Convert Pen Tool path into Selection in Affinity Photo?

[LeviA]

Is there a way to convert a Pen Tool path you make into a selection. There is a selection from layer I can do, but I would like to just convert the path into a selection, without having to create extra layers.

[Bri-Toon]

Of course. After you draw your closed region with the Pen Tool, just click "Selection" from the Context Toolbar.

[kingorodeo]

Is there a faster way? Like on the desktop version you can just hold Option key to break the bezier handle's direction

[Bri-Toon]

Not sure.

[Alfred]

You can Cmd-click the path in the Layers panel, but I don't think that's any quicker than pressing the 'Selection' button on the Context toolbar.

[toltec]

That's two clicks, or two presses.

 

Hard to improve on one click!

[- S -]

I have my suspicions that it's an iPad question.  If you ignore the original posts from February, it sounds like the question is asking whether there's a quick way on iPad to do the same as Alt/Opt clicking on a node or handle to make a sharp angle.  That's my guess anyway.

[Moon12]

Sorry, but on Affinity photo i can not see a possibility to convert a path to a selection. Is there a hint?

[Alfred]

3 minutes ago, Moon12 said:

Sorry, but on Affinity photo i can not see a possibility to convert a path to a selection. Is there a hint?

 

On 2/3/2017 at 5:58 PM, Bri-Toon said:

Of course. After you draw your closed region with the Pen Tool, just click "Selection" from the Context Toolbar.

 

[jamesholden]

4 minutes ago, Moon12 said:

Sorry, but on Affinity photo i can not see a possibility to convert a path to a selection. Is there a hint?

Please see the attached.

Create your pen tool path

Then click the SELECTION button at top.

Path will convert to selection.

 

[Moon12]

Thank you!!!!

I guess i could not see the selection button because the path was not closed. 

[Bri-Toon]

On 7/13/2019 at 6:56 AM, Moon12 said:

I guess i could not see the selection button because the path was not closed. 

The button should still be available. The selection would just close automatically with a straight line from the two endpoints.

[Jaffa]

Just a final thought, not one you asked - but can be a trap.  If you have your path, then use the node tool to make curves etc, then before you finalise your selection, you need to go back to the Pen Tool to find "selection" in the context bar.

[Chosen Idea]

On 6/8/2017 at 4:08 PM, toltec said:

That's two clicks, or two presses.

 

Hard to improve on one click!

It's not clicks that waste time, it's moving one's hand around. There should be a keyboard shortcut for everything. I write this in almost 2020 and we still have no pro alternative to PS.

[Chosen Idea]

On 7/13/2019 at 5:49 AM, jamesholden said:

Please see the attached.

Create your pen tool path

Then click the SELECTION button at top.

Path will convert to selection.

 

What is the keyboard shortcut for the "selection" button?

[MEB]

Hi Chosen Idea,
Currently there's no shortcut for this.

[R C-R]

1 hour ago, Chosen Idea said:

There should be a keyboard shortcut for everything.

There are not enough key combinations available on a standard keyboard to assign a unique shortcut for everything.

[ANGRYMAN]

Can't see a way to pick multiple pen paths and then covert to a selection though unless I'm missing something?

[MEB]

Hi @ANGRYMAN,
You have two ways to do this: you can either draw all the paths, select them all, go to menu Layer > Geometry > Add to turn them into a single curves object then convert it to a selection clicking on the respective button in the context toolbar in the Pen Tool, or, when creating the paths, enable/click Add New Curve To Selected Curves Objects in the context toolbar for the Pen Tool (the icon looks like two rings), to add the paths automatically to a single curves object while you draw them, then click the Selection button to convert it to a selection.

[Chosen Idea]

On 12/12/2019 at 10:33 AM, R C-R said:

There are not enough key combinations available on a standard keyboard to assign a unique shortcut for everything.

Everything? We don't even have them for things that make common sense.

[marble51]

On 1/9/2021 at 12:23 AM, MEB said:

Hi @ANGRYMAN,
You have two ways to do this: you can either draw all the paths, select them all, go to menu Layer > Geometry > Add to turn them into a single curves object then convert it to a selection clicking on the respective button in the context toolbar in the Pen Tool, or, when creating the paths, enable/click Add New Curve To Selected Curves Objects in the context toolbar for the Pen Tool (the icon looks like two rings), to add the paths automatically to a single curves object while you draw them, then click the Selection button to convert it to a selection.

This is exactly what I was trying to figure out. One problem though ... I'm using AP V2 and I have no idea what you mean by the "context toolbar for the Pen Tool". Where would I find that? This is where a screenshot is worth a thousand words.

[v_kyr]

22 minutes ago, marble51 said:

I'm using AP V2 and I have no idea what you mean by the "context toolbar for the Pen Tool". Where would I find that? This is where a screenshot is worth a thousand words.

That's the reason the app does have a help system and there is also an Affinity online help system ...

• Interface Visual Reference
• Context Toolbar
• Affinity Online help

[marble51]

A screenshot would still have been more direct help but then it is easier for people to just post RTFM replies, I guess.

Anyhow, for anyone else trying to find it, it is here:

[marble51]

4 minutes ago, N.P.M. said:

You could have read the manual beforehand.
 

And you could have just ignored my question but you just couldn't resist, could you?

[v_kyr]

2 hours ago, marble51 said:

A screenshot would still have been more direct help but then it is easier for people to just post RTFM replies, I guess.

Well the RTFM contains much more valuable informations about every tool (in your case the Pen tool and it's Context toolbar modes), further you've said ...

Quote

I'm using AP V2 and I have no idea what you mean by the "context toolbar for the Pen Tool".

... and I've pointed you to "Context Toolbar" which gives a short explanation of what the Context toolbar is and beside that also shows a screenshot of the Pen's context toolbar!