Image turns red when copy and pasting a channel layer created calculations. Why?

[Nature Mike]

Hello, I'm relatively new to using calculations in Photoshop. I have been setting the output to a new channel and since I'm creating the calulations to be useed as pixel based layers. I'm copying the alpha  from the Aplha channel and pating it in the layers window. when I do this the entire image gets a red overlay that looks like a quick mask but the backspace and Q keys won't turn it off. I know that turning off the RGB I know having only the alpha or only the RGB channels fixes the problem. My question is why is this happening and is there any other way to fix the problem other than turning off the RGN or Alpha channel?

Thanks so much for your time!

- Mike

[davescm · Accepted solution]

That is normal and is the channel overlay which displays when you have RGB + an Alpha channel selected visible in the channels panel.

You can choose how it displays by clicking next to the Alpha channel to open the channel overlay options.

Dave

[Edit - Wording corrected as pointed out by Semaphoric]

[Semaphoric]

Should really say that it's Visible, not Selected. Of course, if it's selected but not visible, all you can do with the channel is duplicate or delete it.

[davescm]

You're right - my bad wording !

Dave