Weird Overlay Effect in PSE 15

[PaulFBarrett]

I was doing a lot of closeup spot healing, moving around the screen using space bar and mouse when I found this on screen, suddenly, out of nowhere.

I am editing a TIFF file directly, no layers.  It's not just a display issue because if I save teh file the overlays atre saved too.

It's happened a few times now.  Any ideas what causes it please?

[hatstead · Accepted solution]

Have you opened the layers palette to have a look at whether or not there are several active layers ?

[PaulFBarrett]

Yes there were.  But, I was in guided mode, using the spot healing brush, so how on earth could new layers (3 x background copies and 1 x Layer 1) have been created?  I didn't go anywhere near layers.  At least not consciously.  Is there a keyboard and mouse combo that adds a new layer?  Perhaps I hit that combo accidentally.

Paul

[Second Holly]

Same problem, no layers. Win 10 up to date, HP all-in one with I9. Additionally if this condition occurs and I open another file, the moving (with mouse) image is on the newly opened image.  Per another forum suggestion, I reset the tool, in fact all tools, no change.  After resetting tools, I even re-booted, no change. Started out of the blue, PSE user since version 6, quite experienced. Adobe support won't talk to me, how wonderful is that?!!

[Second Holly]

Thanks so much, the light turns on .

[Glenn 8675309]

Ctrl + J is the keyboard shortcut to duplicate a layer.

[Greg_S.]

@Second Holly, you are describing what happens when you have been using the clone tool.  In the following screenshot, I have used the clone tool to alt-click on the face with a large brush, then switched to another photo.  The copied/cloned face remains in the clipboard and is available to paste in the other photo. 

And the Clone Overlay is shown and set to 100% opacity.

[Glenn 8675309]

I've actually had this happen to me about a week ago- I figured I did it acidently with some crazy keyboard short cut.  I just closed the program, and reopened, no problemo.  

[Second Holly]

I shut down, went back, no change. I shut down, re-booted, no change. Finnally I changed nearly setting in the Healing Brush tool, and I think I accidently fixed it.  Did so many changes that I can't tell which one fixed the problem. Thanks for your reply.