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When I create a shape that overlaps with itself, the part that overlaps is subtracted.

How can I prevent this ?

enter image description here


Here are pics with step by step and full screenshots:

Step1 - the path starts to overlap itself: http://imageshack.us/f/62/screenshot20111219at102.png/

Step2 - I close the path: http://imageshack.us/f/11/screenshot20111219at102.png/

Step3 - I use the path to create the shape: http://imageshack.us/f/641/screenshot20111219at102.png/

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2 Answers 2

up vote 3 down vote accepted

I'm gonna say that that's just the way Photoshop is designed to behave, and there's really no getting around it other than to create a non-overlapping path. The add to path area menu will only affect the way additional paths are added to the existing one.

So you're gonna need to divide your path by adding anchors where the outline intersects, delete the overlapping areas, and then rejoining the pieces.

Or you can just divide it into 2 separate paths and let the add to path option do the rest.

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Exactly! There is no additional paths added, just the first one. In a lack of an answer that gives a solution, I'll mark this as the good one. –  Nicolae Surdu Dec 19 '11 at 15:19

Make sure you have this "Add to path area (+)" option enabled...

enter image description here

Little information about other top options :

enter image description here

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I've tried that, still didn't work. I draw that path with the pen tool, and then add it as a mask to a solid layer. I take care every step of the process for the mode to be set to "Add to path area" but still the overlapping areas of the shape are subtracted. –  Nicolae Surdu Dec 19 '11 at 7:43
might be something else is there i did the same but it worked for me very well...try once again restart your ps. hope this will work –  Jack Dec 19 '11 at 8:01
if possible post your PS document full screen, might be we will find something which should not be "ON" –  Jack Dec 19 '11 at 8:05
I've added an EDIT with step by step instructions of how I proceed and full screen shots. Maybe I made my self unclear: there is only one path there, not multiple ones that overlap. –  Nicolae Surdu Dec 19 '11 at 8:42

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