Layer Mask/ Brush is not working properly. Issue painting over black in a layer mask.

[defaultqn74jkpjo78x]

My brush will not paint over black with white in my layer mask. I have checked the layer blend mode and is it set to the default 'normal', I have also reset my colors to default by tapping the 'D' key. I can draw in black and greys but not pure white. None of these will stack, once there is black you cannot make it any lighter.  I am running Adobe Photoshop version: 22.3.0 on windows 10. I don't think this is an issue with my hardware I think this is a problem with photoshop. Please help. Thank you.

[Bojan Živković]

Can you post some screenshot with Layers panel visible?

[defaultqn74jkpjo78x]

[Trevor.Dennis]

Brush opacity?
Brush Flow?

Is there an active selection (Ctrl d to turn it off)

Try Alt (opt) clicking the layer mask to view it full screen.  You'll get a better idea of what is happening.

[defaultqn74jkpjo78x]

My Flow and opacity are both at 100%. No active selections are made. I made a new document to see if it was just that particular document but the problem remains.

[jane-e]

Hi @defaultqn74jkpjo78x 

Can you show the options bar for your Brush tool? You didn't say if you checked the blend mode and opacity there. You can also try resetting the Brush tool: right-click the Brush in the options bar (not Tools panel) and Reset Tool.

~ Jane

[defaultqn74jkpjo78x]

I tryed before to reset the perferance file and that did not resolved the issue. I went ahead and uninstalled and reinstalled photohop, and this seems to have fixed the issue. Thank you for all the help you have provided. This really is an odd problem. Ordinarily I would wait to resolve the issue naturally so any other users might glean some insight into and similar problems. However I have a project on a closing deadline, so I couldn't wait anylonger. I will return to this forum if this issue returns. Thank you all again.

[jane-e · Accepted solution]

I'm glad it's fixed, but if it does happen again, look at the options bar for the Brush tool, as you may have done a keyboard shortcut to change the settings.

• When the Move tool is selected, typing number changes the layer opacity. When the Brush tool is selected it changes the Brush opacity.
• Here are the shortcuts for changing the Blending mode. Sometimes it happens when you hit the wrong keys for another shortcut.
  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/using/keys-using-blending-modes.html

My guess is that it was a Blending mode for the Brush tool.

~ Jane

[defaultqn74jkpjo78x]

Alright. I will keep this is mind if this ever happends again. Thank you!

[jane-e]

You're welcome!

~ Jane

[peanuutbutterdaddy]

For me what i noticed was that i accidentally pressed a shortcut key that changed my brush blend mode...with your brush selected go to the top left bar and make sure your blend "mode" is set to normal