Pen tool defaulting to "combine shapes"

[mscuff]

Hello, I was wonder what would cause the Pen Tool to default to the "Combine Shapes" option in the Path operation? Whenever I use my Pen Tool, I need to have it set at "Exclude Overlapping Shapes" but something is causing it to always set back at "Combine Shapes". I am operating on a Windows machine.

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

Have you changed the setting before starting the Path? 

What have you done for all-purpose trouble-shooting so far? 

Restoring Preferences after making sure all customized presets like Actions, Patterns, Brushes etc. have been saved might be a good starting point:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/basic-trouble-shooting-steps.html

[defaultz1uqjwz23rss]

What I found that works: 

1. Create document

2. Select pen tool

3. Select "Exclude Overlapping Shapes" from "Path Operations" menu (Do this before you start drawing!) 

4. Draw your shapes

5. Make your selection (after selecting all shapes)

For me this works, and is "sticky" (doesn't reset)… Good luck!

[JackB_Chicago]

I'm having the same issue ( for like 30 Years) I'm a Pro Ad Agency Retoucher since the mid nineties, and this has happened consistently for me since PS 2.5 that needed 7 disks to install.

I ONLY use exclude overlapping shapes, and a few times a month it pops onto " combine shapes". telling me to select it  before hand isn't a fix.  

It's really frustrating to be 40 minutes into a complex path, only to discover all the interior components of thg path are not converting to selctions.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Well, you can always select all the subPathItems by cmd-click-dragging over the Canvas and change the Shape Operations via the Options Bar.