Skip to main content
Blackbird_Art
Blackbird_Art
Participant
August 21, 2022
Answered

'Properties Panel' not showing correct properties

  • August 21, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 13489 views

I was following a basic photoshop tutorial on how to make a star using the polygon shape tool. i followed everything step by step, but when the guy in the tutorial went to do something in the properties panel, it looked completely different than mine.

 

His (left pic) was showing the shape properties, mine (right pic) is only showing mask options (density/feather).

 

 

I couldn't figure out what i was doing wrong or how i could change the settings of this window. I also haven't found anything on this forum or elsewhere that had a working solution.

 

Normally i only use Photoshop for Freehand Drawing so i'm new to this kind of problem.

I'm currently using Version 21.2.12. All help appreciated.

    Correct answer davescm

    This is the screenshot of the tutorial:

     

     

    This is the screenshot of my photoshop screen:

     

     

    I always have my layers and properties panels on the bottom right, so finding those isn't the problem, i just don't know where IN the panels i can find the shape icon to target the shape.


    As far as I remember, Live Shapes for polygons were added in Photoshop 2021 (which is version 22). So in v21 you won't see that panel for polygons (you will see it for rectangles).

     

    Dave

    1 reply

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 21, 2022

    The panel changes according to what element in the document is targeted/active. You have a mask targeted, and the panel shows mask properties. Target the shape, and the panel shows shape properties.

     

    Look in the layers panel, and you see the mask icon has a frame/brackets to indicate it's active. Anything you do now will affect the mask only.

     

    Click the shape icon to target the shape, and it now gets the frame/brackets to show it's active. Anything you do now will affect the shape.

     

    Similar for pixel layers, and adjustment layers. Each active state has its own properties panel.

      Blackbird_Art
      Blackbird_ArtAuthor
      Participant
      August 21, 2022

      Thank you for the quick answer 🙂

      Just one more dumb question: how/where can i target the shape? where can i find the shape icon?

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      August 21, 2022

      Look in your Layers panel.

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices