Paths always inverted wrong way

[CMcDowall]

Scenerio: I use the pen tool to create a simple path. In the paths palette is shows up as a work path. I select the work path, then at the bottom of the path palette click on the "Load path as a selection" - and the selection is made on the image area. When I fill or paint, it floods the area OUTSIDE my path, to the edges of the image. To work INSIDE the path, I must inverse the selection, every time, over and over, all day long.  It did not used to be that way.

Does anyone know how to make the active area INSIDE the path, like it was a version or two ago ?

Many gracias.

Craig

[racecardriversr]

Sounds glitchy...you may have inadvertently changed a setting. Try quitting and reset your Photoshop Preference File:

To restore preferences quickly using a keyboard shortcut: Press and hold (hold down until you get a dialog box prompt) Alt+Control+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (Mac OS) as you startPhotoshop. You are prompted to delete the current settings. The new preferences files are created the next time you start Photoshop.

[davescm · Accepted solution]

Hi Craig

Look at the setting of the pen tool when you create the path - specifically this setting - it sounds like you have it set to subtract.

Dave

[CMcDowall]

Thanks Dave, that is extremely helpful. I checked it out as a regular fill, and with painting. Combine Shapes is the correct setting.

Warmly, Craig

[Boodiba]

I had the same problem and same solution. Thanks Dave!

[HepaLP]

You da man Dave, fixed it on mine.

[benjaminm2019]

The tool Dave mentioned is where I solved this issue myself, except you may have to play around with the different settings of said tool. For my particular situation I found intersecting the shape areas to give me the desired outcome.

[Nicqui]

OMG - I have been sitting here for hours trying to work out why my selection (path made using the Pen Tool) was selecting the outside border of the photo instead of the contents inside the Path.

You have just saved me many more hours - thank you so so much!!!

[Guest]

Thanx man. You're breathtaking!

[forebrain]

Is this the default?

I have the same problem with the "inverted" path when creating a clipping path for an .eps file, and was tearing my hair out until I found your solution.

Thank you for sharing.

[brianb88472472]

Dave, this has been bugging me for months — THANK YOU!

[jelawfish]

you made my day. thanks a lot dave.

[Anya Anti]

OMG thank you! That's been driving me crazy, fixed it for me

[ernie@neotech]

Thanks Dave! you solved my proble too!

[Renei27541853cteh]

Thank you so much Dave!!!

[anumgraphics28062392znw7]

Great Thank You

[소희276413996o97]

Thank you Dave!!!!!!!!!

[Troy35340128gcg8]

This has fixed mine. I've been just dealing with it for forever seems like. Thank you!

[Angelica35286845v7w2]

This fixed my issue. No idea how I turned that on in the middle of using the tool!

[jane-e]

No idea how I turned that on in the middle of using the tool!

By @Angelica35286845v7w2

You might have accidentally tapped the minus key (-) when trying to do something else.

From Julieanne Kost:

https://jkost.com/blog/2021/07/working-with-the-shape-tools-in-photoshop.html

• Tap the + (plus) key to Combine Shapes (set the path operation in the Option bar to Combine Shapes).
• Tap the – (minus) key to Subtract the front shape (set the path operation in the Option bar to Subtract Front Shape).
• Tap the * (multiply) key to set the path operation to Exclude Overlapping Shapes.
  Note: this shortcut requires input from an extended keyboard (shift + 8 does not work). 

Jane

[peterb77798321]

Really very helpfull Dave, Thank so so much!!

[ralph_3029]

Thank you so much 😊👌

[Outtacontext]

I am having the same problem. What I've found is that changing to Combine Shapes works on new paths I create. But it doesn't seem to be working for paths I've already created (where the selection was Subtract Front Shape). Is there a way to fix this for paths I've already created?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I am having the same problem. What I've found is that changing to Combine Shapes works on new paths I create. But it doesn't seem to be working for paths I've already created (where the selection was Subtract Front Shape). Is there a way to fix this for paths I've already created?

By @Outtacontext

Select the SubPathItems with the Pen Tool and change the Path Operations accordingly. 

[Triad_Creative5037]

Thank you