Pen tool line automatically continues after anchor point

[Clever_wanderer0D45]

Hi,

Typically with the pen tool I would click to create my first anchor point. Then click elsewhere to create a second anchor point, after doing so a line is created.

I jumped on another computer recently and it didn't behave this way.

Instead I clicked to create the first anchor point and then as a dragged the mouse over to position to the second anchor point a line was being created automatically with the mouse as if the line was sticky to wherever the cursor went. The only way to break this was to move the mouse over the line already created and add a third anchor point in the middle of the line. I didn't try to reset the tool at the time, just got on with it.

How has the pen tool got into this state and how is it undone without simply resetting the tool?

Thanks in advance.

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

Good day!

When you click on the gear-icon in the Options Bar is »Rubber Band« checked?

Regards,

Pfaffenbichler

[Clever_wanderer0D45]

At the time I'm pretty sure I tried checking it and un-checking it, with no improvement.

I was using CC 2015 at the time.

When I get home I will experiment with this feature again (different photoshop CC version) and see if it affects things on my home computer as I presume this toggles the effect. Will report back, thanks.

[Barb Binder]

I think c.pfaffenbichler is correct. The rubber band option allows you to preview your path while you are drawing it. It's great for a new user who doesn't quite understand how the Pen tool works, and it sounds like exactly what you are describing. (You can turn it off and on with the gear button when you have the Pen tool selected.)

One more thought. Photoshop tools use sticky state, meaning once they are changed, they stay in that state until you change them again. On a regular basis, I clear my options by right+clicking the tool icon at the far left of the Options Bar. You can reset the current tool back to the defaults—or all the tools—and resetting the Pen tool options in this situation would also restore the default behavior.

[Clever_wanderer0D45]

Thanks, I can confirm at home the rubber band feature causes the described behaviour.

Pretty sure I unchecked it at the time of my crisis...hmm, will update if I run into the issue again on said computer.

Otherwise consider this issue solved.

Thanks!