Pen Tool Not Creating A Shape

[Shaners77]

I can't get the pen tool to draw a shape.  When I click on my screen with the pen tool I get the first keyframe point and it creates a shape menu within my effects control panel.. but when I click again to get the 2nd point of say a square.... it creates another shape menu within the effects control panel.

1 - Upload an image and drag it into my time line

2 - I want to draw shape on the screen so I select the pen tool and click on the image.  I get the first point and Shape 01 comes up in the effects panel.

3 - I want to then place the second point and click again on the image but now it deselect Shape 01 and creates a new shape 01.  I have to click on the shape layer in the effects panel to be able to place the second point.... again and again.

4 - I want 4 points to make a square but each time I press I get a new shape layer created.

I would like to have a square on my screen over the image.

I end up with 4 different shape layers each with one point.

Version 25.1.0 (Build 73)

Edition Windows 11 Home
Version 24H2
Installed on ‎13/‎11/‎2024
OS build 26100.3476
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.54.0

[Rach McIntire]

Hi @Shaners77,

When using the pen tool you should click and hold and draw the shape.  Every time you let go of the click it thinks you want to make a new shape.  Hope that helps.

[Shaners77]

I'm not sure that is possible.  I need to click my mouse key to draw different points of the shape... say I wanted to draw round a hand I would need to click the points around the shape of the hand.  I cannot simply drag  it.

[Ann Bens]

You do not actually need to select the image in the timeline. Setting your playhead over the image is just fine.

To make a shape, select the Pentool and click in the Program Monitor.

Keep on clicking in the program monitor until you have your shape and close the shape by clicking on the first vertex you made

If you hold and drag while setting vertex you will get a bezier vertex.

[Shaners77]

Yes that is correct how ever in the Program monitor every time I click it creates a new shape layer it does not connect the vertexes?

[Rach McIntire]

Are you able to make a video of the problem you are seeing?  It's a bit hard to tell from the screenshot what's actually happening.

[Shaners77]

https://youtu.be/pabOJIodqUs

[Ann Bens]

Try Resetting Preferences.

[Shaners77]

Tried that already.

[Stan Jones]

@Shaners77,

Thanks for the screen recording. I can't find a way to create what you are seeing.

I get the correct behavior whether I have something selected or not, but I can't tell what you have selected when you start. The name of the selection is cut off in the view you recorded. The sequence name is in square brackets; is that the way you named it? But the selection we see is Sequence name and ellipses to show the rest of the label (the item in the sequence that is selected). In any event, I can't get the wrong result no matter what i select to start.

Create a new test sequence. Put nothing in it. Select the pen tool. Click 3 places. You will see nothing in Effect Controls until you click and create a graphics object. What happens?

Stan