Invert a layer mask? Can't Ctrl + I

I'm doing some photo editing of a HDR combined photoshop file. I have a layer mask of my buildings. I copied the layer, now i'd like to invert the mask so that I can immediately start fiddling with the sky.
How do I invert the layer mask? I'm in 32-bit mode right now. CS3

Ah, CS3 Extended. I was going to purchase that as an upgrade, having had every other version as a stand-alone since 2.5 (except 5.5), BUT, I had used my S/N from AI to get the upgrade to Adobe Production Studio Premium CS2 for video. It included PS CS2, which I really didn't need, as I had it on my two machines already. Went to upgrade to just PS CS3 Extended, but could not, as I NOW had to get the full-boat boogie package for Premiere, et al. Bummer. I do not want anything else in CS3, except Extended. First time I've ever been miffed at an Adobe upgrade policy. I had cut myself off from ever upgrading one component, even if I had previously owned it/them as a stand-alone. Will wait for CS4 and just take out a second mortgage - if I can get one then...
Hunt

Similar Messages

  • Inverted layer mask not working

    I havent used PS much of late but in CS6 when layer masking the technique I used to use doesnt seem to work anymore.  I would have two layers.  The top layer I would put a layer mask.  Then I would select all and delete hit the delete button so the mask would turn black and invert.  Then instead of painting black over white to reveal the bottom layer I would paint white over black to bring my top layer back.  I liked doing it like this.   But its not working now.   When I paint with white on the black mask nothing happens?? I tried inverting in the properties but makes no diff.   What am I doing wrong?

    Check the blending mode on your brush.  It may be set to darken or some other blend mode than normal.  As a side note, you can invert a layer mask be making sure it's selected and press ctrl/cmd-i. You can also create a mask where everything is hidden by pressing alt/opt then clicking on the add layer mask icon in the layers pallet.

  • Why doesn't Photoshop always generate a layer mask

    I believe it was in CS4 that Adobe expanded the use of automatic layer masks ... perhaps it was with adjustment layers (I'm not quite sure)
    I don't know about others, but it would save me considerable time in the long run if every new layer, (whether it is generated as a copy, from a plug-in, as a cut, or as a new blank layer) recevied an automatic layer mask. It takes no file space, but more often than not I find myself needing one. It sure would be nice to jump right into masking rather than having to first create the layer mask. Why did they stop at adjustment layers?
    Am I alone in this?
    thanks

    Adding layers like Text, Raster and smart objects never have had automatic layers mask added.  Adding adjustment layers always came with an automatic layer mask until CS4.  Adode introduced bugs in CS4 when they added the adjustment panel these bugs have been carried forward into CS5 and CS6. Adobe added two options in the adjustment panels fly-out panel.  These options are designed to be global, not just adjustment panel options.  These options only work sometimes when changed from their default settings.  When changed from their default settings they try to change Photoshop historic default operation.  When you change Photoshop default operation Action, Scripts and Plug-ins that add adjustment layers may not work correctly.  Adobe should fix Photoshop and remove the two bad Adjustment Panel fly-out options. The Adjustment Panel fly-out menu option to not add Layer masks can not be safely set, same goes for the option to always clip added layer mask, if you use Actions, Scripts and Plug-ins that add adjustment layers.

  • Layer Mask Suddenly Not Working

    Hello!
    I have been using PS 6 for several months now, with no problems; I totally love it!  I tend to do a lot of heavily composited photos, so I use layer masks a lot.  All of a sudden this afternoon, they aren't working.  I am 100% sure I am selecting the mask itself and not the layer (paint colors change to only black and white with the slider).  My opacity and flow are both at 100.  I am using just a standardsoft-edged paint brush.  I paint on back, and nothing changes. 
    What's weird is if I invert the layer mask and paint white on, that will show up.  But if I switch over to black again, it won't make anything disappear.
    I'm so perplexed by this; I've never had an issue like this before!
    Thank you for your help!

    Hi Sarah,
    Do you see the black appear on the layer mask in the Layer Panel?
    Have you checked that your brush mode is set to Normal?

  • How can I Copy/Paste a Black & White Photo into a Layer Mask

    I have a landscape picture.
    Then I will copy it into another layer and convert it to black and white. I will make some changes to the B&W photo
    Then I want this B&W photo to be the layer mask of a "Layer-Multiply" of the original ...
    I tried copy and paste as it is, but it doesn´t works
    Please help me with the steps or what I am doing wrong.
    Regards
    Roberto

    You can paint not only a black and white photo, but also a coloured one.
    Once you have copied the photo (Ctrl A and Ctrl C), before trying to paste, be sure that the layer mask is active, Alt click in the layer palette in the mask icon on the right : you get a white screen and the mask icon is shown selected. Only then can you paste into the mask (Ctrl V). To exit the mask view, Alt click again or click in the layer icon on the left.
    When you paste a coloured pictures it is automatically converted to grayscale.

  • Can't paint at full opacity in layer mask in CS6 64 bit windows 7

    A problem has developed in my photoshop CS 6 64 bit on windows 7. I can't paint at full opacity in a layer mask. It is like an 75 % opacity brush. I have gone back to the default brushes soit is not the particular bursh. My brush settings are all at 100%, mask density is 100% , the blend mode is normal,-can't think of where else to look for the solution.The brush works just fine when I am not in a layer mask.
    I updated the graphic card driver and also the wacom intuos driver. It has to be somewhere in photoshop CS6 as when I go into my older version photoshop, cs5, the mask opacity works works at 100 % opacity
    Any ideas of what to do next.

    I am having a similar problem that I need help with.  I just loaded CS6 for the first time ever last week and have been tinkering around with photo editing.  I am trying to use an action I downloaded to whiten the whites of the eyes and teeth.  When I run the action I cannot paint with the soft white brush.  I hit backslash and it shows no work completed, just a red background.  I have everything selected at 100% opacity (brush and action layer). 
    A couple days ago I was able to use the brush tool to darken the background by loading an action and paiting on.  Now I can't do that anymore. 
    I can use my brush for other tasks.  I am so confused.  I would greatly appreciate any insight.    

  • Can someone tell me if there is any way to add a fully editable layer mask in pse 8?

    Hi I am a web designer and ahve been working hard recently in adding new web  graphic skills to my arsenal. Now, the problem I have been expiriencing with elements 8 is that while trying to reproduce a mirrored text effect, following a tutorial online I found myself not being able to add a layer mask on top of one of the text layers, to then apply a gradient. In the end I did it with Fireworks but is there any way around it in Photoshop Elements 8.
    Thanks in advance
    Carlo

    Sure. You can grab the mask from an adjustment layer, or there are a number of add-on downloads. A popular one is here:
    http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51319&highlight=grant%27s+tools

  • Can anybody say why In the layer menu the background color is white when opening a layer mask, and why does it automatically turns black by simply opening the layer mask properties menu? The vector mask is white anyway.

    Can anybody say why In the layer menu, the background color is white when opening a layer mask, and why does it automatically turns black by simply opening the layer mask properties menu? The vector mask is white anyway.

    Topic or subject titles should be clear, pertinent and concise so that individual users can tell at a glance if they can help or not.
    That field is not for attempting to fit your entire question in there.
    Please keep this in mind next time you post.  Thank you.
    A lot more information about your hardware and software is needed.
    BOILERPLATE TEXT:
    If you give complete and detailed information about your setup and the issue at hand,
    such as your platform (Mac or Win),
    exact versions of your OS, of Photoshop (not just "CC", but something like CC2014.v.2.2) and of Bridge,
    your settings in Photoshop > Preference > Performance
    the type of file you were working on,
    machine specs, such as total installed RAM, scratch file HDs, total available HD space, video card specs, including total VRAM installed,
    what troubleshooting steps you have taken so far,
    what error message(s) you receive,
    if having issues opening raw files also the exact camera make and model that generated them,
    if you're having printing issues, indicate the exact make and model of your printer, paper size, image dimensions in pixels (so many pixels wide by so many pixels high). if going through a RIP, specify that too.
    a screen shot of your settings or of the image could be very helpful too,
    etc.,
    someone may be able to help you (not necessarily this poster, who is not a Windows user).
    Please read this FAQ for advice on how to ask your questions correctly for quicker and better answers:
    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/419981?tstart=0
    Thanks!

  • Can't use the erase tool inside a Layer Mask

    Recently after updating Photoshop CC I noticed that I can no longer use the erase tool inside of a Layer Mask to add or remove areas from/to the mask. The paint brush tool still works inside the mask but the erase tool does not. Any ideas why?

    Make sure your foreground/background colors are set to BW. And, make sure your foreground color is set to the same color you want to erase from the Layer Mask: Black if you want to erase (turn white) the black part of the mask, White if you want to erase (turn black) the white part of the mask.

  • I can't get Layer Masks to work with PScc but works fine with CS6

    When I create a layer mask it shows up properly but doesn't work at all.  I have the correct layer selected and I'm painting in black (and nothing happens in white either) and there is no problem when doing exactly the same thing with CS6 so I thought there might be a difference in my settings but I can't see any.  My masks are NOT disabled in properties.  Nothing shows up on the image nor on the mask.  I can however, use the eraser tool as normal.  Any ideas?
    Thanks!

    PLease could you help me too.  I have been onto support through several emails and online helps and they do not understand the problem correctly and have not resolved it.  I have photoshopcc 2014.  If I click on add layer mask icon I get a white thumbnail.  That seems ok.  I then select a brush - set to normal etc.  all ok.  Then I attempt to either brush in or out on my photo to reveal or hide bits of layer below and it no longer works.
    Weirdly, I noticed it was not selected in channels.  So I checked the layer mask in channels and then back in layers it works except now it works by painting on a rubylith (which it did not do before 2014 version) then when I am done if I click apply mask everything works ok and it is done.  It just does not work unless I select in channels.
    This also happens if I apply an adjustment layer.  The adjustment comes into the thumbnails with a mask and the mask is unselected in channels, I have to select and it paints a ruby lith.
    If I go to layers in the menu however and select layer mask hide all or reveal all then select my brush it works fine and as it normally did before.
    I have tried re installing etc. and every bit of normal advice but nothing works.  Can you help or do you know anyone who can.  As I am desperate here is my email: [email protected]
    thank you

  • Can't select layer mask, also some tools not working -- in CS2

    Photoshop 9.0.2 on WinXP Pro (3 GB RAM; Used space: 18.4GB; Free space: 214GB; Video card: 256MB ATI Radeon X1300PRO)
    Hi, I have a couple image layers (each created by merging several others) that each also have a mask attached. I cannot get the layer mask selected on either one. I have found that I can delete the layer mask, and start with a new one and make edits, but it is a one-time shot: once I de-select it I cannot get back to it to make any further changes. (I have only a standard mouse, not a Wacom tablet/pen mouse, nor does anyone nearby, or perhaps even in the building. See: http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.3bbfe832 )
    Also, when I have the layer selected and try to draw on it (in black) with the Brush tool, it paints red. Then I was able to Erase the red brush strokes just a minute ago without disturbing the integrity of the image. However, I just tried it again and more red was painted onto the image layer (in the currently assigned size of the Eraser).
    Incidentally, yesterday and this morning I couldn't get the Eraser tool to do *anything* at all.
    Everything I *can* do does show up in the History palette.
    I also just happened to notice that when I select any layer in the doc that the small frame appears around the thumbnail to indicate it is selected, but that the entire row itself does not become highlighted as it normally does. And when I check the eye to make the layer disappear, the red brush strokes (both from the Brush and Eraser) still show.
    I generally work on a network, but after I started having these problems I moved the file to my desktop and have worked from there since early yesterday with apparently increasingly odd issues. I have a co-worker who experienced the same inability to select the layer mask a couple days ago, but his system has since returned to "normal" (and while continuing to work across the network). Thanks!

    >, but obviously need to brush up on the details.
    you really should. imo, the quick mask is one of the best and most flexible selection tools available in photoshop! you should either check out the help on it (F1) and/or google for some tutorials.
    I set mine (double click the quick mask icon in the tool bar) so that painting black paints a "selection" rather than a "mask" (painting white clears the selection). in that way, the quick mask tool in effect becomes a quick selection tool that can take advantage of all your various brushes and brush effects (opacity, flow etc.) when making or adjusting selections.

  • Can't delete Layer Mask content in PS CS4.

    I am completely baffled with this and am thinking that it's something obvious I am just missing.
    I have a photo open and click on the "Create new fill or adjustments layer" button at the bottom of the Layers panel.
    In CS3 I able to create a layer (say Levels) and apply it, then select the eraser tool and delete sections of that adjustment layer that I did not want revealing an unaltered section of the original photo behind it.
    I can not seem to do this in CS4. I can add the layer and select the eraser tool but it will not delete anything.
    :s Help??
    Thanks.

    >You have to make sure and explicitly target the Layer mask in order to affect it.  <br /><br />good point. make sure the mask is selected first. :)<br /><br />>CS3 has buggy targeting behavior<br /><br />really? i don't think i've ever noticed it. <shrug>

  • How can layer masks be saved seperately to be re-used on other photos?

    I was looking at an an album design program that uses Photoshop as its base, and noticed that it pops up a selection of masks in a window below the photo ...something like mini-bridge, and there you can select different styles and masks etc to apply to the image being edited.
    I thought that is pretty neat because some of the masks could be quite universal, so I tried creating one and saving it seperately but got nowhere.
    I then created one, took a screenshot of it and saved it as a jpg, then opened that, selected all, and tried to paste it into a mask ...and again no go.
    So ...how do they do that?
    jj

    You can copy layer from one document to an other and the layer can contain a layer mask.  You can also save a layer mask as an alpha channel and you can copy a channel from one document to another and use the channel as a layer mask. You need to be careful copying between documents. It woks best when both documents have the same resolutions.
    Albums are usually done in Photoshop with the use of PSD templates design for pages in an album with different page layouts however all pages are the same size and resolution.  Image are populated into the templates.  Layer mask and layer styles are often use in the templates.  Photoshop automation may also be used to aid the process.
    Photo Collage Toolkit UPDATED Made Rotate for Best Fit an option in PasteImageRoll.jsx Edit to customize your default settings.
    Photoshop scripting is powerful and I believe this package demonstrates this.
    The package includes four simple rules to follow when making Photo Collage Template PSD files so they will be compatible with my Photoshop scripts.
    Size the photo collage templates for the print size you want - width, height and print DPI resolution.
    Photo collage templates must have a Photoshop background layer. The contents of this layer can be anything.
    Photo collage templates must have alpha channels named "Image 1", "Image 2", ... "Image n".
    Photo collage templates layers above the background layers must provide transparent areas to let the images that will be placed below them show through.
    There are twelve scripts in this package they provide the following functions:
    TestCollageTemplate.jsx - Used to test a Photo Collage Template while you are making it with Photoshop.
    CollageTemplateBuilder.jsx - Can build Templates compatible with this toolkit's scripts.
    LayerToAlphaChan.jsx - Used to convert a Prototype Image Layer stack into a template document.
    InteractivePopulateCollage.jsx - Used to interactively populate Any Photo Collage template. Offers most user control inserting pictures and text.
    ReplaceCollageImage.jsx - use to replace a populated collage image Smart Object layer with an other image correctly resized and positioned.
    ChangeTextSize.jsx - This script can be used to change Image stamps text size when the size used by the populating did not work well.
    PopulateCollageTemplate.jsx - Used to Automatically populate a Photo Collage template and leave the populated copy open in Photoshop.
    BatchOneImageCollage.jsx - Used to Automatically Batch Populate Collage templates that only have one image inserted. The Collage or Image may be stamped with text.
    BatchMultiImageCollage.jsx - Used to Automatically Batch Populate Any Photo Collage template with images in a source image folder. Easier to use than the interactive script. Saved collages can be tweaked.
    BatchPicturePackage.jsx - Used to Automatically Batch Populate Any Photo Collage template with an image in a source image folder
    PasteImageRoll.jsx - Paste Images into a document to be print on roll paper.
    PCTpreferences.jsx - Edit This File to Customize Collage Populating scripts default setting and add your own Layer styles.
    Documentation and Examples

  • Why I can't see my Brush Tool effects on my layer mask until I click on the Photoshop window one more time

    I really donut why my Photoshop works like I said on title.
    I cannot see see the Brush effects on my layer mask nor in my history panel until I click on somewhere else in Photoshop.
    This problem really slow down my workflow.
    Does any one know the reason and the solution of my problem here? Please let me know, thanks a lot.

    Update your graphics driver/ turn off GPU usage in the performance prefs. You have an issue with hardware-based transparency handling most likely. Otherwise you could have an issue with your input device, but since you have not provided any system info, we can't really know anything.
    Mylenium

  • Can't select or edit layer mask in CS5.1 extended

    In our class, we have photoshop CS5 on MACs
    I  started a project in class which involves creating a layer mask. I was about done with the mask, but  brought it home to finish. I opened the file on my WIN XP running  photoshop CS5.1 extended, which I installed this morning. In class I was  able to click on the mask to select it, then use the brush to edit the  details, painting black or white as needed to refine the edge.
    When I brought the .psd file home and opened  it in the newer version of Photoshop, it won't allow me to select the  mask for editing. I selected the layer then clicked on the mask thumbnail in the layer pallette but didn't see the corner  outlines that usually show when the layer thumbnail is selected. When I  tried brushing on what I thought was the mask (of the layer selected) I  got the pink overlay as is usually seen in quickmask. (fore and  background colors were black and white).
    Does v5.1 behave  differently with masks from v5.0? I didn't change any of the factory  default settings and in class it is standard practice to reset to the  default when we begin.
    any ideas?

    sweet. That did the trick Noel.
    I didn't turn quickmask on. I just loaded the file from my flash drive and first thing I tried was to select the layer mask. I'll have to try another file to see if PS is starting in quickmask mode itself.
    I had an inkling I was in quickmask mode from the pink painting, but hadn't selected it and didn't know about the q hotkey. newbie here just a few weeks into the intro course.
    again, thanks for the fast reply. I just might be able to finish this assignment yet tonight.

Maybe you are looking for