Copy link to clipboard
Copied
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
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
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
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.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
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
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
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
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I had the same problem and same solution. Thanks Dave!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
You da man Dave, fixed it on mine.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
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.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
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!!!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thanx man. You're breathtaking!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
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.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Dave, this has been bugging me for months — THANK YOU!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
you made my day. thanks a lot dave.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
OMG thank you! That's been driving me crazy, fixed it for me
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thanks Dave! you solved my proble too!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thank you so much Dave!!!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Great Thank You
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thank you Dave!!!!!!!!!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
This has fixed mine. I've been just dealing with it for forever seems like. Thank you!
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thank you , you are great....
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
not working for me
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Hi @melhabashy
"Not working for me" is vague. Please clarify what is happening and post screen shots of:
~ Jane
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Hey, I have a similar problem which has occurred a few times now. There seems to be different seetings for some shapes within the same path. On the small preview box some are coloured in white and behave accordingly, however some are not filled and get ignored, and if I extract them from this path, start a new path and paste them in, they behave inverted.
At this point is it possible to change the settings of these shapes or do I have to delete them and start from scratch (which I have done in the past and has been extremely time consuming). Attached are screens shots of the problem before and after trying to mask the path.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Late but in case anyone else finds themselves here - if you use the direct or pen selection tool (default shortcut is A key) to select different shapes in the path you can in fact switch each from combine to subtract shapes or vice versa and creating a selection from them should work as expected depending on the mood.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thank you so much Dave! You're an angel in disguise.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Hi Dave,
I have the same problem as the original question from CmCDowell. I tried redrawing the (very simple) shape I need with the pen tool set to combine but I just keep getting the following message (see screen grab attached) when I try to invert the path. I want to be able to paint inside the shape. Any help very gratefully received 🙂 Thanks so much... Vicky