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John-MS
John-MS
Participant
March 17, 2025
Question

Selection issue with Alpher Channel

  • March 17, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 205 views

Hello all

I've been trying to use a selection process in Alpher channels pannel so I can enable Generative Fill to convert my PSD file into a watercolour painting, but I'm not having any luck

The process involves making a selection after filling a new channel with 50% grey; I should then be able to hold down Ctrl and click on the thumbnail to get a working selection; however, when I do this, it flags up a warning that tells me that there is an issue and no pixels have been selected.  I am sure it should work, as I've seen many online videos using this process, but it's just working work for me...... Clearly, I'm missing something  and need a little help

Anyone !

2 replies

Trevor.Dennis
Community Expert
Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 17, 2025

Ctrl clicking alpha channels is not going to produce suitable selection to use with Generative Fill.  You need an area selection.  I can have soft outline, but really needs to be of a single area.  An alpa channel is likely to be more like a Luminosity mask covering the entire canvas with varying degrees of opacity.

 

Using Quick Mask to illustrate, you need something like this

 

Ctrl clicking the blue channel looks like this.  The CTB did invite me to use Gen Fill, so I asked it to produce brush strokes and it made a mess!

davescm
Community Expert
davescmCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 18, 2025

Ctrl+Click on Alpha does work here to get the type of effect you require.

Steps, in case you are missing something:

1. Add the alpha channel

2. Fill the alpha channel with 50% grey

3. In the channels panel Click on RGB and turn off visibility of the alpha.
Then Ctrl+Click on the alpha thumbnail

4. Edit > Generative fill and choose the style you want - I typed 'Oil Paint' then click Generate

 

Dave

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 17, 2025

Please illustrate with screenshots including the error and the channels panel visible.

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