Trying to erase to history but it's showing white PSD

[Kendra304558531shj]

I learned a trick of duplicating a layer after masking it and then merging the images together so then I can erase to history the image if it deleted something I didn't want deleted. I've been using this and bringing the photo back but recently when I hold alt+erase to bring the image back, it's showing white. It was fixed for a little while but I must've hit something on accident because now it's not working again. Please help!

[jane-e]

@Kendra304558531shj 

Hi Kendra, 

Without seeing your entire image including the Layers and History panels, we can only guess. The first guess is that you are on a Background layer, which does not support transparency.

The second guess is that you have a layer mask and meant to paint on it, but are painting on the image instead.

Please show a better screenshot. Thank you!

Jane

[Kendra304558531shj]

Sorry for that. Here are more screenshots. On this image I want to bring back the transparent part to fill it in but it's just filling in with white. I tried it on another photo and it worked but sometimes it doesn't so I'm not sure why it's 50/50 on if it'll work or not.

Photo with the transparent hole

Duplicated layer then merged it 

When i hold alt+erase to bring that part back, it's just painting white.

Thanks for your help!

 

  

[jane-e]

@Kendra304558531shj 

Hi Kendra,

What step have your targeted in your History panel?

Jane

[Kendra304558531shj]

It's working now but do you happen to have an idea on what could have gone wrong and how I could correct it next time? It didn't work for weeks on end but of course when I finally post in here it works lol

[jane-e]

Hi Kendra

I'm glad it's working for you now. Most likely you didn't have a source set in your History panel. You need to set the source after you duplicate the layer and mask.

If it fails again, include the Layers and History panels in your sceenshot.

Jane