Need Help With Knockout Blending

I have some questions about a new layer vs. a layer copy. Let's say I am retouching a head shot. First I copy the Background layer (Ctrl-J) and clear up blemishes with the Spot healing brush. Next I want to soften some skin shine with the Patch tool and I want that on it's own layer. As I have tried various ways of doing this, it appears that I have copy either the Blemish layer or the Background. If I copy the Background layer, the the stacking order is critical: it has to be below the Blemish layer for the blemish fix to show. Copying the Blemish layer, then the Blemish fix is part of the Shine layer which defeats the purpose of a separate layer. New layer does not work for using the Patch tool, or I may be doing some completely wrong.

Then add another skin fix like soften the skin (Gaussian blur) and I'm really tied up with stacking order, etc.

Can someone help me with the correct order/procedure for creating layers that would be used like above.

Mixed up...

Todd

Hi

I have a file with 760 layers plus a background that is a photo. The layers are rasterised smart layers from Illustrator

I have a task by which I have to have the background always visible. I then make the first layer visible as well as the background and then save for web and devices. Once one I turn that layer off and then turn the next layer on and then save for web and devices. 760 times Oh God!!!!

I know I can create an action and even a droplet from the action the issues I have is how do I tell the action to turn the first layer on and then optimize the resultant image and then turn that layer off and then move to the nest layer and so on through the 760 layers

Any ideas would be great

Thanks

Hello,
I wondered if someone would hear me out and possibly help or advise me.
In the attachment there is a great picture of a bass jumping with the sky and sunset in the background.
I added a white paw to the sky and hope to make it look or blend in as a beleivable cloud in the sky.
My novice thoughts about how I might do this was as follows:
1) create and save a precise selection of the paw with a close detailed trace (I am having trouble donig this ste) and save the selction.
2) take that selection to the background copy layer and delete all the area inside that selection
3) take the background copy for cloud breakthrough layer and place it below the background copy layer with color enhancements to show through the holes in the background copy layer.

there is also a cloud paw layer which I aborted efforts working with.

-Bottom line is I am looking for a cloud paw in the sky which looks good, an orange emphasis is desired.

If you can do some work in the file and post it back up or at least advise how you would reccomend I try and go about it would be greatly appreciated.
BTW - The selection process really giving me fits with the idea I had, If you know of a great selection tutorial please send me some info.

Thanks,
Joe

Hi folks, newbie to the board. I'm using Photoshop CS6 and have hit an issue that I can't get to the bottom of and was hoping someone could help.

I've completed an image for a client. The original involves many layers, and I have got to the point when I want to merge everything down into a PDF for them to send to their printers.

Problem I am having is that when I try to directly save as a PDF or merge down the layers in a copy of my main PSD file, I am losing certain layer styles.

I have tried creating a blank layer below an offending layer and hitting CTRL + E, I have tried creating a blank layer, hiding all but the offending layer and blank layer and merging visible, I have tried Layer - Rasterize Layer Style, I have tried turning the layer into a smart object and then rasterizing (I lost the layer style as soon as I turned it into a smart object, even though it is still present in the smart object itself), and I have tried turning the layer into a group and merging the group. I have also tried saving the file in a number of different formats to no avail. I don't know what else I can try and why none of this has worked! I've also tried right clicking on the FX in the layer palette and chosen "Create Layers" at which point I get a dialog: "Some aspects of the effects cannot be reproduced with layers", and I get the same result. Most noticeable style that disappears is the drop shadow.

Weird thing is this isn't the case for every layer. I've particularly noticed it happens on text layers that have been text warped. However I've tried rasterizing them before trying to merge and that hasn't helped so I can't see how that is the problem.

I hope someone can help, I am totally stumped. If it makes a difference the mode is CMYK Color, 8 bit.

James

I have Photoshop CC and I loaded a PSD file into it with many layers.

Somebody created the PSD design for me.

I am trying to export all layers separately but when I go to Scripts >> Export Layers to Files, it kinda mixes a particular layer with all other layers.

So I can never get a layer on its own.

Have a look at one of these export below. The top shade should be on its own, but its accompanied by the bottom layer also. Every other file is also accompanied by the bottom layer. Any idea how I can just export all layers on their own?



Any suggestions?

JH

I have seen this image before and we may have used it a while back. With a whole new set of players, I feel it's safe to bring it back in a new challenge.

No comments from the cheap seats on the condition of her skin. This is a lovely young woman and I would hope that we can all treat her image with respect.

I encourage everyone to give it a try even if your new to Photoshop. All participants should be prepared to explain the techniques they have been using, as we can't learn or help without some idea as to how it was accomplished.

Good luck!



Here is my 1st attempt.

edit: I start by opening the original and duplicating it and then turning off the original layer.
I create a new layer. This is the layer that I will do all of the following adjustments on.

I started by using the following tools and settings.
Healing Brush Tool - Mode= normal - Source= Sampled - Clone sample mode= Current level and below.
Spot Healing Brush Tool - Mode= Normal - Type= Content aware - Sample cloned data from composited data= Sample all layers.
Brush Tool - Mode= Normal - Opacity= 100% - Flow= 1%

This is the image (Layer A) after only using the tools above and one added Levels Adjustment Layer.



edit: I then select the uppermost layer (Levels Adjustment layer) and hit Shift>Option>Command + E to stamp all visible layers. I then name this layer A.
I highlight all other layers except layer A and the original background layer and group them. I then turn off the group.

I then start where the tutorial starts with only the layer A turned on.

Here is the image after using a skin softening technique described in this video:

I apply a screen blending mode to an object with another layer beneath. I want to copy the first layer with the result from the blending mode into a seperate document. When I copy I get the layer without the blending result.
Is there a way to do this without merging the layers and then selecting the part I need?

I've noticed that I get a good flow painting over a textured canvas (blank canvases are not for me) when doing so I work with a brush with the opacity set to about 45 and two layers, the bg textures and the actual image.
When I feel I'm done with my sketch I want to exclude the bg layer but still use the texture seen through the actual image i.e. I want to select all pixels in the top layer, merge this with the bg texture and then cut it out.

I've tried a couple of techniques (incl. ctrl + click on the layer icon) but not found any technique that selects _all pixels_ in a layer without me having to manually add some here and there.
Anyone have a clue how to?

Example:


Many thanks in advance.
/Mansson

This is driving me crazy. I want to constrain the blending mode of one layer to interact ONLY with the layer directly below it. Like clipping an adjustment layer. I read one post about option clicking between the two layers and the cursor turns into 2 double rings and you click and it makes the blending mode. Whenever I do this it just makes a clipping mask. PLEASE , there must be a way to make this work.
Thanks,
M

I have several images in different layer in PS3 ( macro images with different points of focus).
I have aligned all layers ok, but when trying to blend the layer (all layers selected) using the auto blend layers tools, the tool does not give me the stacked images button.
Instead it launches straight into the process.
The results are not what I am expecting, each layer bar one has a totally black mask, and the image is not a blend of all the images.
All tutorials for the process using CS3 show a button for selecting "stack images" mine doesn't.
Am I doing something wrong?
Please help as I am going mad with it