Separating shapes created with pen tool

[Joey Billedo]

For a project at school, I have to 'paint' a subject using nothing but the pen tool set to shape layers. I noticed that the behavior of the pen tool defaults back to 'create new shape layer' when the previous shape has been formed. In one instance, however, I accidentally had it set to 'add to shape area'.

so after rendering my subject's hair, i moved on to the shadow of her neck and noticed that they were on the same layer only after completing the shadow's shape. this is problematic for me because as i understand, a shape layer can only have one color..

is there any way to separate this from the previous shape? it's really intricate so i'm hoping that i won't have to redo it

[sorry if my post is a bit long, i just wanted to make sure i covered whatever details you guys may need to help me ]

 

[iDad]

can't you copy it and delete the part you don't want then paste a new layer?

 

[Joey Billedo]

maybe i'm missing something about how shape layer's act but i cant seem to copy paste it

 

[hawkeye]

Use the direct selection tool to select the path you don't want, then hit delete.

 

[iDad]

but he wants to save parts of the shape before deleting it

 

[hawkeye]

but he wants to save parts of the shape before deleting it

It sounded like he completed the first shape, then began another shape with the pen tool thinking it was a new shape layer. That would mean he would have two separate paths on one shape layer.

The first screenshot shows 3 shapes on the same shape layer, with the middle one selected. Screenshot 2, I hit delete.

But we'll have to here from him to clarify if I understood him correctly.

 

[iDad]

Hmmm that makes sense I've always done shapes on separate layers never thought of adding to same layer.never thought it possible either. you daman Hawkeye, still learning from you on a regular basis

 

[Joey Billedo]

It sounded like he completed the first shape, then began another shape with the pen tool thinking it was a new shape layer. That would mean he would have two separate paths on one shape layer.

That's exactly what happened. And the screenshot is pretty much what i have as well. But the thing is, the both shapes are pretty intricate and took me some time to make and I'm looking for a way to save the path and copy it onto another layer

 

[hawkeye]

Once you have the path selected, ctrl+x to cut the path. Now you can paste it into a new shape layer.

 

[Joey Billedo]

ahh, got it. my mistake was pasting it onto a regular layer thinking, it would automatically convert it into a shape layer :/ so what i did was to draw a dot with the pentool to create a new shape layer, then paste it onto that

thank you so much for the help!