# In valid selection while trying to select a face in shell tool

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/in-valid-selection-while-trying-to-select-a-face-in-shell-tool/32473>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [June 17, 2024, 4:03am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/in-valid-selection-while-trying-to-select-a-face-in-shell-tool/32473 "2024-06-17T04:03:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![baddog1016](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/baddog1016/32/27183_2.png) [@baddog1016](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/baddog1016)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2024, 4:03am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/in-valid-selection-while-trying-to-select-a-face-in-shell-tool/32473/1 "2024-06-17T04:03:25Z")

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I am trying to do Day #5 in Shapr3d tutorial which is supposed to make a 90º tube,

 ![Screenshot 2024-06-16 at 11.25.02 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/5/5/55a73575be636a427fc78c945ae2c8508658a3b2.jpeg)  
I cannot select the appropriate face in Shell tool. I get an invalid selection message. I can select the face when not in Shell tool. What am I doing wrong. Screen shot of item provided. The face(s) I am trying to select is the circle. I can select the body.

[https://support.shapr3d.com/hc/en-us/requests/new](https://support.shapr3d.com/hc/en-us/requests/new)

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**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2024, 4:10am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/in-valid-selection-while-trying-to-select-a-face-in-shell-tool/32473/2 "2024-06-17T04:10:24Z")

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It looks like you have a sketch on that face. Hide it first then do the Shell.

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**Author:** ![baddog1016](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/baddog1016/32/27183_2.png) [@baddog1016](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/baddog1016)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 7:29am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/in-valid-selection-while-trying-to-select-a-face-in-shell-tool/32473/3 "2024-06-19T07:29:46Z")

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Thanks, it worked except I’m having a really difficult time getting shell to work reliably. Here is a tapered tube I am trying to model. I lofted it okay but I cannot select the faces at either end. I have the sketches, 5 & 7 turned off but I still get invalid selection. I can select the faces just fine when I’m not in shell mode to extrude them or move them. What’s the secret to being able to do this consistently? I suspect the circle dimensions being there are a clue but when I turn off the sketch in item manager the sketch tool comes up. When I turn off the sketch tool the dimensions come back. I know it shouldn’t be this hard! Help is greatly appreciated.

 ![Screenshot 2024-06-18 at 7.25.33 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/9/2/9266d1754bae8609b3ab0152a7ee7b435d27f8b3.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![Istvan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/istvan/32/23668_2.png) [@Istvan](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Istvan)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 7:30am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/in-valid-selection-while-trying-to-select-a-face-in-shell-tool/32473/4 "2024-06-19T07:30:13Z")

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Because you are selecting the sketch, not the face. Hide the sketch first, or isolate the body.

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**Author:** ![bruceathome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@bruceathome](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/bruceathome)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 1:40pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/in-valid-selection-while-trying-to-select-a-face-in-shell-tool/32473/5 "2025-08-15T13:40:42Z")

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Thanks mate. That was very useful.