select a small shape that is totally hidden by others shapes, in a single layer

[viccho]

Hi everyone !
I'm trying liquid shapes to make an animated faces like in this webinar at 54mn. My problem is that i've a lot of shape on a single layer et some shape are small and hidden et i can't select them with the select shape tool. I want to change easily the order of the shapes using the up and down arrows keys...but i can't. Is there someone who have and tips? Thnk you all. Have a good day

[viccho]

the link to the webinar i'm talking about https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87OBcOWObhk
Although, i do not understand the shapes order in the eyes layers at 54mn. i was thinking that a liquid shape is acting on the shape just below. I guess the pupil shape intersects with the shape of the white of the eye. so the pupil is above the white of the eye. But then the eyebrows and cheekbones are above the pupil and yet they seem to react with the white of the eye. i don't understand. Could you help me?

[Greenlaw]

The easiest way is to use Rai's Shape Window. It works by showing you all the shapes in the current layer in a list. The key to using this tool effectively is to give each shape a sensible name.

To me, this Rai's Shape Tool is essential for working with Liquid Shapes, and whenever I need to manipulate a lot of shapes. (Like in a hand setup with many 'finger joint' shapes, or hair setup with many 'strand' shapes.) Be sure to read through the topic as there are many options for this tool, and there are a couple of things to be aware of when using the tool.

Synthsin75 has a different system for selecting hidden shapes in a layer here: Stacked Shape Tool. It's actually two tools: one for selecting stacked shapes, and another for creating stacked shapes using the same curve. (I use the latter because the native Create Shape tool cannot do this.)

Alternatively, you can select hidden shapes in the Working Area directly by first clicking over the hidden shape, press and hold the Ctrl key, and then press the down arrow key (not the mouse key.) The selection will switch from top shape to the hidden shape. It's a little weird, but it works.

[SimplSam]

I have no problems creating multiple Shapes on the same curve/s. Maybe LM changed something some time ago to allow this.

You can also select Shapes by name from the Style panel dropdown (assuming they are named), but Rai's Shape tool is the gold-standard.

[viccho]

thank you for your answer. i can now select hidden shape. But still not understand how the eyes are done in the webinar

[synthsin75]

I have no problems creating multiple Shapes on the same curve/s. Maybe LM changed something some time ago to allow this.

On the exact same set of curves? Like multiple shapes on the same 4-point circle, etc.? Moho hasn't allowed that for a long time.

[Víctor Paredes]

You can use the menu Draw -> Hide shape (or something similar) to temporarily hide the shape covering the one you want to select.
On 14.3, you can also use the Select shape lasso mode. If you surround the points of your shape, it will be selected.

[SimplSam]

On the exact same set of curves? Like multiple shapes on the same 4-point circle, etc.? Moho hasn't allowed that for a long time.

OK some oddities.

I was actually using it with 2 strokes on the same open curve (different widths), giving the stroke an outline, and that seems to work OK. I have tried it with MH12.5, 13.5, 14, and it is allowed with strokes-only.

Fills are not quite so friendly, but if you have a stroke-only closed shape, then you can create a fill-only or fill-stroke on the same points. However, if you have any filled shape, you can't create another shape on the same points.

[Greenlaw]

I have no problems creating multiple Shapes on the same curve/s. Maybe LM changed something some time ago to allow this.

Hmm...it's not working here. When I select the same points in a closed curve (square, circle, whatever) and use the native Create Shape, the new shape replaces the existing one. I just now checked with Rai's tool open to monitor the behavior, and each time, the result was one shape.

But when I use Wes' version, it adds a new shape on top of the existing one.

I think Wes made this tool at my request several years ago after LM changed this behavior in the native tool. From what I recall, it was felt that allowing the tool to create stacked shapes confused users. For me, Moho lost a helpful feature.

[Greenlaw]

On 14.3, you can also use the Select shape lasso mode. If you surround the points of your shape, will be selected.

That's very cool! Love it!

[synthsin75]

From what I recall, it was felt that allowing the tool to create stacked shapes confused users.

There was also an issue with shapes becoming more aliased as more are stacked. With people creating countless shapes with the paint bucket, instead of editing existing shapes, things could start looking really bad. So probably best it's a "hidden Pro feature." Although the native tool could stand to have it as an option.

[Greenlaw]

There was also an issue with shapes becoming more aliased as more are stacked.

Ah, of course! I didn't see any issues at the time, but that makes sense.

[Greenlaw]

Here's a recent example of where the Create Shape mod can come in handy...

How do I clip lines in an object?

I'm almost certain I had to do something similar, and I was surprised I could no longer do this with the native Create Shape tool. That was quite a long time ago, and I'm still surprised I can't do this with the native tool. (Okay, I can, but it takes multiple steps with the native tool.)