After creating a merge layers tools only work in a selection

Question

When I open a document tools, such as the clone stamp, spot healing and brush tool, work normally. But if I create a merge layer all the tools stop working. They work if I create a selection - and only work inside that selection. My work around is to select all and then deselect...the tools then work normally.

Any idea what is causing this problem so I can stop it?

This problem is happening on a laptop, the PS installed on my PC doesn't have the same problem.

Thank you in advance for all comments and suggestions.

Trevor.Dennis · Accepted Answer

When focus stacking, I have a feeling that until you flatten or make a copy merged layer at the top of the stack, every layer has a mask, so you would need to use the clone tool on a new layer, with it set to Use All layers in the Options bar. No tool is going to work outside of an active selection. When things get weird, a rule of thumb is cancel any selections (Ctrl D — Cmd D) and check the Options bar.

Someone who often falls foul of Options Bar settings is Bert Monroy, who is possibly the world's greatest Photoshop user. If you follow his amazing tutorials, you'll find he is forever having to stop because something has not worked, and it is invariably an Options bar setting left over from a previous use of the same tool. I have single key shortcuts that select and reset workspaces, and others that do the same, but also reset ALL Tools. A good part of the necessity for needing these functions is answering questions on this forum. We drag panels and generally mess up the workspace in order to post screenshots, so it is more than convenient to fix it with a single key press.

TonyP-Eski · Answer

Thank you for your replies. It's a merged layer created to blend layers in a focus stacking process.

I've noticed that after creating the blend, PS was automatically selecting a slither of empty pixels right at the edge of the image. By clearing the selection I was then able to use the tools normally.

I am not used to it automatically selecting empty pixels in this way. I'll post a screenshot when i am with the troublesome system tomorrow! Thank you again.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded