Can't change the opacity on a Soft Light (top) layer...

[Kevan_s_Lens]

I've used for the longest time a skin smoothing technique that culminates with a desaturated layer that has been processed with high pass, moved to the top of all layers and its blend mode changed to Soft Light.  Typically, it's this top layer that I then soften the opacity so the skin is properly smoothed.

I scrolled through all the blend modes and saw that I could change the opacity of the layer with all other options until I reached Overlay and Soft Light.

Suggestions? Help?

I used to be able to do this, and it seems to have suddenly stopped.

Thanks!

[Chuck Uebele]

I'm not seeing that. can you post some screen shots? Have you tried resetting your preferences?

[Kevan_s_Lens]

Thanks for responding.  I posted an example to this thread. 

[Chuck Uebele]

I'm not seeing this. Soft light is very subtle. Here's a screen shot. I did see a difference then dialing it down, but it was very slight.

[Kevan_s_Lens]

Hi Chuck,

I think that's because your edit stream is pretty basic.  There's something confounding PS with my desaturating a layer, then putting the layer through High Pass, changing its blend mode that is causing the problem. This edit stream has never failed me until recently.  I'm wondering if its a bug in their system. - K

[Sebastian Bleak]

I was not able to reproduce your results. Could you share some screen shots or a video of the problem?

[Kevan_s_Lens]

Thanks for your interest.  I have posted details and images to the thread. 

Video is beyond my abilities.

[Kevan_s_Lens]

My process stream, using an iMac:

- Background

- Command J, dup layer

- Set Gaussian Blur

- Option/Add Layer Mask

- Brush selected skin areas, revealing blur (chin/neck/forearm)

- Command/Layer Mask (creates crawling ants)

- Click background layer, press Command-J

- Remove color (desaturate) Layer 2

- High Pass and adjust Layer 2

- Drag Layer 2 to top of layer stack

- Change Layer 2 Blend Mode to Soft Light

- Dial back Opacity to suit edit preference (no longer functions)

For this posting I quickly went through the edit process, so I was a bit heavy-handed and sloppy with my brush and adjustments. Please note that I scaled back the Opacity slide to 24% and it does nothing.

I don't get it....