Questions tagged [tools]

Questions regarding hardware or analogical tools (but please use software-recommendation for software ones!)

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72 votes
15 answers
8k views

Is there a good resource or tool to help build a palette/color scheme around colors I select?

No matter how nice the composition, flow, and lines of my design are, if I am not copying directly from nature, I have a very difficult time picking a decent color scheme. It either looks too drab, ...
9 votes
6 answers
5k views

What is the best software for creating exam paper template?

I regularly create exam papers in Photoshop with two types of pages: left and right. We create the questions in Word and then add them into Photoshop. However, this process takes a lot of time and ...
1 vote
1 answer
181 views

Why does Photoshop's Zoom Tool disengage randomly?

This happens all the time and it's driving me crazy... I press Z to switch to the Zoom Tool. Then I click-drag somewhere to zoom in, but instead Ps has switched back to the Grab Tool, so I end up ...
0 votes
1 answer
316 views

Photoshop: How to dock the floating Contextual Task Bar?

This is possibly Adobe's most annoying idea yet. (Photoshop version 24.5.0) I don't know what to call it, but just look at this thing constantly encroaching on my space: Essentially, these two large ...
-1 votes
1 answer
64 views

How to reset zoom tool in illustrator?

I want to reset the zoom tool, I don't want the rectangle to show. I press Ctrl+space bar for the shortcut but instead of just dragging, the rectangle is showing up. How to fix this? Before the tool ...
1 vote
2 answers
431 views

Why do I have to click the anchor point after every curve using the pen tool illustrator how do I fix it?

I use the pen tool a lot and I hate the fact that if I draw around an image I have to constantly keep clicking the anchor point after every point to reset the position. The issue is I sometime miss ...
0 votes
1 answer
56 views

Figma: how to make auto layout frame contain a stroke's width

I'm trying to use an auto layout frame to contain a hamburger menu. The lines of the hamburger menu should be entirely contained within the auto layout frame. I applied the following settings to the ...
0 votes
1 answer
44 views

How to use the Shape Designer Tool after warping a shape? On Illustrator

I would like to use the Shape Designer Tool, after deforming my shape, but this is what it shows me, it's possible? Convert or I don't know, after shape distort. THANKS.
6 votes
6 answers
15k views

Color mixer that can mix 3 or more colors?

I'm looking for some sort of service, tool or application – even manual techniques – where you can digitally mix/blend 3 or more colors (i.e. not 2 as in most applications out there) and get the ...
0 votes
3 answers
153 views

divider or compass tool - or equivalent way - in Inkscape or Gimp?

Is there a divider or compass tool in Inkscape or Gimp? What I mean is the drafting tool called a divider is a way to scribe an arc a fixed distance from a point. The compass does this also. I ...
0 votes
1 answer
82 views

Gimp 2.10.32 Toolbox Docking doesn't work on Windows 7

I followed this tutorial on how to dock the toolbar options but it doesn't work for me on Windows 7. I'm using 2.10.32. Nothing happens when I drag the Tool Options into the Toolbox. I also cannot ...
7 votes
2 answers
458 views

Inkscape adds handles to corner nodes after node deletion

In Inkscape, when I have the following: If I remove the red node, the neighboring nodes magically get handles, I guess because Inkscape tries to keep the appearance with fewer nodes, resulting in ...
1 vote
3 answers
506 views

Putting a meshed object on perspective grid

I am working on a picture of a room. The room has a poster in it. I created a symbol of the poster, and it includes a picture of a soccer ball, shaded with gradient mesh. Unfortunately, I cannot put ...
1 vote
2 answers
140 views

How do I stop Pencil drawn shapes from being transparent? - Adobe Illustrator

Every new shape I draw in the Pencil tool always comes up as transparent, where as other tools (rectangle, ellipse, polygon, etc.) always keep their default or previously chosen fill color. Although ...
3 votes
5 answers
663 views

What was this 1970s scale drawing device called?

Back in the 1970s we used to have a projector-type device to make scale drawings of archaeological artefacts. It was a big beast with a glass drawing platform under a hood and handles on the front to ...
0 votes
1 answer
97 views

Photoshop CC 2019 Zoom In/Out While Using Lasso Tool

I used CC 2021 and in that version has got scroll zoom while using lasso tool. But in CC 2019 I have to do (Ctrl + Space bar + Left mouse click.) How can I zoom with scroll while using lasso tool? ...
0 votes
2 answers
273 views

Rectangle Tool pitched 15 degrees in Illustrator

Whenever I click on the "Rectangle Tool" the resulting rectangle is always pitched 15 degrees up, on the right hand side. The solution I am sure is simple and probably too simple for this forum, but ...
2 votes
1 answer
334 views

Pathfinder divide in illustrator

After making an image and later using divide in illustrator certain portion of the image is getting disappeared.
7 votes
2 answers
416 views

Affinity Publisher vs InDesign?

I'm hearing alot of things about Affinity Publisher lately. First client today explicitly mentioning they would rather have their stuff done in AP instead of ID. Asking from a long-term, well ...
0 votes
2 answers
129 views

Which tools should I learn how to use when I have the combined goal of creating a graphic novel and a math textbook?

Background: I would like to create both of the following: A graphic novel. I would like to be able to sketch, draw and preferably color all the panels myself. A textbook in mathematics for children ...
0 votes
1 answer
81 views

Photshop PS5 Marquee Crosshair colour

How can I change the colour of the marquee crosshair as it becomes invisible on a white background and I have to guess as to its actual position? I thought it would auto-contrast such that it's ...
1 vote
1 answer
177 views

Is there a way to make illustrator tools dynamic like Corel Draw?

One of reasons I prefer CorelDraw (or any other) over illustrator is that CorelDraw tools are dynamic i.e. when I click on one tools, its more options and features appear in the above tools bar. For ...
12 votes
7 answers
97k views

How create rounded corners for a layer or selection in Photoshop

I have a white screen area 142x113 px in Photoshop. I select half of this area and tried Select ⇒ Modify ⇒ Smooth but it does not work the way I expected. I tried decreasing the ...
0 votes
2 answers
58 views

Photoshop - How to choose a brush compatible with your selected tool

At some point in Photoshop's development, brush settings became associated with specific tools. This is causing me frustration in my workflow. I will, for example, have the Smudge Tool selected, and ...
2 votes
2 answers
469 views

Photoshop's “Snapshot” equivalent in Illustrator?

What is equivalent functionality to Photoshop's Snapshot in Illustrator? There is no History panel in Illustrator that I know of. If nothing of sorts exist, what is a good approach to save multiple ...
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

Intersection tools/ cut path in Inkscape

I'm looking for the functionality described in this Wiki entry from 2009. The article describes a tool that cuts a path to where an intersection is met. Is this or something similar a feature yet? If ...
0 votes
3 answers
19k views

InDesign: hiding center line between two facing pages

I'm wondering how I can make the center line between two pages disappear, for example:
0 votes
2 answers
18k views

Cannot create rounded corners on object in Illustrator

I am following this tutorial to get some inspiration: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/logo-design.html?set=illustrator--get-started--ready-to-use I used steps from the fourth video to ...
0 votes
1 answer
251 views

How do I use the "rectangular marquee" with the "patch tool" in Adobe Photoshop

In Photoshop, I want to use the patch tool but I want to select the area with a rectangular marquee instead of a lasso. How do I do this? Google searches show how to use the marquee tool OR the patch ...
1 vote
1 answer
974 views

Adobe Illustrator CC 2020 Type on a path tool not working properly

I'm having an issue with my Adobe Illustrator CC2020 24.3. Im attempting to create a type on a path logo, with the one layer of text flipped so it reads the same way on both sides. I am able to create ...
6 votes
3 answers
20k views

Why doesn't the Shape Builder Tool let me select this specific shape?

I'm just starting to use Illustrator and I was watching some tutorials, but they don't have this problem. Why is this happening?
7 votes
6 answers
8k views

Adobe Fireworks - the best replacement?

Okay yes back in 2011 and 2014 similar questions were asked. But now that it is on the cusp of 2020, my question is who HAS FOUND a replacement to Fireworks that they LOVE and would highly recommend? ...
1 vote
2 answers
158 views

Reasons someone would use Pathfinder instead of Shape Builder tool

Illustrator offers many different ways to do the same thing, right? I guess at some point it just comes down to personal preference. When it comes to Pathfinder vs Shape Builder tool, why (other than ...
0 votes
0 answers
1k views

Where to get Chibi Maker with complete customizable movement?

I found out that Chibi Character Maker online is the best tool i ever known. Such as these list: 1) ChibiMaker 2) GamesGames But none of them are making the chibi character has a movement, such as ...
0 votes
2 answers
761 views

Photoshop won't let me use paint brush or fill

I've used Photoshop since before dirt was invented. Right now I'm using PS CC v19. I must have flipped a switch somewhere because now it won't let me paint on a layer or fill a selection. I have no ...
0 votes
1 answer
332 views

Convert a pen signature like a marker or fountain pen using the tools on line

Starting from this old question, How to convert a signature from JPG to vector strokes?, or other similar, without to have installed anything on my notebook, is there the possibility to trasform my ...
1 vote
3 answers
21k views

How do I deselect a tool in GIMP?

I've finished rotating, and now wish to move the handheld eyedropper under the eye. So I'm trying to deselect the Rotate Tool. If I click on the image, the Rotate box reappears, undesiredly. If I ...
5 votes
3 answers
12k views

How to input 'Registered Trademark' Glyph in Inkscape?

I went to: Text → Glyphs → and found the symbol. However, I can't get it from the window box to the artboard. I've searched Google & YouTube, but cannot find the answer. How do I type ...
0 votes
1 answer
870 views

Made transparent background for a signature: tools gratis on line without sign in/registration [duplicate]

We suppose that I put my signature on a piece of white paper with my first and last name on it. After I execute a scan of this signature in .pdf, or .png or .tiff, etc. (as file image). What are the ...
5 votes
3 answers
4k views

What to look for in projectors to use in murals

To paint murals we will use an old 20th century overhead projector and transparencies to project images on a wall and draw preliminary outlines. Bulbs for the projector are getting hard to find. I'm ...
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

An issue with pencil tool in Illustrator 2019, pencil's default fill and stroke set to none, how to fix it?

I was using the pencil tool a lot in previous versions of Illustrator (2015 particularly). It was very handy when I was drawing highlights and shadows on illustration, because I could draw a shape ...
1 vote
0 answers
129 views

Illustrator 2020 Snapping relative to Cursor Position

With the latest Illustrator update, snapping has been all wonky. When dragging objects before the update, I was able to snap the object's edge or center to the guides from the edge or center of ...
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Illustrator Pen Tool does not work and switches to a pencil with circle

I locked a layer. Afterwards, I can't use the pen tool because the cursor switches to a pencil and a circle with a line through it. I designed a fashion piece using illustrator and locked the layer ...
1 vote
2 answers
88 views

How do I turn off the Sub-Selection Tool "A"?

Here is an image of the sub selection tool: How do I unselect this tool after I am done using it to adjust the vector shape?
1 vote
3 answers
285 views

Spacebar "Hand" tool affected by its own grid in Illustrator

There is something about the spacebar "Hand" tool that I never noticed before. It may sound ultra picky, but when it's at max zoom, you can see that this tool follows a pattern which I never noticed ...
0 votes
1 answer
175 views

Inkscape Bezier pen

I'm facing a problem in Inkscape with the Bézier pen tool when I'm trying to connect the end of the drawing with the Bézier pen. Something strange is happening.
1 vote
2 answers
68 views

Any tool or tricks to convert the image colors into the colors of another image?

For example you have these two images Your image that you want to change its colors: And the image where you want to based your image colors: The output image should be the first but all its pixel ...
33 votes
2 answers
147k views

How to align objects side by side with a specified distance between them in Illustrator?

I am creating an animated sprite list in Adobe Illustrator. I finished creating the sprites and used the Horizontal/Vertical Distribute Center commands to distribute the objects equally in some area. ...
1 vote
1 answer
555 views

Shifting the hue value of multiple objects in Inkscape

Is it possible to shift the Hue value of multiple selected objects by a certain amount in Inkscape 0.92?
1 vote
1 answer
144 views

Gimp tool options tab shows only GEGL editing

I'm relatively new to GIMP and now having the following problem. As of today, my tool options tab is only showing GEGL-editing. Out of everthing I've tried so far (including reinstalling GIMP) nothing ...

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