Simple PS help (not a pic change request)

[kybo]

Hi all,

This is so simple - I should know it and have done it many times before but, now using CS5, I can't get it to work.

I have my pic ('background'), I've dragged it down to the new layer icon so I now have 'background' and 'Background copy'. The top layer is selected and I have desaturated it and selected the eraser tool. I use it to rub out some of this top layer to reveal the colour layer beneath. But, oops, I've erased too much of the top layer - so now I want to reverse this, to add some of the top layer back on. I thought I just reversed the background/foreground colours but it keeps erasing the top layer, not adding it back.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for your help,
Scott

[McMacro]

go to Window, then select History? You can undo what you last did there.

Rather than the eraser, I would recommend the Lasso tool, L on your keyboard.

[kybo]

Can you elaborate on how to use the lasso tool to remove parts of the layer, please? I've not used the Lasso tool that much.

The history tool (and undo for that matter) won't work for me in this instance (I don't think) as I tend to erase more than I need to (to make sure I get all of the pic I wanted in colour, in colour) and then add the excess I've removed back in, if that makes sense.

How else can this be done?

Thanks,
Scott

[RobDickinson]

Dont use the eraser tool!

Add a colour/saturation layer and set to no saturation, or add a B&W layer and pick the best B&W conversion, or use a greyscale layer, doesnt matter.

(edit I think these layers already come with a layer mask, all white by default.)

Add a layer mask to the top desaturated layer - this will be white by default so showing the current layer.

Paint black onto the mask where you want the colour to come through.

(or use quick mask mode too etc).

If you dont 'get' layer masks go google.

Edited by RobDickinson on Thursday 30th June 23:05

[andy-xr]

Use layers and masks, much easier IME

[kybo]

RobDickinson said:

Dont use the eraser tool!

Add a colour/saturation layer and set to no saturation, or add a B&W layer and pick the best B&W conversion, or use a greyscale layer, doesnt matter.

Add a layer mask to the top desaturated layer - this will be white by default so showing the current layer.

Paint black onto the mask where you want the colour to come through.

(or use quick mask mode too etc).

If you dont 'get' layer masks go google.

So, if I want to undo too much 'black painting' I can switch colour to white and 'paint' it back in?

I'll google for more info and give it a go tomorrow.

Any good resources/tutes for this kind of effect?

Many thanks Rob.

Scott

[RobDickinson]

kybo said:

So, if I want to undo too much 'black painting' I can switch colour to white and 'paint' it back in?
Scott

Yep, just switch colours (x) and paint over it. You can even use shades of grey to add local opacity!

If you edit in quick mask (alt shift click the mask) you can see in red where is painted one colour (typically black but you can switch it in config) and just paint away...

[Major Bloodnok]

kybo said:

So, if I want to undo too much 'black painting' I can switch colour to white and 'paint' it back in?

Also, set the brush opacity quite low (10% or so) and build up the black with a soft brush. It gives you finer control and better transitions.

[RobDickinson]

You can use the selection tools to select/draw round the area, then select the mask, then use the fill tool to fill it with black for a quick start.

[Major Bloodnok]

Oh, and remember the single most useful keyboard shortcut in CS5 - hold down ctrl-alt-click (Mac) or ctrl-right click (Win) and you can move the mouse left and right to adjust the brush size or up and down to adjust the brush hardness (only works if the cursor is in the image area).

[RobDickinson]

So many funky shortcut keys in photoshop, still learning them all.


D for default foreground/background colours (white/black)
Hold space for the hand tool
etc

[kybo]

Thanks for all the shortcut keys, guys. Will defo be trying some of these out.

Is there a good cheat sheet for these?