V. 23.3.2 Masking Brush Doesn't switch to remove

[sfleditor]

I musta hit a key combination I'm not aware of or something.

Symptom:  Using a simple layer mask, two layers X change foreground and background to black and white as normal.  Black works fine, when switching "X" or using the little arrows on the toolbar, the colors switch but the brush doesn't change. It won't conceal again.  However, if I switch the brush tool to the "Pencil" tool it works fine.  I've checked all the normal things, nothing is locked, I've been using PS for decades, so I've done this masking thing many times.   I must have switched something, any thoughts?

Thanks

[Myra Ferguson]

Do you have an active selection that isn't where you're trying to use the brush on the layer mask?

If not can you post screenshot?

[sfleditor]

See below to my answer to war Unicorn. Thanks for your reply.

[War Unicorn]

Any chance you maybe have the wrong tool selected? I do this all the time. (e.g., I'll end up wracking my brain by just looking at the Foreground/Background color and not realize I have the Eraser Tool selected, which does the opposite of when you have the Brush Tool selected with a mask.)

[sfleditor]

Thank you both for your replies.  I am not an expert at photoshop by any stretch,  but I use masking all the time, almost daily.  I have checked and rechecked the basics, I have the correct layer mask selected and the correct tool. I mentioned in the post, I can switch between brush and pencil and the pencil works, the brush won't conceal, only reveal.  I have made a layer just a solid color just to check and it is as described.  I can use the erase tool and it works, although in reverse.  I DO  have a workaround using the pencil but it's just so strange that the brush doesn't work.  I am sure it's something I've shut off, or turned on or something.  Thanks

[War Unicorn]

Might be just a case of resetting preferences, then? Not the first time it's happened.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

(About halfway down; both methods of resetting preferences included.)

[Theresa J]

Check your foreground and background colors. Maybe they are both set to white instead of the default white and black. Also check the brush blend mode. If it is set to anything but normal that could cause a problem too.

[sfleditor]

yes colors are black and white, and this works fine on my MacBook Air, I reset preferences for this tool,  I'm sure it's a simple thing but to find it...  Thanks for the replies so far.

[sfleditor · Accepted solution]

SOLVED.  It WAS the blending mode. I was focusing on the LAYER blending mode not the Brush blending mode. Which comes to find out was set to darken. Thanks to all the replies and help

[Eros246057866jmh]

I had the problem with the merge mode.😀 Thanks for your answers

See you soon

[Theresa J]

Woo hoo! Don't feel bad. I have done this to myself more than once. It happens. Glad you figured it out.

[War Unicorn]

Well, that's good! Like Theresa said, it happens to all of us.  🙂