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Dooferryforeva
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Mask doesn't work.

May 10, 2012 2:00 PM

Tags: #masks

In Photoshop why is the area of my layer mask slightly visible, when it should be completely invisible?

When I add a layer mask to any layer, select the layer mask, then use the brush tool to paint COMPLETELY black on part of the layer image, where I've painted usually becomes totally invisible.

 

However, lately the part where I've painted on stays at about 7% visible, no matter how many times I paint over it, kind of like there's some setting which makes layer masks only work to a certain percentage, then doesn't let you to erase anymore.

 

***THE BRUSH OPACITY IS AT 100%.*** This happens on all the files I've tested on (including new ones). Both of the layers blend modes are normal.

 

Is this a glitch or a setting I added then forgot about? Even after I restarted the computer, the problem persisted, so I'm guessing it's a setting, but which one?

 

745 Views   9 Replies   Latest reply: Noel Carboni, May 10, 2012 7:27 PM
 
Replies
  • Trevor.Dennis
    1,591 posts
    May 24, 2010
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    1. Trevor.Dennis,
    May 10, 2012 2:25 PM   in reply to Dooferryforeva
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    What happens if you simply fill the mask with black rather than paint it in?

     

    Try resetting Preferences (hold down Shift Alt Ctrl  or Shift Opt Cmd immediately after starting Photoshop).

     
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  • Dooferryforeva
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    2. Dooferryforeva,
    May 10, 2012 3:18 PM   in reply to Trevor.Dennis
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    It's still slightly transparent, when I fill it and reset the preferences.

     
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  • Noel Carboni
    20,949 posts
    Dec 23, 2006
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    3. Noel Carboni,
    May 10, 2012 3:31 PM   in reply to Dooferryforeva
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    Sounds like a glitch.  A perfectly black layer mask should make the layer perfectly transparent, and that's what I see it do.

     

    Is your document an RGB document?

     

    Can you do some screen grabs showing the problem graphically, and post them here?  Make sure your Layers panel is showing.

     

    -Noel

     
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  • Dooferryforeva
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    4. Dooferryforeva,
    May 10, 2012 3:43 PM   in reply to Noel Carboni
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    Yep, it's RGB.Untitled-3.jpgUntitled-2.jpg

     
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  • Noel Carboni
    20,949 posts
    Dec 23, 2006
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    5. Noel Carboni,
    May 10, 2012 3:55 PM   in reply to Dooferryforeva
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    When I sample your screen grabs the black color showing in your masks and in your foreground swatch is not (0,0,0).  Thus it is not pure black.

     

    -Noel

     
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  • charles badland
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    6. charles badland,
    May 10, 2012 4:08 PM   in reply to Dooferryforeva
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    I've seen some users mistake 100%K (in CMYK) for pure black. It is not. Make sure your brush (or fill color) is loaded with 0, 0, 0 RGB.

     
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  • Dooferryforeva
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    7. Dooferryforeva,
    May 10, 2012 4:09 PM   in reply to Noel Carboni
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    Oh, I thought I was on pure black, but I guess I was on dark greay. Now that I'm on pure black it works! Thanks so much!

     
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  • R_Kelly
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    8. R_Kelly,
    May 10, 2012 6:32 PM   in reply to Dooferryforeva
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    Just to add, when using masks it easy to set the foreground and background colors to pure black and pure white and vice versa by hitting the D key for foreground black and background white

    and the X key to switch to foreground white and background black.

     
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  • Noel Carboni
    20,949 posts
    Dec 23, 2006
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    9. Noel Carboni,
    May 10, 2012 7:27 PM   in reply to R_Kelly
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    R_Kelly wrote:

     

    easy to set the foreground and background colors to pure black and pure white and vice versa by hitting the D key

     

    ...Or clicking this little icon:

     

    ThisLittleIcon.jpg

     

    -Noel

     
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