How to add to an existing shape layer?

Question

I am watching a tutorial in which the instructor added a shape to an existing layer, but I don't know how he did it.

His cursor was an arrow, he began dragging from off the canvas (top left), then dragged to the bottom right of the below image. As a result, the pink rounded rectangle that is selected in the image filled up the bottom corners of the image.

I know that holding Shift will add to the current layer, but a) His cursor was definitely an arrow rather than a big and small cross shape, so I don't think he did that, b) Keeping Shift held ALSO constrained the proportions of the new shape that I was adding to the current layer. I even selected the "Unconstrained" from the options but it still comes out as a square...

Answer 1

There are 2 ways to do this:

First: Add a new shape (path) to an existing shape (path): 1. Select the shape (the path itself, not the layer) using the Path Selection Tool / Direct Selection Tool (shortcut: A).

1. Select one of the shape tools (shortcut: U).
2. Hit (Shift) and start dragging, this will add the new path to the already selected path.
3. You can let go of the Shift key while dragging in order to leave the dimensions unconstrained.

Second: Copy a path from another layer: 1. Select the desired path (not layer).

1. Hit Ctrl+C.
2. Select a path in the destination layer.
3. Hit Ctrl+V