Eyedropper changes current shape colour

[default5w4heblekm6h]

Hello

Why, if the current selected layer is a shape, does using the eyedropper change the colour of that shape?

I assume this is some well-meaning function. How can I turn it off please? I want the eyedropper simply to load a colour, not change the colour of anything.

[Semaphoric · Accepted solution]

Make sure the Shape layer is not active when you use the Eyedropper.

[default5w4heblekm6h]

Well, yeah.  But I shouldn't have to. I should be able to say that's not the way I want to use the eyedropper, I want to use it like I did before Adobe changed it .... for some reason. There should be a setting attached to the eyedropper.

[Lumigraphics · Accepted solution]

But that's HOW you change a shape's color, you have to use either a swatch or sampled color.

[NB, colourmanagement]

@Lumigraphics "But that's HOW you change a shape's color, you have to use either a swatch or sampled color."

right - so folks can see the thought process - the eyedropper is "dropping" colour into the shape - rather than picking it up.

Like a real eyedropper, it can pick up/sample and deposit it's contents. 

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[default5w4heblekm6h]

Yes. But. I can colour the shape if I want to by other means, can't I. And I am used to doing so.

The way it is now, I can't freely use the eyedropper for my own purposes, for whatever my next process is going to be, without automatically dropping colour into the shape, just because the shape layer happens to be selected.

My point is, it was not always this way in Photoshop, it's been changed at some point to be 'helpful', and I think I should be able to choose whether or not the eyedropper functions this way.

Anyway I wish I could close the thread, this is always how it goes.

[Jeff Arola]

Looks like a possible bug to me.

Doesn't do that in Photoshop 2023 and older versions.

In Photoshop 2024, not only does using the eyedropper change the color of the shape, but if one has a gradient or pattern as the fill, using the eyedropper changes the fill back to the color being sampled.

[default5w4heblekm6h]

Thank you Jeff.

It's nice to have a genuine issue taken seriously, rather than LEGENDS assuming you're an idiot and marking their own non-answers correct. Cheers!