why are paint bucket colors only shades of gray?

[onesweetcrow]

I'm using paint bucket for fill colors and though I see and choose colors from the spectrum all I am getting is shades of gray.  What happened to the colors for the foreground and background, why does it only come out shades of gray even though in picker it shows I have picked a color?

[estyblonde · Accepted solution]

you are probably working in a black and white (grayscale) document. go to image> mode> RGB color.

another possibilty: you may be working on a mask. press esc, then go to go to layer> new layer, and se if that helps.

[onesweetcrow]

exactly esty, thanks, I'm working with black and white line drawings, image> mode> RGB color did the trick, big thanks

[Convidado]

yes!! Thank you...

your advise >IMAGE > mode> RGB made it work..

compared to... when when I clicked RGB near the swatches it didint  help

[Brenda McKenna]

I struggled with the same problem for ages, having checked the colour mode was on RGB, adjusting the hue etc. The solution that worked for me was that I realized the black & white adjustment layer on the image I was working on was blocking the colour that I was trying to apply so everything was appearing as grey. To resolve I needed to go into the B&W adjustment layer and erase the black and white from the area of colour that I was trying to apply

[anamikam97819290]

HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

[aubreys64418566]

I am having this same issues and my layer mask is not on an adjustment layer. My mask is on a shape and when I select the brush tool with the mask selected and the color comes out grey. My mode is RGB. I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong.

[Arctic Flair Photography]

I am also having this issue. Ugh. I'm working on a new document (created with RGB, not grayscale). My Mode is RGB in PS. I'm so frustrated!! My paint bucket tool drops gray, but my layer on the left shows red (that's what I want). Any other suggestions, please? Thank you!!

[chrisb95648735]

Almost 3 years later I am having this issue and can't figure it out. Did you happen to get a correct way to fix it?

[chrisb95648735]

Nevermind I found it - up at the top the opacity was set way low. 

[Ignacio montiel]

Perfect, it solved

[patriciac5724817]

Solved for you maybe... NOT ME! 

[Convidado]

1. Try this : Right click on blank space and select Normal

[Suzhomemaker]

yes!

[Zach22351108zplt]

thank you, this finally solved it for me

[hope38]

Thanks! That worked.

[rockyc12762175]

Had the same problem and then noticed up above in the Menu Bar the Opacity was set at < 100%.  With Opacity set at 100% my Paint Bucket now pours black instead of gray.

[JBJBJBJB8282828]

Came here for an answer and accidentally found my answer on my own.  I had accidentally hit CTRL-SHIFT-Y and turned on the Gamut warning for the layer I was working on.  Either hit that combo again or go to "View" and uncheck Gamut warning.