Problem with erasing an adjustment layer...it wont erase anymore!?

[KBradley08]

I created a new adjustment layer over my photo and went to erase certain parts of it (to show the background layer, (selective color)) but it wont erase.

Now, I've done this many time successfully but every once and a while it will just stop working. I'm baffled...

I have to uninstall it then install it again. Simply "repairing" the program does not work.

Some details so that it may be easier to troubleshoot:
- Erasing on the background layer works fine.
- It is the adjustment layer that is not able to erase.
- The adjustment layer is shown (I didn't accidentally hide it).
- No error messages.
- The eraser tool "looks" like it should erase, but does not. It's like I'm vacuuming my floor, and going through the motions...but nothing is being sucked up.
- I have tried closing the program, restarting it, restarting my entire computer...the only thing that works is fully uninstalling then reinstalling the program.
- This is driving me crazy.
- No noticeable changes in settings - I'll simply go to do it...sometimes it will work, then all of a sudden it will stop working.
- I have not tested to see if this applies to all sorts of layers. I am currently in the middle of a reinstall...so I can't test this until it happens again.
- It is Photoshop Elements 6. Bought + downloaded from the Adobe site.

I hope you are able to shed some light on this - Thank you in advance to any help.

[Diana]

Hi,

Generally, when using an adjustment layer, rather than using the Eraser tool, you would use the Brush tool and paint on the mask of the adjustment layer with black (or fill the mask with black and paint with white) to reveal or conceal the layer underneath.

Here's an illustration where I created a Levels adjustment layer, filled the mask with black to conceal the adjustment, then painted with white to reveal only where I wanted the adjustment to show (to enhance the colors in the sky).

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1BXp9jEoRENvhCcPDZLjRds96v05Au1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1BXp9jEoRENvhCcPDZLjRds96v05Au1)

A shortcut to change the white mask to black quickly is to click on the white mask then use Ctrl-I to invert the white to black. Then make your Foreground color chip White and with the Brush tool paint on your image where you want the background layer to show through.

Here's a link to download a PDF article on masks that may help:
http://www.modempool.com/dday/Masks_in_PSE.pdf

Diana

[TonyW]

My guess is that you were filling the mask with black before - then the eraser would work although as Diana says the usual way is to paint with white on the mask. The eraser won't do anything with a white mask but it will erase a black mask to white.

Tony

[James_S]

I'm having the exact same problem KBradley was/is having.

by default I click the new adjustment layer and it's completely filled in white, I can then erase the white to have the adjustment layer not affect that area.

I click the eraser tool, then try to erase the adjustment layer and nothing happens.

on a fresh install of photoshop this is how it works.

My guess is that I fat fingerred a shortcut key that changed the default behavior.

If I hit ctrl+I I can erase and I do see the black filter instead of white filter, but this still isn't the same as the default behavior.

I end up with a filter later with white where I want the mask, black where I don't, but I can't erase the white. I used to be able to.

[ljameso1]

To get shortcut keys back to defaults suggest the old resetting preferences trick (control+shift+alt while restarting elements) or restarting your puter. Hope that helps.