In photoshop, I know you can just make a selection from the path, invert your selection, then create a new path - but it tends to look a lot more aliased than the nicely done pen tool paths at 300 dpi. Yes, you can adjust the aliasing, but you still get jaggies that look funny and add lots of points.
I also know that you can invert your clipping path on some (but for some reason not all) images in Quark Xpress.
So does anyone know how to invert a path in Photoshop or enable path inversion for all images in Quark?
Wait a sec- if you have a true inverse path, why not just delete the outer part of it?
[Can't believe I didn't think about that earlier.]
You could try adding 4 points to your path in photoshop encompassing the entire image, then the shapes already cut out will be inverted.
o/r - it's for use in print - with overlapping images - I need a cleared bg.
Nat - that's what I would have thought, too, but for some reason that doesn't seem to work the same in CS as it did in the last version....
I've been trying to look up confirmation on that to no avail.... Maybe there's some tool preset I don't know about (which is definitely possible).
It's not a HUGE deal but it is a deal.
Post the PSD so I can get in there. 
it's easy in illustrator, just do it there
Hey, that's an idea - I guess I could open my eps in illustrator, make a new mask, and convert it back to dcs 2 format in photoshop so my printer doesn't bitch about rip time....
it still seems like there ought to be a way to do it in photoshop, though.
//edit - ok, jus tto check I made a path in a new psd in my home version of photoshop - it is the correct way around to what I want.
You knnow how a path looks like a white object on a grey field in the thumbnail? Well, mine looks like a grey object on a white field at work - it selects the whole image with my path knocked out. Is this some kind of preset or something? I get this starting a new file, whatever. It's actually a bit fucked up. Because honestly I have no idea how to set the paths to do that automatically if I wanted to.
_Originally posted by Obscure/Renegade _ *Post the PSD so I can get in there.
I never knew this before, but those weird ass mix options on the top tool options bar work with the shape tools. Using a custom shape clipping path on a solid fill layer I just drew a rectangle around my shape to "Exclude overlapping shape areas", the forth option. I never knew PS had pathfinder in it. I'm working on PS 6 at home, but I recall that the tool options bar thing is the same in CS. In fact, I checked the CS help file and it should be there.
_Originally posted by Obscure/Renegade _ *Post the PSD so I can get in there.
See, that's the thing - it's not the PSD, it's the tool preset.
Thanks, BS69 - will check that out.
In cae that doesn't work, what's the command to restore default presets again?
//edit - yes, blacksanta69 got it in one.
To start with I had selected the subtract rather than add option. Crazy-ass pathfinder options. The four buttons just to the right of the auto add/delete checkbox in the top bar there. Good to know for the future. And I can use the other pathfinder options to invert the path, I suspect. If not, I'll just do like LG suggested and do it in illustrator then re-import it.
I just wanna see the file! :(
So it's happening with EVERY path you draw?
You can reset the tools in CS by going to Window > Tool Presets > Reset Tool.
Yeah, it was happening with every one - because I had clicked "subtract from path area" instead of "add", probably while clicking outside the image while draawing paths, ironically enough.
Wotta n00b. 
:face-stab:
You didn't know either, punk. We should retire and let blacksanta mod this forum.
Well hell! I didn't know that you were all clicking the wrong-ass
buttons over there!
retires
And for future reference:
_Originally posted by arigato _ *You knnow how a path looks like a white object on a grey field in the thumbnail? Well, mine looks like a grey object on a white field at work - it selects the whole image with my path knocked out. Is this some kind of preset or something? I get this starting a new file, whatever. It's actually a bit fucked up. Because honestly I have no idea how to set the paths to do that automatically if I wanted to. *
glad you got it sorted out... next time just go to full screen view and select the outer rectangle and delete it—that should invert your clipping path
OH crap, I ddin't even think of that.
Good tip - but it should have been obvious to me. shamed
Um, HELLO?
Originally posted by Obscure/Renegade on the goddamn 30th of August *Wait a sec- if you have a true inverse path, why not just delete the outer part of it? *
I'm sorry, I had you on ignore.
Actually, just kidding - now that I think about it, the path was not an inverse path in that sense. Walt's suggestion would not have helped me and I did in fact try your suggestion. It's been a logn and tryng weekend and I have had a few beers, so forgive my confusion.
DO try this at home and tell me if I'm just confused about this part, though:
open a file in photoshop.
create a new path.
see if that path is set to "add to path area" or "exclude from path area".
Check "exclude from path area" (the default on my Photoshop CS at work).
See what that does? It creates a knockout without an actual bounding box.
And yes, you can go back to the path through history until the pathisn't closed, and you can switch it to "include" instead of "exclude" but once that path is closed you can't switch it even if it's selected. So basically if ou are trying to reverse knockout paths in saved files, you're outta luck.
Seems weird, I know, but I'm pretty sure that's how it is.
default on the Mac at work:
switched to include:
(the photo's an inukshuit on Mt. Royal from my walk yesterday in case anyone's curious - the hippies build them all over the mountain.)
you CAN change it on an existing path of a saved file....
at least in 6 - which i use at home.
open your file Select a point on the path with direct selection arrow (white) and hit DELETE, this makes the path open ended. Switch to "add to path area" Get your pen and continue from one of the points, rejoining them.
voila!
_Originally posted by Tha.Riddla _ **you CAN change it on an existing path of a saved file....
at least in 6 - which i use at home.
open your file Select a point on the path with direct selection arrow (white) and hit DELETE, this makes the path open ended. Switch to "add to path area" Get your pen and continue from one of the points, rejoining them.
voila! **
hm... good thinking.
I didn't realize you could delete a point that way.
//checked it - hey, that works!
Perfect solution.
:buttrock:
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