Photoshop Paths and masking

[fdarosa01]

What has happened to paths in Photoshop?  I used to make an outer path, and then another inner path, and was able to mask the subjet easily (it would exclue whatever was in the inner path).  Now it has changed and only the outer path gets selected or masked.  Before you say go to the "combine, intersect, subtract, exclude" shapes. I've tried it many times, and it does not work.  I checked and unchecked "auto-add/delete" and nothing happens.  Please help!!!

[davescm]

I am going to say "combine, intersect,subtract, exclude" because path operations do work.

Make your first path, e.g the outer with path operations set to combine.

Make your second path, (the inner).

Now with the second path still selected change the path operation to subtract

Dave

[fdarosa01]

Thanks for the quick response Dave, it worked, but I didn't even change the path to "subtract". I litterally kept it on "combine" for the entire process... I don't have an explanation for that, but as long as it works I will go with it. Cheers.

[davescm]

If path operations are reversed then try resetting the tool and, if that does not fix it, try resetting preferences.

Dave