Shape Selection Tool

[Inspeqtor]

I just had a new computer made for me this last week.  My old one was 11 years old.

I own Photoshop Elements 2021.  I am trying to use the Arrow in the Shape Selection Tool, but when I select the Arrow it is "Greyed" out and I can't use it.  Why would this be?  I am using Windows 10.  What else do you need to know?

Thank you everyone!

[Inspeqtor]

The Arrow is the only thing Greyed out in the selection.

[Sepiana]

Hi Charles,

Your screenshot shows you have the Shape Selection tool (gray arrow icon) activated. This is how the Adobe Team designed this tool -- gray is its color. Click on its icon to activate it. Once you do that, the color won't change but this tool will be activated.

You use the Shape Selection tool (gray arrow icon) to "edit" the shape you drew using one of the other tools in that group. With one click, you select the shape and, then, you can move or transform it. 

If you want to draw an arrow, you need to use the Custom Shape tool (blue blob icon)

1. Activate the Custom Shape tool.
2. Click on the downside arrow in the Color Shape picker box to open it.
3. Scroll down to the Arrows library; click to open it.
4. Select the arrow shape you want to draw.
5. Draw the arrow.

[Inspeqtor]

I can draw the other items, but I cannot draw an arrow.  I have done this hundreds of times!   I use an arrow 99% more than any other shape.

[Sepiana]

Jan 14, 2023 16:23:04 GMT Inspeqtor said:

I can draw the other items, but I cannot draw an arrow.  I have done this hundreds of times!    

I'm baffled you can draw an arrow with the Shape Selection tool (which is the tool shown to be activated in your OP screenshot). I cannot find a way to use this tool to do what you want -- draw an arrow. I tried it in all the Elements versions I have (thirteen versions).

The usual way to draw an arrow is to use the Custom Shape tool (blue blob icon) > Custom Shape picker > Arrows.

NOTE: There is also another way -- the Line tool.

[pontiac1940]

Charles, 
Sepiana pointed out the process to get the arrows. And you said you have done this many times so not sure what's happening at your end. Therefore, my image is probably redundant.  
Good luck, 
Clive 
 

[Inspeqtor]

Jan 14, 2023 17:00:25 GMT Sepiana said:

Jan 14, 2023 16:23:04 GMT Inspeqtor said:

I can draw the other items, but I cannot draw an arrow.  I have done this hundreds of times!    

I'm baffled you can draw an arrow with the Shape Selection tool (which is the tool shown to be activated in your OP screenshot). I cannot find a way to use this tool to do what you want -- draw an arrow. I tried it in all the Elements versions I have (thirteen versions).

The usual way to draw an arrow is to use the Custom Shape tool (blue blob icon) > Custom Shape picker > Arrows.

NOTE: There is also another way -- the Line tool.

I am confused by what you are telling me.

First you say this:

I'm baffled you can draw an arrow with the Shape Selection tool

In reality I CAN NOT draw an Arrow.
Then you say

I cannot find a way to use this tool to do what you want -- draw an arrow.

You did infact draw an arrow.

Here is another view of what I see when I selected several tools to draw what I drew earlier this morning.



On the left side is when I was trying to draw an Arrow but the settings on the right side are all greyed out, thus that is why I can't draw an arrow.

On the right side is the settings when I drew a circle and all the sittings on the right side a NOT greyed out, thus I am able to draw a circle.


Something else is now going on, since what I showed you the shapes I can draw out, I have since closed Elements down and re-opened Elements, NOW I can no longer see the Shape Selection Tool  what Elements 2021 was showing me (you called it the Custom Shape Tool) 

Now ALL I see is the Line Tool - How can I get back the Shape Selection Tools or the Custom Shape Picker as you called it?

[Sepiana]

Jan 14, 2023 21:23:45 GMT Inspeqtor said:

You did infact draw an arrow.

Yes, I did. But I used these two tools -- the Custom Shape and the Line tool.

Jan 14, 2023 21:23:45 GMT Inspeqtor said:

I can no longer see the Shape Selection Tool  what Elements 2021 was showing me 
Now ALL I see is the Line Tool - How can I get back the Shape Selection Tools?

The shortcut for all the tools nestled in that group is U. Just press this key until you get back to the Shape Selection tool.

Jan 14, 2023 21:23:45 GMT Inspeqtor said:

On the left side is when I was trying to draw an Arrow but the settings on the right side are all greyed out, thus that is why I can't draw an arrow.

On the right side is the settings when I drew a circle and all the sittings on the right side a NOT greyed out, thus I am able to draw a circle.

Right side:

You have the Elipse tool activated. This is a drawing tool. That's why the settings are not grayed out and you can draw an elliptical shape.

Left side:

You have the Shape Selection tool activated. This is not a drawing tool.

You use the Shape Selection tool to "edit" the shape you drew using one of the other tools in that group. With one click, you select the shape and, then, you can move or transform it.

The Shape group has 8 tools -- 7 drawing tools and 1 selection tool.

Drawing tools:

Custom Shape (to draw a variety of different objects, including arrows).
Rectangle
Rounded Rectangle
Ellipse
Polygon
Star
Line (can also be used to draw arrows).

Selection tool:

Shape Selection

The Shape Selection tool was not designed to draw shapes; it was designed to move, resize, etc. the shapes drawn with the drawing tools.

According to the Help file, you use the Shape Selection tool to . . .

Select or move a shape
Transform a shape

Source: Editing shapes in Photoshop Elements


BTW, do you still have your copy of Barbara Brundage's The Missing Manual? Here is what she says about the Shape Selection tool.

The gray arrow icon you see in the Tool Options area when you have any of the shape tools active is the Shape Selection tool.
This is a special kind of Move tool.
The Shape Selection tool works just like the Move tool.
Drag a shape to move it.
Drag the handles that appear around the shape to resize it, and so on.

Source: Photoshop Elements 13: The Missing Manual, Chapter 12: Drawing with Brushes, Shapes, and Other Tools.

[pontiac1940]

For what it's worth 
Good luck! 

[Inspeqtor]

Oh my word, there is so much here for me to try and digest, I just cant do it.  I was hoping for simple instructions and this to me is just totally overwhelming.

[Sepiana]

Jan 15, 2023 1:17:43 GMT Inspeqtor said:

I just cant do it.

Charles, you can do it. Don't give up.

To recap, . . .

- The Shape Selection tool cannot draw an arrow (or any shape for that matter). 
- To draw an arrow, you need to use either the Custom Shape tool or the Line tool.

Using the Custom Shape tool:

1. Activate the Custom Shape tool (blue blob icon).
2. Click on the downside arrow in the Color Shape picker box to open it.
3. Scroll down to the Arrows library; click to open it.
4. Select the arrow shape you want to draw.
5. Draw the arrow.

Using the Line tool:

Follow the instructions in this Adobe document:

Create shapes (Scroll down to the Draw a line or arrow section.)

[Inspeqtor]

I just figured it out!  Amazing that I was able to do it.  Something finally clicked.

Thank you Sepiana and Clive!

[pontiac1940]

Charles
Good news!! 
Clive 

[Sepiana]

Inspeqtor, glad to hear your success story. Great news indeed!

[ChrisAnn]

I too was confused between the two 'arrows' but Sepiana put me right. Personally I think arrows should have their own icon and not be hidden behind the blue blob. In my world they are the most used shape.