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Participant
October 4, 2012
Answered

Why am I stuck in grayscale?

  • October 4, 2012
  • 3 replies
  • 137052 views

When I try to paint a certain color it always puts down the gray value of it, even the backgrounds I try to put in are in grayscale. On the tab for my picture it says (Layer 0, Gray/8). I'm not sure how and when I did it, so I have no clue how to put it back, if it was me.

Correct answer Barbara_B_

Image>Mode>RGB

If you start a new blank image and you have something like word processing text already in the clipboard when you do this, PSE will often want to make a grayscale image. You need to watch the mode menu in the New File window.

3 replies

jordanm75379519
Participant
January 10, 2020

Thank you so much. It seems like just a small thing but it is people like you in the world who are willing to help people that makes the world a better place. God bless you!!! You saved my project, was stuck for ages on this issue. GG

Eager_Solace5EF3
Participant
June 14, 2019

I am having the same problem. I am not in grayscale. I have an image over the background, and a text layer over that. I'm simply trying to paint a swash (to layer behind the text). The brush will not change colour. It stays in a grayish shade of my background image (a purplish hue). I'm a Photoshop newbie. Please help! Thank you!

Inspiring
June 14, 2019

What version of PSE?

Please post a screenshot of your work area, including the open layers palette.

To upload the screenshot, click the Insert Image icon.

Barbara_B_Correct answer
Inspiring
October 4, 2012

Image>Mode>RGB

If you start a new blank image and you have something like word processing text already in the clipboard when you do this, PSE will often want to make a grayscale image. You need to watch the mode menu in the New File window.

Participant
May 26, 2015

This is one of the most useless answers I've ever seen. I have the same problem and this does not begin to tell me how to cure it. I am trying to add background to something but I'm stuck in grayscale. I am not opening "new," and I don't see the menu the author means.I have wasted 10 minutes and still have no solution.

ssprengel
Inspiring
May 26, 2015

The OP's situation was that they created a new document that was set to grayscale because the clipboard had text in it.  Her answer was to make sure you have RGB set when doing a New (overriding the default of whatever the clipboard's color mode is), and if you already have a grayscale document you can convert it to color using Image / Mode / RGB.

If your situation is different than the OP's then please clarify what your situation is.  Her answer is exactly correct for the OP's.