Author Topic: Photoshop Help Please! (Read 4546 times)

Pixart · « **on:** February 05, 2013, 11:46 »

I have two problems that are driving me mad and I when I try to search for answers I get everything BUT what I need. Hopefully I can explain so it makes sense and I will be forever grateful if someone can guide me.

Problem 1:

Whenever I open a new adjustment layer, it automatically opens as a clipping mask. I cannot find where I go (likely preferences - but I can't find it in there!) to turn it back so that the adjustment will be made to the entire layer every time and I can add a clipping mask if I want to!

Problem 2

If I use the black or grey eyedropper the entire layer turns pure white. (i.e. in curves or levels)
The white eyedropper seems to work okay!
If I use the "auto" button the entire layer turns pure white.

This has been going on for several weeks.... I think maybe when I was taking some Martin Perhiniak (sp?) PS tutorials I followed his instructions to make basic changes - but these two issues are driving me nuts!

Thanks thanks thanks! Hopefully this is easy for someone!

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2013, 11:55 »

Problem one

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4115673

Problem 2

Where are you clicking with the eyedropper when you get all black or white? Do you have any auto-select options on in menus?

You can also reset all your prefs, but that's a bit of a sledgehammer

etienjones · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2013, 12:00 »

Quote from: Pixart on February 05, 2013, 11:46

I have two problems that are driving me mad and I when I try to search for answers I get everything BUT what I need. Hopefully I can explain so it makes sense and I will be forever grateful if someone can guide me.

Problem 1:

Whenever I open a new adjustment layer, it automatically opens as a clipping mask. I cannot find where I go (likely preferences - but I can't find it in there!) to turn it back so that the adjustment will be made to the entire layer every time and I can add a clipping mask if I want to!

Problem 2

If I use the black or grey eyedropper the entire layer turns pure white. (i.e. in curves or levels)
The white eyedropper seems to work okay!
If I use the "auto" button the entire layer turns pure white.

This has been going on for several weeks.... I think maybe when I was taking some Martin Perhiniak (sp?) PS tutorials I followed his instructions to make basic changes - but these two issues are driving me nuts!

Thanks thanks thanks! Hopefully this is easy for someone!

1. whenever you use a adjustment layer it automatically comes with a Mask, although it will be white meaning nothing is masked. If you click on that white mask and use control-I then that mask will inverse making it all black . . meaning masking everything.

2. Those eye droppers while using Levers or Curves will set your Highlight and Shadow. If your default Highlight is 255, 255, 255 then if you use the Highlight dropper on something dark it will in effect move the slidders on your Levers so the darks equal 255,255,255.

Is that what you mean?

PS.....You can set your eye dropper default values for Highlights and Shadows by double clicking on those eye droppers and set its value. Mine are set at 248,248,248 and 8,8,8.

tab62 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2013, 12:10 »

Here is how to get back to the original defaults-

How to reset Photoshop preferences (In Windows):

First, hold down all three Ctrl+Alt+Shift buttons
Now "while keeping those button held," simply open Photoshop or a file that opens with Photoshop
As Photoshop loads, you should get a prompt asking if you would like to "delete the Photoshop settings file", Click yes

You should now have a fresh slate with all of the settings returned to their default.

Note: I have found that this process is kind of finicky and doesn't always work. I have had the best results pressing Ctrl+Alt+Shift and clicking the photoshop shortcut from the start menu in Windows.

Another method that works well if you have another shortcut or image that can be opened with Photoshop is to do the following:

Press and hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift then (right mouse click) a Photoshop shortcut or Image file and select Open.

Pixart · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2013, 12:19 »

Quote from: jsnover on February 05, 2013, 11:55

Problem one

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4115673

Problem 2

Where are you clicking with the eyedropper when you get all black or white? Do you have any auto-select options on in menus?

You can also reset all your prefs, but that's a bit of a sledgehammer

OMG, what a relief! Thanks Joanne! The word I needed was "disable" in searching. It seems that my palettes (or whatever you call them) are anchored to the right of my screen, but the far right side is hidden in the gutter - I could not see the selection on the bottom right side!

Pixart · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2013, 12:21 »

This is a screenprint of the white and black eyedroppers (used white on the pure white area and the black on the black or close to pure black areas). Grey dropper makes it go pure white also. I'm going back to Etien and Tab's posts to see if I can digest them now.

etienjones · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2013, 12:34 »

I would forget all about the Mid Tone (Grey) Eye Dropper. Not all images have a neutral grey mid tone but if you really want to get into it than here is the way to do it:

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-editing/neutral-gray/

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2013, 13:21 »

Check the sample size of your eyedropper tool. If it's set to something huge it will affect behavior in the adjustment layers too and I can mangle your image that way (I did a screen shot of your screen shot just to see if I could make that happen)

Pixart · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2013, 13:39 »

Fixed!!!!!

Okay... from the above help this is what I did

Layers - double clicked the black eyedropper, set RGB to 000 (why was it at 255/255/255???)

Then Right clicked on the photo (while in the eyedropper) and set to "point sample".

I don't think I ever would have fixed this without your help guys. You ROCK!