Background Eraser Tool - Hardness

Even at 100% hardness, I have to keep "going over" the area to get it to fully remove the pixels. Why is this? When using the brush tool and applying a color, then 100% hardness works as expected.

Regarding your originally reported issue, where you have to paint over things multiple times... It's easily reproduced.
It looks like the "Brush Spacing" for the Background Eraser Tool is pretty large, and changing it to small numbers doesn't appear to affect the way the tool works in the expected fashion. Even with the Spacing set to 1% one has to drag the tool half a brush width before the eraser "fires" again.
It also doesn't always stroke as expected if you click in one place, then click in another place with the shift key held down.
This may have to do with the fact that the tool is sensitive to the center point of the brush, but it just doesn't seem well integrated for use as a brush. Perhaps adobe expects you to click it once per erasure rather than dragging the brush around.
-Noel

Similar Messages

Photoshop CC 2014 Background Eraser Tool Not Working

I downloaded the CC 2014 update last week for all of my Adobe products. I've had no trouble with them except for the background eraser tool in Photoshop.
I open a photo and try and erase the background (all of the same settings as I used before) and it's really laggy. You can't drag the eraser, only erase in single points. I have found that by using the standard eraser first, then the background eraser, it will work for about 40 minutes, before stopping again. I then have to restart my computer to get it to work again.
As you can imagine, this is really frustrating. I can't figure out why it's doing this, and neither can my company's IT department. It's not maxing out the RAM or peaking the CPU, so they're pretty sure it's an issue with PS.
I have tried uninstalling, running the CC Cleaner tool, and then re-installing, but that hasn't fixed it.
Is anyone else having this problem? How did you fix it?
Emily

Adobe finally admits that this issue is a known issue. They tried to blame it on an outdated graphics card driver (see above), but mine was current. After I headed off all of their illogical excuses, one by one, they finally sent me an email stating the issue is definitely on their end and they were able to replicate it on their end - contrary to a previous email in which they attempted to shift blame on my end. I have to say Adobe gave all appearances that they are dismissive and in denial about it - until today. Once again, they escalated the issue (Level 2 - whatever that means). I'm not holding my breath. Thoroughly frustrated with how Adobe refused to take ownership of this until I had them corralled. And yes - I did let them know I was not pleased. Very disappointed with Adobe support. I invested a lot of time in previous support sessions, and the issue is still not resolved.

Problems with "Background Eraser Tool" and "Blur". The tools don't affect the whole area but just connect the start and the last points.

Hello!
I have some issues with Photoshop CC 2014. The tools "Background Eraser Tool" and "Blur" won't work correctly. When I’m holding down the left mouse button and trying to erase or blur some area, the tools don’t affect the whole area but just connect the start and the last points – like drawing a line. These troubles exist with mentioned tools only, other tools work correctly.
I’ve restored each tool separately, restored all the tools together, installed new drivers for tablet, re-installed Photoshop and even Windows. Nothing helped. These tools worked correctly earlier with the same adjustments, but one day something went wrong.
How can I make the tools work correctly?
Some information about my computer:
• Notebook Lenovo Y560
• Windows 7 Home Basic SP1 x64
• Intel Core i5 2.53 GHz
• 4Gb RAM
• ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 1Gb
• Tablet Wacom Bamboo CTL-470

Hi,
I have a similar problem with the Background Eraser tool as well. It's the same both on my PC and on my laptop, both running Win 8.1 and PS CC2014. Would be great to have a solution for this. Did you managed to find a fix?

Where can I find Background Eraser Tool CS6?

Hello,
Im new to the photoshop program. Im having trouble locating the background erase tool. When the drop menu opens on the erase button, the only options are eraser tool, scissor tool, knife. Where can I find the background eraser tool?
Thanks

Hi Travo, it sounds like you are not in Photoshop, but Illustrator!
This is what you would get when you open up the eraser tool in Photoshop CS6:
However, I imagine you are seeing this instead:
Illustrator doesn't have the Background Eraser Tool because it is not a photo-editing program, it edits vector artwork. Can you try to see if you have photoshop installed? This is what the icon of the program looks like:

Using Background Eraser Tool on a Layer

I have a background layer and then I create a second layer (a blank one). I then try to erase the backround image through the new layer and it doesn't work. What can I do?
Thanks,
Kirsten

I don’t follow.
If you try to hide the background just paint on the new Layer, if you want to actually erase parts of the Background Layer convert it to a regular Layer (Layer > New > Layer from Background or just double-click it).

Where is the background and magic eraser tool in photoshop cc?

In photoshop cc, when I choose to use eraser, I do not see the background or magic eraser tool options I see in videos, why? I am trying to learn to crop a face out of one picture and put it in another, and can't get what I need to do it. Is there a manual for photoshop cc?Thanks

Just hold down the mouse botton on the eraser tool for the pop up to show the background eraser tool. or shift+e repeatedly until the tool you want appears. This keyboard shortcut will switch between the multiple eraser tools in that popup menu. Once it is visible you can get back to that tool by using the e key by itself or clicking on it.
That said the background eraser tool is not required, it just makes it a bit easier. The normal eraser tool can erase the background if the background layer is unlocked. (assuming that is the layer you are working on) To unlock that layer just drag the padlock to the trashcan, or double click on that layer where you can name the layer if you choose and click ok.

CS3 -- I can't find the Eraser Tool

I am new to CS3, but I'm not a total greenie in photo editing after working with Jasc & Corel over the past few years. This one is starting to make me feel stupid. Maybe I'm having a brain cramp. I see the Background Eraser Tool, but after searching high and low, I can't find the Eraser Tool. Where is the little bugger hiding???

Click and hold (or ALT+Click) on ALL the icons in the Toolbox that show a little tiny triangle on their buttons. LOTs of grouped (some call them "hidden". I don't...) tools.
Anywhere you see just about ANY little icon, button, arrow or tiny triangle, try clicking and/or ALT+Clicking on them to see what secrets they hold.
Also, have a look at EVERY Menu item, and give them a try. Just don't "Save" and close your image and you will always be able to go back to your original unedited state by clicking the image at the very top of your History Palette.
Don't forget to give the Help files a thorough scan while you're exploring, too.

Why Did Background Eraser Stop Working?      CS6

CS6, Win7 Pro
Why might the Background Eraser tool have stopped working?
The settings I am currently using are Sampling: Once; Limits: Discontiguous; Tolerance: 100%; Protect Foreground Color: checked.
I wanted to remove a head and shoulders photo portrait from a background, and to do so, I generally followed the instructions on a YouTube video tutorial by Ali Baba entitled How to Remove Background Around Lots of Hair Photoshop;
which showed to use the eraser tool.
My background was an off white color, with a shadow from the subject on some of it.      I made a layer on top of the photo and filled it with red (instead of the dark blue in the video, so it would contrast more with the black hair of my subject); then I copied the photo into a layer and put it on top of the red (unlike the video where he erased off the original.) Then I erased away the background.    Then I took the steps shown to work around the hair.       At that time, the background was still not closely erased around the ears and shoulders and I put the job away for a while.
When I came back, I used the Quick Selection to select the area from the entire right side that wasn't erased yet.   But I didn't know how to erase the selection, so I went back to the Background eraser and erased the rest of the right side away. Then I deleted the selection.
For some reason, however, I am not able to erase any more on the left side, and I am stymied as to why not.
Message was edited by: TomBrooklyn for grammer and content--mainly clarity

I think I found a solution.   I just did on the left side what I had done on the right.   I made a Quick Selection, and then for some reason, I was able to erase in that area.   Then I removed the quick selection.
I don't how or why it worked, but I think it did.

Program Error when Using PS Background Eraser

Each time I use Background Erase, I get Program Error. Anyone else having this issue or know of a solution?

I have the same error when I try to use the background eraser tool in Photoshop. I just noticed it today. Restarted program, MAC. Tried in both RGB and CMYK, same message. I can see it begin to remove at the very beginning of clicking, then the error message:
"Could not use the background eraser because of a program error."
Photoshop CS6 13.0.5x64
MAC OS 10.8.4
Hmmmmm.
Tom

Basic eraser tool no longer produces transparency

Photoshop CS6: In the past, basic eraser tool produced transparent areas when run over the background layer. Now it producers background color. Magic eraser tool and background eraser tool work as they should, that is they produce transparency wherever I select. How do I get the basic eraser tool to behave?

Photoshop CS6 for PC
Thanks for your replies. Resetting tools did not work. This is what happens when the three eraser tools are applied to background layer of a grayscale, .tif image with no other layers created.
Select basic eraser tool and apply to background layer background color (white in this case) is applied to background layer wherever basic erase tool is applied to image as if it were the brush tool.
Select background eraser tool and apply to background layer. Transparency appears wherever background erase tool is applied to image.
Go back and reselect basic erase tool. Now, transparency appears wherever basic eraser tool is applied.
The same thing happens when the magic erase tool is selected, that is if I select it, use it and then go back and reselect the basisc erase tool, transparency results wherever basic erase tool is applied to image.
In the past, basic erase tool has worked with background layers.
Complicated circumstances. Any other thoughts?

Background eraser Error

Message - background eraser has stopped working because of a program error

Posted this in the other string as well. Same issue for me:
I have the same error when I try to use the background eraser tool in Photoshop. I just noticed it today. Restarted program, MAC. Tried in both RGB and CMYK, same message. I can see it begin to remove at the very beginning of clicking, then the error message:
"Could not use the background eraser because of a program error."
Photoshop CS6 13.0.5x64
MAC OS 10.8.4
Hmmmmm.
Tom
NOTE EDIT: I was able to reset my Photoshop preferences and it seemed to fix the issue. Command/Option/Shift upon starting Photoshop.
Message was edited by: tgraner

Eraser tool won't reverse when swapping fore and background colors

When using the eraser tool to blend layers I often want to "unerase" a bit so hit "X" to paint with white and it still erases to layer below just as it had before switching the foreground "W" and background "B" colors. Makes no sense to me as I thought I could paint back in by doing so.

"You can reverse transparency by painting white (or a light shade) on a layer mask that has been painted black (or a dark shade)." Thanks, Noel.
That is what I am attempting, but when I paint with the white on the layer mask it continues to erase rather than reverse transparency. I was able to do this in the past without fail, but not today. My gut feeling is I've done something which has triggered this problem, but have retraced my steps carefully and am still not finding the solution. The History brush idea I will attempt later, but prefer to first figure out why my old tried and true method is failing.

In Photoshop CS5, my eraser tool fades an image but doesn't erase pixels entirely, even when the hardness is at 100%

I don't know when exactly this started, but I can't figure out how to get the eraser tool to just work as an eraser again

It happens in every poject

Erase tool in PS touch

How come the app is seriously slowing down now, and crashing when I use the Erase Tool on the iPad 3 version?

Hi there,
Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly. I have restarted the device..multiple times, In fact, every time I used the erase tool I had to reboot the iPad.
Ok, it's happened on several projects I will try and describe the sequence of events ...It always happens after using the lasso tool, and the inverse to erase background from an image...the whole process immediately slows to a crawl...I can see each independent round erase brush circle on the page...then...the progress square bar appears and it stalls...no button works, including the home button to release the crash...a hard boot (restart) is the only thing that works.
I had wondered if it was a free memory kind of thing, so...I deleted piles of data from my tablet, and have 4GB free, nope...no luck...I wonder if I should reinstall the whole program?
Hopefully I have recreated this as best as I could...
Specs: iPad 3 running, iOs 6.0.1, PS version 1.4.0
Cheers,
Harriet Barnes

Found Bug in PS CS6 While Trying to use the Eraser Tool

I was editing an 8 bit JPEG that I imported from Adobe Lightroom 3. While using the standard eraser tool to erase the background it would stop working and then move the screen around until I released the mouse button. This happend about every 10 - 20 seconds. I'm using a Macbook 2,1 with the OSX 10.6.8.
Recreate Steps:
1) Import 8-bit JPEG from Lightroom 3
2) Select eraser tool on main layer (background)
3) While holding the mouse button down start to erase part of the image
4) About 10 - 20 seconds in the eraser will stop working and then when you move the mouse around image moves
5) To stop the movement you have to release the mouse button and the find the correct part of the image again and start erasing again
6) Most of the time I was viewing the image at >150%
Hope this helps and you can find a fix. It's very annoying to have to stop and find the correct area of your photo to erase.
Anyone else having this issue?

I am trying to reproduce this but as of now, mine is working properly.
Can you copy and paste your system information in this thread for me to take a look at? (Photoshop Help>system info)
Pattie

Background Eraser Tool - Hardness

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