painted edges video

[blackdog]

I really liked the painted edges video. Unfortunately, I cannot get it to work. I followed the instructions and, just before painting white on the black layer mask, everything in my Elements window looked exactly like it did on the video (top layer is the picture labeled Layer 0), then the layer mask in the middle with the mask filled in with black, and then the plain white layer 1 at the bottom. And I did group the layers as instructed.) However, when I attempted to paint the black layer with white, nothing happened. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[GaryK]

I'll have to rewatch the video.
One thing to check (we have all done it) is to make sure you are using the paintbrush tool and not the selection brush tool. Both look similar in the toolbar.

Let us know if this was the prob.

[blackdog]

No, I used the paintbrush tool, just like the video said to do. I even started from scratch (for the 5th time) and everything went exactly as the video said except when it came to painting white over the black layer mask. If I didn't like the effect so much, I would blow this off. Please advise. Thanks.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Try this:

Open up the layers palette
then click on the black mask area in the thumbnails
(just to check that is the current active layer)
now make sure your foreground color is white
and paint

Hopefully that will solve the problem :)

Wendy

[blackdog]

I hate to do this, but maybe I should just go through the steps that I took:

1-open the picture
2-double click and name the layer "layer 0"
3-create a new layer, fill it with white, and drag it below the picture layer--makes this layer "layer 1"
4-highlight layer 0 and create adjustment layer using levels, making this layer "levels 1"
5-drag levels 1 below layer 0 and fill the white mask with black
6-highlight the layer mask and paint white over it to reveal the underlying picture. This is where things go wrong. The problem is nothing happens--I am looking at an empty window filled with white and nothing happens.

I hope this helps you. I must be making a mistake somewhere. Thanks.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

You missed out Group with :)

If it doesn't work next time you do it then try something totally different for me:

Make black your foreground colour
1-open the picture
2-double click and name the layer "layer 0"
3-create a new layer, fill it with white, and drag it below the picture layer--makes this layer "layer 1"
4-highlight layer 0 and create adjustment layer using levels, making this layer "levels 1"
5-drag levels 1 below layer 0
AND GROUP layer 0 with levels 1
you should still bbe able to see your image at this stage
6-highlight the layer mask and paint black over it to HIDE the image
switch to white to reveal it ..

Hopefully this will work and it should give you some idea where you are going wrong :)

Do let me know how you go on ..

Wendy

[blackdog]

Well, I finally figured out what I was doing wrong. I had the brush mode set on darken instead of normal. I feel like an idiot. Next time, I will be a little more careful. Thanks to all for your help.

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

Now that was something I didn't thing off ... so glad that you solved it :)

Wendy