I'm having trouble with my eraser tool and brush

[Honeydew]

I'm about ready to pull my hair out. I have been working in PSE and have moved on to PS CS2 and I'm having the same problem in both softwares so I know it has to be me. This is what happens. I have one layer (my bground layer) and I want to erase some black specks but it doesn't erase anything. So I make a copy of my bg layer and try to erase on the Layer 1 (which is my copy). (I have the orig. bg layer hidden). I drag my eraser over it and nothing erases. So I figure I could take a white brush and that would erase the black spots off but that doesn't do anything either. I just can't figure it out. I am so glad I have this group because you help me to keep all my hair.
Thanks so much.

[Priss]

I'm about ready to pull my hair out. I have been working in PSE and have moved on to PS CS2 and I'm having the same problem in both softwares so I know it has to be me. This is what happens. I have one layer (my bground layer) and I want to erase some black specks but it doesn't erase anything. So I make a copy of my bg layer and try to erase on the Layer 1 (which is my copy). (I have the orig. bg layer hidden). I drag my eraser over it and nothing erases. So I figure I could take a white brush and that would erase the black spots off but that doesn't do anything either. I just can't figure it out. I am so glad I have this group because you help me to keep all my hair.
Thanks so much.

Positive that visibility eyecon on your BACKGROUND layer and other copies of it are turned off? ---what you are erasing is seeing right straight through to the identical pixels below. If you turn off the visibility eyecon--you'll be able to see the "holes!" Don't think a white brush is what you want either--that's not an eraser--I'm betting you might be better off with a clone tool to get those specks off there.

And this might sound VERY stupid---but I've had this happen TO ME---is your screen clean!--are the black spots actually on your image! You can chuckle, but I can't tell you how long I tried to erase something that was probably a sneeze!

Get out the hair rollers--!--or RESET the tools. ALSO be ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT YOU ARE ON THE CORRECT ERASER! There are several and if you aren't on the "first" one--you'll not erase anything!

[Honeydew]

Thanks Priss for your ideas. I did check the screen and its not on there. When you refer to the visibility icon, I'm thinking you are referring to the "eye" that is to the left of my layer names? Well, I have the background layer having no "eye" visible and my layer 1 HAS the "eye" visible. When I have this Layer 1 selected, I then go to my eraser (I pick the first erase...not the bg eraser and not the magic eraser). This first choice eraser doesn't erase and make a hole. I then tried the clone tool to pick up some white and drop it on the black spot and the clone tool won't work either. There has got to be a setting that I need to set? It's in the RGB color mode with an 8bits/channel setting. I wasn't sure if that had something to do with it.

[Honeydew]

OK, I did reset all the tools and the eraser and brush still do not work. I did draw a marque square around the black spot and clicked delete and it made a square hole and so I know that works. Then I tried the lasso tool and drew a circle around the spot and clicked delete. It was gone and made a hole. I just can't figure out why the brush or eraser won't work. When I want to brush around the edges of a photo, I can't.

[Priss]

I e-mailed you--and after you answer that, we may need to hop into the Chatroom about this.

[Wendy]

hi Honeydew ...

Couple of things ... do you have a wacome tablet ?. If so take the pen & mpuse away from the tablet.

If that doesn't work then I think that you need to delete the prefs file ..

To do that close down Photoshop (or Elements) then click on the Editor start up icon and quickly hold down the Control, Alt and Shift keys (Mac users: Command, Option and Shift). Continue to hold down all three keys until you get a screen asking if you want to delete Settings ... just say Yes. You do have to be quick holding down the keys so if you have problems with it try holding down the keys with one hand before you click on the icon :)

Do let us know how you go on :)

Wendy

[dmrdm]

Make sure you are on the layer you need to be to erase. Sometimes mine jumps off of the layer I intended to be on. (you said you were not on the background layer which is good). Actually it happens to me often especially when I have a bunch of layers.

Make sure your brush is big enough and that you have the opacity set at 100%.

Assume there is no 3rd layer above the one you are working on.

Sounds like you have done the reset. I'd try another file. Just open a new one, fill layer one with a solid color, then add another layer with something on it and try to erase something on that second layer.

If you are brushing...make sure you are in normal mode and 100%.

(if you program has the patch tool or the healing tools, you might want to see if those work)

Good luck.

[blots]

do you have a wacome tablet ?. If so take the pen & mpuse away from the tablet.

I'm having the same problem. And I do have a Wacom Pad. And Moving the pen and the mouse away from the pad and useing a different Mouse DOES WORK!! I've been going crazy with this problem. I;m very happy to figure our the cause! thank Wendy!!!

Now I need to look for a fix so I can use my pad.