pen tool prob

[namvet]

I am following a tutorial I found (link from PSG) on the net (didn't keep a reference re the site it was from) .. tute explains how to use the pen tool to follow the outline of a butterfly ... simple enough stuff ... but when I get to the end of the 'path' (in other words I have returned to my starting point) the tute (it's a wmv) just clicks on the start point and 'path' is complete ... and on the drop down menu of the layers pallette (of the tute) the 'fill path' and 'stroke path' are 'available' ... BUT when I do it the fill path and stroke path are 'greyed out' (not available) [doh] [doh] .... obviously I'm missing something ... pics below hopefully will explain further ... as always any help appreciated

 

[namvet]

second pic

 

[docilebob]

Weird, man. Only thing I can think of is that the selected layer is not editable ? (i.e. , text layer, background, etc).
Or possibly the selected layer is invisible ?

It`s always the dumb stuff that gets me, so i start there..

 

[Guest]

Ian, make sure that your layer doesn't look like layer 2, but like layer 1 instead

 

[namvet]

docilebob thanks for reply ... I'm very new to the pen tool, but I had checked 'layer switched off', background layer, unfilled layer ... been caught with that before on other stuff ... it had me lost
Gaussian thanks ... that was it!! :} :} ... I can now play

 

[ljiljana]

namvet Yes , we need a lot of pratice with a pen tool.

I am new to it too , and Hatch has a video tut for the pen tool and you can find it here:
http://www.psxtras.com/html/video_tutorials.html
Very nice.

 

[Guest]

Good link Lily! I'll copy it to our 'Links thread' too

 

[ljiljana]

Gauss Good. Hatch did a great job.

And here is another link for all the tools in PS.
I think this is very usfull for everyone.

http://simplephotoshop.com/photoshop_tools/

 

[Hatch]

Hi all,

Sorry I wasn't able to post a reply sooner. From the looks of it the problem was fixed.

Thank you ljiljana for the kind words, I'm glad a few folks have found the pen tutorial beneficial. I need to update the tutorial and go a little more indepth. [stuned] I hope to do so very soon. Thanks again and if you have any more questions Namvet about the pen tool feel free to ask away. This place is full of great folks! Someone will get you an answer. :}
Take care, Hatch.

 

[namvet]

thanks ljiljana .. I already had Hatch's link .. it was his video on the pen tool that motivated me to play with the pen tool ... I had previously looked at other 'traditional' tutes on the pen tool and it always looked 'too hard' ... I reeeealy like the other link you posted .. wish I had seen that when I first started with PS
Hatch ... I agree .. the folk here are really great ... btw, nice tutes