polygonal lasso cursor changes to an arrow... why?

[wgullo]

Sometimes when using the Polygonal Lasso tool to make an extended selection across the artboard, the cursor changes to a thick arrow making precise selections challenging. I've used PS for many years, and have never experienced this until this latest version (or maybe 2022, I don't remember).

I use PS on an almost daily basis and would love to disable the feature if there is a setting for it.

Photoshop 2023, version 24.7.0.

iMac 24 inch, M1

Ventura 13.4

16GB ram

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Can you provide a screen recording illustrating the issue? 

[wgullo]

This morning I've been using the Polygonal Lasso to make a selection in several images to purposively get this odd cursor to appear... but thus, far no luck. The next time it happen, I will post a screen capture. Thanks.

[Trevor.Dennis]

I'm trying to think of what might cause that, and I am coming up with nothing.  I have even tried using the tool and experimenting with modifier keys and spring loaded shortcuts.  It's 'Big' arrow bit that makes it so hard work out.  I am wondering if it is another app working in the background, and stealing focus from Photoshop?  Can you think of anything else that might have been open when the issue ocurred?

[wgullo]

UPDATE: so it happened again this morning. In this instance, I am adding to an existing selection and after moving the  Polygonal lasso tool to the bottom of the screen, and then vertically to complete the selection... an arrow replaces the normal polygonal lasso. (This always occurs when moving the lasso tool vertically.)

In the attached pic... the arrowhead is much broader than the Mac OS cursor. 

I have no other apps in the background other than Creative Cloud.

It has always been my practice to permanently toggle off all Siri and Spotlight options, hot corners, accessibilty shortcuts, etc. Apart from Adobe apps and Wacom, there are no other non-Apple apps or browsers. I have no anti-virus, utilities, social media, games, etc. It's is a dedicated photo editing workstation.

I now suspect this is an Adobe issue, perhaps Ventura related.

[wgullo]

btw... this is not a huge problem, just a minor inconvenience as I need to escape-out of the selection and begin again.

[Trevor.Dennis]

I doubt there's anything in the Ventura Known Issues page, but maybe worth a look through

Photoshop and Ventura | macOS 13 (adobe.com)

BTW  I don't include the Polygonal Lasso tool in any of my custom toolbars.  I just use the plain vanilla lasso tool together with the Alt (Opt) key.  AFAIK I am not missing any functionality, so I wonder if you could bypass the issue going the same way?

[philm51371808]

I have the same issue.

Macbook Pro

Sonoma

2.3 GHz 8 core Intel

[Stephen P5E69]

I'm having the same issue, the arrow does not allow for precision as you cannot see where the endpoint is. Did you ever resolve the issue? 

I am not using:  macOS Sonoma 14.4.1. 

[wgullo]

yup... I experienced the same issue again the other day, so it continues. I wish there were a way to toggle this not-so-smart feature off. Adobe tech... are you out there?????

[wgullo]

it has not been resolved to my knowledge. what an unhelpful feature.  😞 

[defaultd8ju78nqg80t]

Not sure if this will still be helpful to anyone but I've experienced this issue a number of times before. A quick, temporary fix for me seems to be when I close down Adobe Acrobat running in the background. No idea why but it fixes the Polygonal Lasso tool turing into an arrow. 

[wgullo]

Thank you for the suggestion, but I don't have Acrobat, not do I typically have other apps open while using PS. This oddity is unhelpful. Adobe are you listening? 

[jasander77]

Just want to say I've been dealing with the same issue for well over a year. Do not know what version it began, but am currently up-to-date. I use PS every day and encounter the bug every time I use the lasso tool ... which is generally several times a day. I generally have to zoom in to get more precise selections and as I pan around an image making selections the cursor will change to a short and stubby right-facing arrow in most cases. Other times it will change to an arrow similar to the Path Selection tool either first or after it's already changed to the first arrow. Reverts back to normal cursor after lasso selection completed. 

I generally do not have other Adobe applications running except for Lightroom. 

[philm51371808]

Any update on this? I am loosing my F@#king mind.

Thanks!

[wgullo]

sorry to learn that you, too, are having frustration with this useless feature. no update that I am aware of. 😞