Skip to main content
A
ashley9578
Participant
April 9, 2017
Answered

Eyedropper tool is picking up a lighter color.

  • April 9, 2017
  • 5 replies
  • 16674 views

The eyedropper tool keeps picking up a much lighter color than what I selected and the sample size is set to point sample and it is still not working. I reset Photoshop and that didn't work either. I posted this to the adobe Photoshop sketch forum cause that's the closest forum i could find that relates to Photoshop. Never used these forums before, hopefully someone can answer my question cause apparently I can't contact adobe personnel directly. Incredibly frustrating for such an expensive software!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer davescm

    One possibility - you do not show all of your layers.

    Your eye dropper  tool is set to "All Layers" which means, even though you highlighted a single layer,  it will pick up the colour made from the combined layer stack at that point - including any adjustment layers and layers above with blending modes. If you then paint with that colour onto the single layer those adjustments / blending modes will be applied again and the effect will look different.

    This can be avoided by using sample current and below

    See example:

    A single filled layer with a curves adjustment layer above to lighten it

    Brown patch sampled using "all layers" and painted back onto same layer:

    Same brown patch sampled using Current & Below and painted back onto the same layer :

    I hope that helps

    Dave

    5 replies

    V
    Victor Maasi
    Participant
    July 22, 2024

    this can cause if you'd selected a sample area size for the eye dropperr tool, it will pick the average colour of the selected colour sample size. It will show on the tool header when you select the eye dropper tool. select the "Point Sample" then the issue is solved. 

     

    M
    Mr.Raccoon
    Participant
    January 26, 2021

    You helped me by pointing me into the right direction, thanks. However in my case it was selecting a lighter colour because I had the Sample Size turned to "5 by 5 average". Changing it back to "Point Sample" did the trick. To anybody having the same problem: An indicator for this is when you move around your canvas using the eyedropper tool (alt), you would expect the selected colour in the colour navigator to jump around quite a bit. Instead, it will do a very smooth transition between colours. If that is the case your problem lies with the Sample Size setting under the Eyedropper Menu like Davescm showed in his Screenshot above ↑

     

    Hope this helps a bit too

     

    Thanks for your help 🙂

      davescm
      Community Expert
      davescmCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      April 10, 2017

      One possibility - you do not show all of your layers.

      Your eye dropper  tool is set to "All Layers" which means, even though you highlighted a single layer,  it will pick up the colour made from the combined layer stack at that point - including any adjustment layers and layers above with blending modes. If you then paint with that colour onto the single layer those adjustments / blending modes will be applied again and the effect will look different.

      This can be avoided by using sample current and below

      See example:

      A single filled layer with a curves adjustment layer above to lighten it

      Brown patch sampled using "all layers" and painted back onto same layer:

      Same brown patch sampled using Current & Below and painted back onto the same layer :

      I hope that helps

      Dave

        A
        ashley9578Author
        Participant
        April 10, 2017

        Thank you, I saw your post just after I discovered that it was my curves adjustment layers that was causing the issue. I've since turned them off and it fixed the issue. Thanks for the helpful explanation!:)

        davescm
        Community Expert
        davescmCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        April 10, 2017

        You're welcome

        Dave

        P
        PBArtattack
        Inspiring
        April 10, 2017

        P
        PBArtattack
        Inspiring
        April 10, 2017

        Is your brush set to Normal blend mode? I just duplicated that color disparity by setting mine to Screen.

        A
        ashley9578Author
        Participant
        April 10, 2017

        Thanks for the response. Yes, my brush is set to normal blend mode and  the eye dropper tool is still not working. However, I opened a new document and it works so I've narrowed it down to I must have accidently changed a setting in that document specifically. Still new to digital art, so trying to figure it all out. I'm happy to know it's just a specific document though and not the software itself. I'm sure with some fiddling I'll figure it out now, again thanks for your help.

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices