Vector mask issue

[AndrewSouthard]

I do this process regularly, it has just stopped working properly.

I draw a path to create a vector mask and draw multiple 'sub-paths' inside the main shape to create knockouts (all part of the same path in the paths panel). With the Path Selection Tool, I marquee-select all the paths and Ctrl + click the Add Layer Mask button with Exclude Overlapping Shapes selected. Where I used to get the object perfectly cut out from the background, I now get the object perfectly missing with the background retained - as if it were an inverted pixel mask.

The other options, Combine... Subtract... Intersect... are not working normally either - although I'm not absolutely sure as I never use them, but none give me the desired result.

Worse... to get the proper names as I wrote this I did a really simple one, two concentric circles, and it worked as expected (I checked and it's still failing on complex ones).

The only recent setup changes are Topaz plugins updating - am I answering my own question with "uninstall the plugins"?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Please post meaningful screenshots (all the subPathItems selected, and Toolbar, Paths Panel, Options Bar, … visble) and post a jpg containg one of the affected Paths. 

[JJMack]

What exactly is Ctrl+Click  on a  Add layer button  function?  I normally just click on the mask button in the tool option bar.  That add the current work Path as a vector layer mask all the closet paths have their correct mode as see in the Paths palette Work Path.    I never knew there was some Ctrl+Click operation for vector layer mask. ???