A problem with making paths...

[ScrapMel]

When I create a shape using my pen tool, I am finding that the 'negative' part is my selection. For example, when I go to fill the shape, everything BUT the shape is filled. Why is my pen tool cutting out the shape I am drawing? I hope this makes sense!

Also, I have tried to define the shape as a custom shape, but the option is grayed out. anyone have any tips? I am taking Lisa's path class, and just want to be able to do the lesson!
Thanks in advance!

[Lauren]

Well Im not sure why this is happening but the easy thing to do would be to turn your path back into a selection and invert the selection then turn it back into a path - ( You will need to find out why your pen is negatively selecting though but this will get you fixed in the mean time)

[ScrapMel]

I was just coming back to post WHY... idiot me! :o I had the 'subtract from' selected ... I have no idea HOW that got selected, but that was the reason. Do you ever think that sometimes PS does too much? Nah, me either really! LOL, thanks Lauren for answering me though...

I am having a weird error message come up though (which is the REAL reason I was panicking when my paths weren't behaving like I thought they should). It says something about PhotoSHop.exe won't open because some MSCORT .dll (?) file isn't found. Problem may be fixed by reinstalling the application. (Actually the file name is longer than that but all I can remember). PS does open though ... anybody have any experience with that one??? lol!!!! Argh!

[Erica]

Hi again Melanie - glad you found the problem, a bit like not having my 'rubber band' selected! :o I think there are little pixies at work on my PS when I'm not looking. I have had error messages come up from time to time whilst PS is loading - I generally read the message then ignore it as it doesn't happen all the time :D - a bit like kicking the Coke machine when it doesn't produce the goods - seems to work for me ;)

[Lauren]

Mel have you recently installed a plug in????

[debbiel]

I have been getting that message so I put the disk in and selected repair. Unfortunately, this did not fix the error messages. I don't want to uninstall then reinstall the program because I don't want to lose anything I have downloaded. I have never done this before. Could i just take the files I have downloaded-brushes, actions, etc.-and move them to the desktop temporarily?

[Erica]

Lauren would that be why I get messages occasionally? After I have downloaded new Plug-ins.... What does it mean Lauren?

Hi Debbie - re: re-installing and downloaded 'stuff' - I keep all my Adobe downloads (brushes, custom shapes etc) in a seperate folder in Program Files, just above the Adobe folder that houses my generic PS7 folder and named it MyAdobe, then sub-folders for brushes etc. This works really well for me and it is easy to search for downloaded stuff directly from PS. If I were you, I would do this exercise before re-installing PS rather than place them all on the desktop, it's good general housekeeping practice anyway. :D

[Abby]

It's wise to keep all the 'extra' things you create or download in a separate folder anyway, takes the program less time to load that way. Should work just fine.

[ScrapMel]

Lauren, yes, I just installed 'Mac's Page Curl' which someone here posted about - do I need to do something to correct it? Like that, clearing your cache thing, like you do with grant's tools in PSE?

[ScrapMel]

I started remembering something that I had seen, so I went back to the site, saw downloads for plugin extensions, downloaded and installed it. No more error message. I hope I haven't messed up royally! But seems to be working....

[debbiel]

Erica, I have started doing this now. I have so much stuff I am putting it on my external hard drive. However, I have not moved everything, yet. Also, i do not want to move anything that came with the program.

[Erica]

Hi Debbie - I have two main folders under my version of Photoshop 7 where I would have download stuff to 'Pre-sets' and 'Plug-ins'. You may have different generic pre-sets and plug-in your version. Take a look in your folders and see what you can recognise as having downloaded, they are generally pretty obvious in the plug-ins as the developers name is usually part of the folder name. The pre-sets (brushes etc) can be a bit more tricky, don't think I can be of much help here, hopefully you can recongise your downloads. Good luck!

[debbiel]

Thank you!!