the shape and then edit the properties in the control bar.

[JJMack]

You thought you were just not understanding a feature.  IMO there has always  been a issue with strokes in this area.  I thinks that is correct to not understand.  A shape layer is a fill layer that has an empty fill, or a solid color fill, or a gradient fill or a pattern fill that has a vector layer mask. The  shape layer vector late mask  path can also be stroked The only the fill layers pixels within the Vector layer mask shape are visible, However the shape layer's  vector layer mask can be stroked inside, outside and on the vector layer mask path.    So only some of the layer Pixels are visible including the stroked pixels.   If you Clip layers to the shape layer the shape layer visibility  pixels will mask the layers clipped to it. The layers can only overlay or blend into pixels that are visible in the shape layer.

 Here I created a Shape layer with an empty fill and stroked it with a thick  black stroke outside the vector path.  I add two color layers above the shape layer. Then clipped them to the shape layer so  you can see the results.   Parts of the black  stroke is covered over  with red and green.  However when the shape fill layer is not empty  the stroke masking is not done correctly IMO. The Stroke can not be overlaid even inside the shape fill area. It as though the  stroke is applied on all three layers.

Just don't stroke shape layers used as clipping mask.

[Earth Oliver]

that's not what they were asking... read the description again, then look at their properties panel.

[JJMack]

The Stoke is associated with the Shape not the layer mask. The Op only has a Mask option in the Properties panel because they warped the live ellipse shape the shape layer no longer a live shape that has properties  and sliders in the properties panel.   The Shape layer Stoke the controls are in Tools option bar with vector tools when the shape layer is  target and you have a vector tool active.  Still it is strange  that the stoke behave differently when there  an empty fill and the shape layer is used as a clipping mask. 

[Earth Oliver]

the Properties should have fill and outline available, so there might be a bug if they're not visible. Was the issue just that shape or all shapes?

[Meg Cook]

It was an issue with all of the shapes.

[Jeff Arola]

As far as i can tell, only shapes created with one of the Shape Tools displays the Shapes Properties when clicking on the Shape layer thumbnail. Creating shapes using the pen tool or converting selections, paths or text to shapes does not display the Shape Properties when clicking on the Shape layer thumbnail in the layers panel.

Whether that's an oversight, bug or as intended, one can only speculate until an adobe employee comments on such.

[Earth Oliver]

good call. I had assumed they made the shape with the shape tool, but they probably used something else.

[Meg Cook]

I appreciate you pointing that out. I should have also specified that these were created with the Shape Tool. They are ovals that were then warped. I was able to adjust them in the properties panel at first, but at some point (I'm guessing after first applying a clipping mask to one of the shapes) I was unable to edit any of the shapes in the properties panel. 

[Jeff Arola · Accepted solution]

If you did any transform operations not available in the Shape Properties Panel, then that will turn the Shape into a regular path or a non live shape layer and then the Shape Properties will nor display any more.

[Meg Cook]

I see - thank you for that clarification! I did not get that pop up window when I applied the warp, so I had no idea!

[JJMack]

You can still change the stroke with the shape layer targeted and you have a vector tool active. You change the shape's stroke properties in the Tools Option Bar. It is still a shape that you can edit it is not dead.,