hi, in photoshop, i make an outline with the pen tool, and when i right click it and choose "make selection" it selects all of the space around the line shape instead of the shape itself. "when i click on paths, load path as selection, it does the same thing. i was wondering if there is a way to select my pen path so i can fill it with a gradient? i googled this a lot and cant find an answer. when i use "fill path with foreground color" it fills the area outside of my pen tool shape. any help greatly appreciated. thank you. derek

Try using the path selection tool (black arrow) to first select the path. Then to fill the path, use the Fill path icon at the bottom of the paths palette (looks like a solid black circle). If you fill it with white, you can then use layerstyles to put any gradient in there that you want as well as adding other effects non-destructively.

awesome ladynred! i figured it out and also thanks for the advice about the fx to my selection. here was the problem...at the top of the window, i checked the "add to shape area" selection. then i selected it like you said, then fill path with foreground color with white, and it WORKED. hahah. then i applied a gradient fx to it and it was great. thank you so much for the reply. derek
(note, before this worked, i had "subtract from selection" selected.

edit- oh no. now its adding the effect to my multiple shapes instead of just adding the color to the second shape it does both.

edit2- nevermind, i fixed that by drawing the next shape on a new layer.
am i doing a newbie hack or am i doing it right? LOL

Yes, you have to have the shapes on different layers. You could also use the Direct Selection Tool (white arrow underneath the black one), select just ONE of the paths, then do the fill.

great, thanks again ladynred. at least im learning the basics now of drawing in photoshop. im at the very beginning LOL, so we'll see how it goes. thank you for answering the other question too. derek

photoshop is a little difficult to learn . i've been working it for a long time . still dont get it.