Cannot re-adjust the opacity of a layer after saving the image as a PSD file

[BH888]

Created several retouching layers during the retouching of a portrait.  Saved the image as a PSD file.

Following day, reopened the image with the intention of re-adjusting the opacity of one of the layers.  All layers have been preserved.  Good!

However, attempts to re-adjust the opacity of a layer have no effect on the image (i.e., no effect on the opacity of the retouching done on that layer earlier).

What am I doing wrong?

[BH888]

The procedure I followed:  After completing specific retouching on a layer, I created a stamped visible layer before moving on to another type of retouching on a subsequent layer.

[Bojan Živković]

Can you show us screenshot of Layers panel with highlight which layer's opacity you want to change? When you create stamp visible it will merge layers into one layer so it is pointless to try to change visibility of that, stamped layer.

[BH888]

A special thanks to all who have taken the time to help me resolve this problem.  Probably best if I respond to everyone at the same time in my reply below.

At the time I submitted my original inquiry to the Adobe Forum, I believe I was at Layer 4, which is a stamped visible layer of everything beneath it.  (In a similar fashion, Layer 2 & Layer 3 are stamped visible layers of everything beneath them.)

I was attempting to re-adjust the opacity of the “Wrinkles Layer”, but with no success; i.e., into Layer 4, at the time, (stamped visible layer of everything underneath), I was not able to change the opacity of the “Wrinkle Layer”.

Yes, Bojan, I agree that it would be pointless to try to change the opacity of the stamped visible layer (Layer 4), since it’s a combination of all the layers below it.  Actually, I want to change only the opacity of the “Wrinkle Layer”, - while preserving all the work done in the layers above and below the Wrinkle Layer.

Keeping all layers intact, I, therefore, went back and made the “Wrinkle Layer” active.  The opacity of that layer was still at 38%, as I set it earlier.  However, any attempt to change the opacity from 38% did not result in any visible change in the image.

In fact, contrary to what I would have expected, if I turned off any layer (eye icon) independently, there was no change in the image; e.g., if I turned off the “Wrinkle Layer”, wrinkles did not return; if I turned off the “Bags Layer”, eye bags did not return; i.e., if I turn off a layer on which retouching was done, then I would expect the retouching to also disappear, as the layer becomes invisible.

However, turning off one layer at a time, starting at the top of the layer stack, does result in a visible change in the image as I turn off each, subsequent, lower layer that contains a particular retouch (e.g., bags, wrinkles, etc.).  This leads me to believe that every time I make a stamped visible layer, that stamped layer incorporates all the retouching done on each layer below it.  So, attempting to change or re-adjust the retouching on any particular layer below the stamped visible layer is of no avail because the retouching on that lower layer is already incorporated in the stamped layers above it.

To Michael and Chuck’s point, if I turn off visibility of every layer above, say, the Wrinkle Layer, then I can re-adjust the opacity of the Wrinkle Layer, which becomes visible in the image.  However, as soon as I turn on the first stamped layer above the Wrinkle Layer, opacity reverts to the original 38%, and not to any re-adjusted opacity.  This seems to make sense, since any stamped layer created incorporates the original parameters of the layers beneath it.

The global issue I have been struggling with recently in the PS learning process is – what workflow protocol should I be following, so that I preserve the option of returning to any particular layer and making a tweak or re-adjustment??

Recently, I tried refraining from creating stamped layers periodically along the way, but, if I remember correctly, - without creating a stamped layer, adjusting the layer opacity of the uppermost layer (after a specific retouch) wound up also changing the opacity of one or more of the layers underneath.

[Michael Bullo]

It sounds like you know what you are doing but a couple of questions…

• Is your retouching definitely contained within the retouching layers? Could you have accidentally retouched your original image? Try turning off the visibility of every layer and then turn on the visibility of each layer one at a time.
• The "stamp visible layer" should be a completely opaque layer at the top of your layers. Are you trying to review layers that are now hidden by this top most layer?

[Chuck Uebele]

The stamp visible layer will hide the others layers, so you won't see the opacity change, unless you turn off the stamped layer.

[BH888]

Yes, later found this to be the case; i.e., if I turn off the stamped layers above the particular layer that I want to re-adjust, the re-adjustments can be made and do become visible on the image.  But these stamped layers (above the layer in question) had been embedded with other types of retouching along the way.  In order to affect those other types of retouching, the stamped layers have to be turned on again.  When the stamped layers are turned on again, however, they will contain the retouching adjustments originally made to the  layer in question, - not the re-adjustments or tweaks that we want to make hours or days later.

How then do we go back and re-adjust or tweak the opacity of a particular layer without losing the work embedded in successive stamped layers created after that point?  i.e., what protocol should I follow that will retain the option of revisiting an earlier layer and easily make another adjustment to that layer at a future time?

[Bojan Živković]

Simple solution is to not stamp layers at least not that often. WIth few adjustment layers one above another you can easily make any required change which will be immediately visible. There are many features in Photoshop which are over or wrongly used just because they are there. I am using stamp layers feature from time to time to apply some filter, for example, to the image with all 'adjustments' included but not that excessive after each layer added to patch or fix some small problem.

I must also ask if you aware that majority of the tools and options to retouch something in Photoshop can be used on blank separate layer. Sometimes you will need to change Sample option to all layers in order to make tool work as expected. If you want to use some filter then you can stamp layers and your best option is to convert layers to Smart Object layer to work non-destructively with the ability to change filter settings at any time.

[BH888]

I do not recall what originally compelled me over the last week or two to create a stamped visible layer after each & every specific retouch.  As you have pointed out, I can perform many of the retouching operations on blank layers, which I have now been doing with new portrait retouching tasks. By utilizing blank layers now, there has been no problem going back and making re-adjustments to prior layers (e.g., opacity).  Creating stamped visible layers, as I had been doing, just isn’t necessary most of the time.   Problem solved!

As you and others have explained or implied, a stamped visible layer has embedded within it all the retouching done on layers beneath it.  Any attempt to go back and make changes in an underlying layer is futile – because the opaque, stamped layer above still contains the retouching corrections made on layers below it and continues to impose those corrections on the image, regardless of attempts to make re-adjustments to retouched layers underneath.

As many have explained in the comments, the opaque stamped layer has to be turned off, in order for adjustments to a revisited lower layer to render in the image.  Of course, if the stamped layer is turned on again after revisiting and re-adjusting a layer underneath, the re-adjustments will now be hidden by the stamped layer overhead.  Only alternative at that point, as Jane pointed out, is to delete the stamped layer.

Learning Photoshop one step at a time.  Thank you all for your help.

[jane-e]

BH888@aol.com​

Hi BH,

A stamped layer is a static composite of several other layers. You will need to delete the current stamped layers and make new ones when you make the types of changes you are making. There is no automatic update when you edit the original layers. Then use the new stamped layers in the other parts of the project.

As an aside, it‘s considered a “best practice” to name all of your layers.

~ Jane