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).

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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.

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

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.

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

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:

Use the Eraser tool

This question was posted in response to the following article: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshopelements/using/WS287f927bd30d4b1f71abaa0b12e28aec742- 7feb.html

As long as you have the eraser mode set to brush and select one of the round brushes you can use Shift + [ or ] (Shift + the bracket keys) to adjust the brush hardness
and just the bracket keys to adjust the size.
Or set the normal Brush tool to the clear mode to have more control of the brush properties:

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.

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.

Eraser tool doesn't work for black layer mask

I am trying to set a black layer mask and use the eraser tool to edit it. Unfortunately the eraser tool is not responsive. I'm not knowingly doing anything differently than I've done in the past. I recently did a round of software updates for CS6. Wondering if anyone else is experienceing this and if there's a solution?

Check that foreground color in the toolbox is set to black. (opposite from when using the brush tool)
Press D and then the X key.
And that opacity and flow are 100%.
Most people use the brush tool on layer masks and you might find that works better.

Is there a way to use eraser tool with soft edges?

Hi,
I am wanting to erase the edges of a rectangular object so that it blends better with the background, and am wondering if there is a way of doing this using the eraser tool with soft edges?
Here is a snapshot to illustrate further what I mean:
You should be able to see that above the curve on the left there is a gradient which extends to the top of the image. This is the rectangle which I have applied a gradient to. At the top of the rectangle the colour is the same as the background. What I am trying to do is to blend the left edge of the rectangle in with the background above the curve (below the curve there is a line so no blending is needed). The way I thought of doing this is using the eraser tool with a soft edge. I can do this in Photoshop, but I'm not sure if this is possible or the best approach in Illustrator.
I would be grateful for any advice on this,
Thanks,
Nick

I don't really understand yoru end goal. However, the answer to yoru Eraser Tool question is no. There is no such thing as a "soft edge" for the eraser tool.
The ways to blend objects in specific areas only would be:
Gradients with transparent stop
Gradient mesh with transparency nodes
Opacity masks
Fake it by blending to the same color as the background.

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

I am having trouble using the clone tool and eraser tool.

I am not able to see my brush get bigger as I increase the size. Once I clone an area, it selects what I want to clone, but it won't paste it on the photo. I cannot also use my eraser tool. It does not show the line that usually is shown in white before it erases the area. I am working on a background copy.

Suggest that you reset all tools to default.
Look for this box icon with lines in it on a tool's option bar. This is for PSE v. 12 and perhaps for v.11 (I'm not certain about 11)
For earlier versions of PSE, look for a little arrow, top left, on the option bar

How do I stop Photoshop CS4 from creating a new layer each time I use the line tool?

How do I stop Photoshop CS4 from creating a new layer each time I use the line tool?
Each time I use the line tool, a new layer is created. How can I stop this? No settings were changed.
Thanks in advance.

Look at the three options in the top bar.

Using Background Eraser Tool on a Layer

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