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Post by Inspeqtor on Nov 19, 2021 14:21:45 GMT
I wanted to use the Custom Arrow in the Custom Shape Tool in PSE 2021 but I found the arrow "greyed out" Why would this happen? How can I fix this problem? The arrow is what I use 99% of the time in the custom shape tool. Find the arrow in the screen shot in lower left corner.   Thank you! |
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Post by Sepiana on Nov 19, 2021 15:30:43 GMT
Hi Charles, This is how the Adobe Team designed the Shape Selection 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. 
This tool is used to move or transform the shape drawn with the other tools in that group (Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, etc.). If you want to draw an arrow, you need the Custom Shape tool (the blue blob icon). Open the Custom Shape picker and select "Arrows".  |
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Post by Inspeqtor on Nov 19, 2021 17:27:00 GMT
Sepiana, I have used the Arrow shape hundreds of times with no problems. All I have to do is select the arrow as shown in my screen shot below and it works.  However NOW when I select the arrow and move the mouse to the photo, the cursor does NOT change it stays to the normal mouse cursor shape. If I try to draw anything with the cursor nothing happens. If I pick a different shape other than the arrow then THAT shape does work, my mouse then changes to the "+" shape. I have never had to do any other selecting before. I do not see a Custom Shape Picker anywhere, if I hover over the words "Shape - Selection" nothing happens, but as you can see the arrow shape is in the screen shot. All I have ever had to do in the past is click on the grey arrow shape then I can draw my arrow to point at something in the photo. When I click on the star shape I see this:  When I click on the arrow shape I see this... there are a lot more items greyed out here:  Thank you |
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,360
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on Nov 19, 2021 17:43:37 GMT
Charles, I might be missing something here... What you show (image below, pink circle) is not the arrow shape, but the selection tool. As Sepiana showed you have to hit the Custom Shape Tool (the blob). And then select "arrows" from the "Shapes" options. Clive  |
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Post by Sepiana on Nov 19, 2021 18:07:18 GMT
Sepiana, I have used the Arrow shape hundreds of times with no problems. All I have to do is select the arrow as shown in my screen shot below and it works. Charles, You are not using the Custom Shape tool (blue blob icon); you are using the Shape Selection tool (gray arrow icon). Try this . . . - Activate the Custom Shape tool. - Click on the downside arrow in the Color Shape picker box to open it. - Scroll down to the Arrows library; click to open it. - Select the arrow shape you want to draw. - Draw the arrow. |
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Post by Inspeqtor on Nov 19, 2021 22:52:39 GMT
Clive and Sepiana, It appears I have to AGAIN relearn how to use Elements. Why is it I can use the other 7 shapes within the shape selection area with no problem BUT the arrow does not work? This is confusing to me..... like I said earlier I have used the arrow tool hundreds if not thousands of times!!  I did just find if after I click on the Black Heart (shown in screen shot below)  When clicking on the Black Heart shown above NOW I get what is in the camera shot below (I could not get a screen shot of this, as soon as I clicked on the snipping tool the above disappeared) How do any of YOU get a screen shot without it disappearing? Please tell me that! After I click on the Black Heart NOW I can click on the drop down menu and select Arrows and draw an arrow!  Where is the Color Shape Picker??? |
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Post by Sepiana on Nov 20, 2021 0:15:28 GMT
Why is it I can use the other 7 shapes within the shape selection area with no problem BUT the arrow does not work? Charles, You use the Selection Shape 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. Or, if you prefer, you can move or transform the shape you drew by using the Move tool or the Free Transform command (Ctrl-T). Where is the Color Shape Picker??? To see the other shapes, you need to click on the little downside arrow to open up the Color Picker. Then, click on the little downside arrow in the Shapes box (Default library). This will bring up the menu displaying the other libraries. Just select the Arrows library. (I could not get a screen shot of this, as soon as I clicked on the snipping tool the above disappeared) How do any of YOU get a screen shot without it disappearing? I use the Print Screen key on the keyboard to capture a screenshot and copy it to the Clipboard. Then, I open the screenshot in Elements (File>New>Image from Clipboard). Once the screnshot is displayed in Elements, I save it (JPEG, PSD, etc.) |
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Post by Inspeqtor on Nov 21, 2021 13:48:51 GMT
(I could not get a screen shot of this, as soon as I clicked on the snipping tool the above disappeared) How do any of YOU get a screen shot without it disappearing? I use the Print Screen key on the keyboard to capture a screenshot and copy it to the Clipboard. Then, I open the screenshot in Elements (File>Image from Clipboard). Once the screnshot is displayed in Elements, I save it (JPEG, PSD, etc.) I know I USED to be able to click on the small grey arrow to draw an arrow. I do not understand why I can no longer do that....but it is what it is. At least now I know how to draw an arrow again with different steps.. Thank you for helping with that! As for using the Print Screen button on the keyboard as you use, HOW do you save the captured screen shot after pressing the Print Screen key? I do NOT see (File>Image from Clipboard) I am guessing because I do not have a saved capture. |
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Post by Sepiana on Nov 21, 2021 14:41:31 GMT
As for using the Print Screen button on the keyboard as you use, HOW do you save the captured screen shot after pressing the Print Screen key? I do NOT see (File>Image from Clipboard) I am guessing because I do not have a saved capture. Charles, My apologies. The command is File>New>Image from Clipboard. I will edit my previous post to correct it. After you capture the screenshot, you use this command to open it in Elements. The screnshot will be displayed in the workspace. Then, you can edit it if needed and save it (JPEG, PSD, etc.)  |
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 21, 2021 17:37:50 GMT
For Mac's Shift/Command/3 - is a screenshot of the entire screen Shift/Command/4 - is for grabbing a partial of the screen - kinda like the marquee tool in PSE (the good news is - I can grab a partial screenshot while things are highlighted) They are automatically saved as a png - I have chosen for them to land on the upper right corner of my desktop  |
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Post by BuckSkin on Nov 21, 2021 18:09:33 GMT
Now we are talking about taking screenshots, I will add that the screenshot feature in FastStone beats anything else I have used by far.
It is handy for MAC people that they can use a keyboard sequence to deploy the screenshot tool.
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Post by Sepiana on Nov 21, 2021 18:13:32 GMT
I know I USED to be able to click on the small grey arrow to draw an arrow. I do not understand why I can no longer do that....but it is what it is. At least now I know how to draw an arrow again with different steps.. Thank you for helping with that! Charles, you are most welcome! Glad to help. I cannot find a way to use the Shape Selection tool (gray arrow icon) to do what you want -- draw an arrow. 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 usual way to draw an arrow is to use the Custom Shape tool (blue blob icon) > Custom Shape picker > Arrows.There is also another way -- the Line tool |
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Post by fotofrank on Nov 21, 2021 19:13:38 GMT
Charles - the answer from adobe. The gray arrow is the Shape Selection tool - NOT a shape tool.  As one of those MAC people, the built in screen capture is far superior to anything else out there. |
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Post by cats4jan on Nov 21, 2021 19:27:09 GMT
Frank - as a former PC owner - I couldn't agree more about the screen capture being superior on my Mac - it's so nice to not have to jump through those PC 'hoops' anymore.
As for the Shape Selection Tool - isn't it redundant? If I want to change a shape (skew it) or change it's size - I can use the move tool. I was reading about it yesterday and was confused as it didn't seem to make any sense - after reading your post from Adobe, it still doesn't make any sense to bother with it. I don't even have to simplify the shape before using the move tool - why would I bother with the Shape Selection Tool?
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Post by Sepiana on Nov 21, 2021 20:36:08 GMT
As for the Shape Selection Tool - isn't it redundant? If I want to change a shape (skew it) or change it's size - I can use the move tool. I don't even have to simplify the shape before using the move tool - why would I bother with the Shape Selection Tool? Janice, No, it's not redundant. Elements usually offers more than one way to do something. You just use the one you feel comfortable with. You can use the Shape Selection tool to move or transform the shape you drew. Or you can move or transform it by using the Move tool or the Free Transform command (Ctrl/Cmmd-T). You don't have to simplify the shape when using the Shape Selection tool or the other tools in that group. Adobe put this option in the Tool Options area to be helpful. Shapes are vector images. There are things you cannot do to these images unless you simplify them first. For example, apply filters or effects. For more information on Custom Shapes and the simplify process, please see . . . Shapes vs Smart Objects |
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