Problem with masking

[Frank Zapper]

Hi Guys,

I seem to have done something I can't undo... When I try to use layer mask in PS7 it only seems to be affecting one channel, i.e. the mask is very pale and the area I have tried to mask isn't selected when I come out of the mask, the whole picture is instead.

This is extremely annoying as I want to create montages but currently cannot

I think I have inadvertantly used a shortcut, but can't work out what - can anyone tell me what I have done and how to get out of it?

(I hope this makes some sort of sense)

Cheers

Frank

[Tamlin]

Hi Frank.
I'm not sure I understand you. When you say "layer mask", do you actually mean "Quick Mask"? If so, you may just need to tweak your Quick Mask options.
Unfortunately, I don't have PS7 - I'm using CS3 - but I think the process may be the same. Here's a guide to altering the settings:
Photoshop CS3

If it's not a problem with Quick Mask, and it's happening with all images, trashing your PS Preferences file might help. That process is described here:
Photoshop Tips: Trashing the Preferences File | CreativePro.com

Hope this helps.

[Frank Zapper]

Thanks for the reply,

Yes it is the quick mask option and it is something I use quite a lot, but now it is as if I have selected a channel and am only masking either the green, red or blue channel instead of all three (this is a guess) I have even removed PS from my computer and reloaded it and it is still the same....

This happened after I tried a few shortcuts on the keyboard, but I can't find the cure - Nothing seems simple on my computer as it was rebuilt after a crash and I couldn't find the application data to delete the preferences - I tried the alternative method by pressing Alt shift delete when starting up and this seems to have cured it!

Thanks very very much -I had almost pulled out what hair I had left!

Cheers

Frank

[Tamlin]

Glad you got it sorted. Any more problems, just let us know.

[Tridel]

I had the same problem with PS7! That why i moved up to CS3