Red overlay mask in Photoshop

[destin_kiteboarder]

Please help. I am using Photoshop 2023, when I make a selection and save that selection as a channel and later select it, the display would either show a black and white mask or if I click on RGB channel, it will show a red mask outside my selection. How do I get rid of that red overlay. I've tried "Q" the "\" and none would work. Here's a photo of that what it looks like.

App version: 24.0.0

Patform and OS version: Mac OS Big Sur version 11.7 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you please post screenshots with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, …) visible? 

Have you tried unchecking the visibility of the Channel in the Channels Panel? 

[destin_kiteboarder]

When I only check the visibility of the Saved Selection channel, it just would show a black and white image.

[destin_kiteboarder]

here's another screenshot of the properties for the channel selection i saved. when i change that value of the red to 0 it makes the red disappear, but that's the only workaround i know.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

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@destin_kiteboarder wrote:

When I only check the visibility of the Saved Selection channel, it just would show a black and white image.

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I asked whether you tried unchecking the visibility of the Channel. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer · Accepted solution]

Turn off the visibility for the Alpha channel.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@destin_kiteboarder If this worked for you, please mark the answer as correct so others can benefit. Thanks!

[destin_kiteboarder]

Kevin, yes and no. Yes it did get rid of the red overlay. But with what I was trying to accomplish, I think there's something I am just not just understanding. In the past, when i made a selection and saved it, it saved it as an Alpha channel. When I would cmd-click for Alpha channel, all it would do was recall that selection and I would see marching ants on the selectionI loaded. But this time, aside from the marching ants, I also see a red overlay on my layer. I am not sure what caused it if its something I accidentally pushed or a setting that never got changed back to the original. I even tried resetting Photoshop to its defaults but it seems like it always returns with a red overlay when load a channel selection.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

It could be where you are clicking. Cmd+click on either the name or the preview, not the visibility icon.

[chong67]

I am having this problem. With PS 2021 and 2022, I never have this problem with the Red Mask. Its the same Action I been using. Like the Op says, I didnt hit the Q or \ for the Quick Mask. And the Red Mask is there!

What happen in PS 2023. I am on the PC.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Are you sure it is the same problem? The OP marked the answer correct regarding the alpha channel was selected in the channels panel. If you are using an action this is something different and should be a new post with all pertinent information supplied.

[destin_kiteboarder]

Thats hiw everything started with me. I was using actions when i started noticing it. The fix they recommended here works. Just unclick the channel. Just go into your channels and unclick that that channel. For me, my selection was still there, it just removes the red color from the layer i'm working on. Hope this helps. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@chong67  Did you follow the answer above? Was the alpha channel selected?

[chong67]

@Kevin Stohlmeyer  I created a new post for it just now : https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-bugs/getting-unwanted-red-mask-in-layers-in-ps-20...

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you please post a screenshot with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Channels, Options Bar, …) visible? 

[destin_kiteboarder]

To reproduce what I initially wrote and to respond to yours and @chong67's response, Below are the steps I took:

1. Opened a file as a Smart Object in Photoshop 2023

2. Duplicated that object

3. Ran Luminosity Actions (previously downloaded from a site i subscribe to)

4. Create a hide all Layer mask

5. Make a selection out of the channels the Action created (cmd click)

6. Once selection is made, click on the Hide All Layer Mask

7. Selection shows (marching ants) in the channels tab 

8. Go to the layers tab and select the Hide All Layer Mask  and everything turns red

Workaround:

1. I've been doing this for awhile and never had this issue. The fix as recommended is to go back to the Channels tab and deselect the Alpha Channel (in my case its the one labeled Light 03. Your selection is still there, but it gets rid of the red color on your image. You can then proceed with your workflow as you're already familiar with. Hope this helps everyone.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Again: Could you please post screenshots with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Channels, Options Bar, …) visible? 

Not meaningless snippets but of the whole workspace with the Panels in question visible. 

[destin_kiteboarder]

@c.pfaffenbichler See if these are the screenshots you're looking for. 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

One includes the Channels Panel, the other the Layers Panel, but neither shows both of them, so they are not. 

I will stop following this thread now. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@c.pfaffenbichler to be clear the user did supply what was asked for. You didn't specify you wanted both open in one shot.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

To me it seems clear that I meant all the mentioned Panels (»(Toolbar, Layers, Channels, Options Bar, …) «), not just some of them. 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I apologize for not making my point about what meaningful screenshots need to include in this case sufficiently clearly.