P: Auto Blend Layers not focus blending - Photoshop 2014.1

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

I have 4 registered images of fungi, all images are at the same exposure settings but focused at different levels within the frame. I need to 'blend' together to make one image with a combined DoF.
Ok, so I've imporetd into PSCC as 4 stacked Layers, non of which are Background Layers. I've selected all 4, auto alligned and then used Auto Blend Layers [ABL]. The outcome is that the top 3 layers have totaly black masks applied and the bottom all white. All I basically get as an output is one of the 4 images, no selectivity whatsoever, presumably because of the 3 totally black masks. It also executes the process very quickly.
I assume ABL should be selecting the better focused areas on each image [white on the black masks] and combining all to give me one image with collective DoF. This isn't happening

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

From scanning the web, this appears to be a problem post 2014.1 i.e. the initial 2014 release seems OK.
I can supply images should anyone in development wish to investigate

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Yes, They did BAD this time . When we get it back ?

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

There is a solution Jurek, curtesy of -- Cletus D. Lee -- in the Photoshop Forums:

"Open the Cloud App and sort by previous versions. Download 15 rather than 15.1"

This replaces 2014.1 with 2014.0 on your machine but Auto Blend now works :- )

[Dongo]

I have been tearing my hair out trying to figure out what I did wrong. Then I uninstalled all my adobe products and reinstalled and still loosing hair. Then I tried reverting to a older version and problem solved.

I can't get Auto-Blend layers to work in PS CC 2014 (v2014.1.0) but it works fine in PS CC (v14.0). I get correct selective masks in V14.0, but one white and the rest black in v2014.1.0. Masks are not being created.

In this process I've cleaned all adobe off computer to be sure I wasn't using some corrupt settings. I reinstalled to a "Clean" machine and still had problems with V2014.1.0 v14.0 doesn't seem to care what the setting are, it just works.

Help

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Thank You @donald Canfield ! I did it and now it works fine !
You saved me !
I wonder when Adobe will reply ... !

[J453]

Thank you for reporting this. The engineering team is investigating this issue.

Workaround: You can install the prior version of Photoshop CC (14.1.2) for Auto Blend Layers for focus until we release an update: http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud...

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

I ran the latest update to Photoshop CC in 2014.1.0 and the Auto Blend Layer / Stack image doesn't look like it is working as it should be. Still working fine in CS6 but not in CC after this upgrade. Any info about what is happening with this option?

[tinaTS]

Thanks for reporting this - it's been written up and engineering is aware of it.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

Yes. Install previous version.. For the time beign ...

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

I have the same problem. I understand that reverting to an earlier edition will allow me to blend the images as I want, but going back to an earlier edition is not why I bought into CC. I'll watch for an upgrade to fix it very soon.

[Dongo]

For what it's worth....

I was just notified by my Creative Cloud app that there was an update available for Photoshop CC. Photoshop CC 2014 showed as up to date. At the time, I had Photoshop CC - v14.0 and Photoshop CC 2104 v14.1.0 on my machine. The update to Photoshop CC was listed as v14.2.1. So I updated to check it out. I figured if it didn't work I could "downgrade" back to v14.0.

Result was that v14.2.1 replaced v14.0. When I ran my previous tests, Auto Blend Layers worked in this version. So for now, I'm going to stick with the Photoshop CC v14.2.1

So, now I'm curious. What is the difference between Photoshop CC and Photoshop CC 2014, when the version numbers seem to just skip past -- CC v14.0, CC(2104) v14.1.0, and now back to CC with v14.2.1. I notice that the CC versions have a different loading splash screen than CC(2014). What's the difference, and what should I be using, and to I need to keep CC and CC(2014) on my machine? This is confusing. Some enlightenment, please.

[Dongo]

I misquoted the version numbers in my previous post. I hope this doesn't become too confusing. I am referring to:
Photoshop CC v14.0
Photoshop CC v14.2.1
Photoshop CC(2014) v2014.1.0 -- I omitted the leading "20" above.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

CC 2014 is version 15.0.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

after auto blend, say 3 layers, masks on on top two are black and bottom layer mask is pure white, This problem appeared with PS CC 2014 latest update in July 2014.

[Dongo]

In my list, I'm referencing the information found in the menu Photoshop>About Photoshop. If 15.0 is a different version than the version stated as v2014.1.0, where do I find it to download? And does Auto Blend Layers work in 15.0?

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

2014.1 is 15.1

Yes, auto blend layers works in CC 2014.0 aka 15.0.

[Dongo]

So how does one download 2014.0, aka 15.0? The CC app only gives access to 2014.1.0, and to 14.0 via the Previous Versions tab. It would be nice to have access to 15.0 if it works.

[FeedbackCommunityMember]

In the Creative Cloud app: select "previous versions", then in the Install menu for Photoshop, select CC (2014).

[Dongo]

You're right! It works! So now I'm working with only one generation old PS CC 2014 v2014.0.0 (aka v15.0). Thank you so much for the help and clarity.

v2014.0.0 is what's reported by the menu Photoshop>About Photoshop...

It would sure be less confusing if they would call it one thing or another (2014.x.x or 15.x.x) instead of mixing and matching. The program calls itself 2014.x.x while the CC app loader refers to it as 15.x.

[NickLucas]

Thank you so much for the work around by using the previous version. I'll probably re-edit my super moon pictures now !!

[mwellan@suddenlink.net]

Photo merge doesn't work correctly since my latest update on CC2014. When I use Photo merge on the original CC, all work ok. Should I reinstall CC2014 and if so - HOW?

[NickLucas]

Myron I reverted to the previous version of CC using the notes at the top of this page:
There is a solution Jurek, curtesy of -- Cletus D. Lee -- in the Photoshop Forums:

"Open the Cloud App and sort by previous versions. Download 15 rather than 15.1"

This replaces 2014.1 with 2014.0 on your machine but Auto Blend now works :- )

[Tom Kilroy]

Except that there were serious problems with the Select Focus Area command that were fixed in the latest version and will reappear by backing up. Not a solution for me.

[mwellan@suddenlink.net]

My solution is to use both version. 2014.0 (old one) I use only for Auto Blend.

[Ryan Smith Photography]

I'm glad I did a search, I was trying to figure out what I was doing wrong this always worked before. I guess it's a bug, I hope this gets fixed quickly.