Further to silly question

[brucet]

Way back on the 13th Feb I asked a couple of 'silly' questions. I would like to explore the 'undo' erase question again. On PSP it's a simple matter of right clicking to undo an accidental erase. I know there are work arounds but the right click is so simple. (I just lost a lot of time due to erasing a small section of the image. My work flow always includes a background layer. My fix was to copy the section from the background layer, past as a new layer and then merge down. That works if I haven't made changes since creating the background layer).

Here's what I want to do. I want to erase selected areas of an image. But then sit back, look and change or restore those erased areas. Sometimes small adjustments make all the difference to an image. Also when working with opacity various densities can be explored.

So my question is. Is it possible to consider in a future upgrade an 'Erase Adjustment layer'? So from a simplistic point of view. By creating an Erase Adjustment layer it would be possible to erase parts of an image without actually editing the layer. So it would be a non destructive erase that could be edited at a later date just as other Adjustment layers can be. I often work on an image. Save and turn off for the day. Then comeback the next day and decide I want to make some changes. Currently as soon as I save and turn off any changes are saved and undo's are lost. (In PSP, using their save/file format, I can save, turn off and come back as many times as I want. Right mouse always returns the data that was previously erased. Subject to merging layers etc).

Clear as mud?????

regards

[photoken]

Here's what I want to do. I want to erase selected areas of an image. But then sit back, look and change or restore those erased areas. Sometimes small adjustments make all the difference to an image. Also when working with opacity various densities can be explored.

I don't understand why you don't use a layer mask to "erase" the areas. When you paint on the layer mask, you have all the properties of the Paint tool to modify the "erasing": intensity, brush softness, blend mode, etc. It's completely non-destructive, so you can not only return to the image at a later date and modify the "erasures", but also paint with white to "undo" the effect with the same type of control. This image consists of only a background image and its layer mask:

erase using mask.jpg

I varied the intensity of the painting and also changed the blend mode to "Dissolve" for the leftmost "erasure. Obviously, you can create a layer mask for any layer....

Using a layer mask not only provides the benefits you're looking for, but also provides much more control, and flexibility.

[bkh]

Here's what I want to do. I want to erase selected areas of an image. But then sit back, look and change or restore those erased areas. Sometimes small adjustments make all the difference to an image. Also when working with opacity various densities can be explored.

I don't understand why you don't use a mask to "erase" the areas.

Photoken, you probably mean a layer mask. In any case, a layer mask (which works like an adjustment layer as a child layer) or a clipping layer (which is similar to an adjustment layer on top of a layer stack) does just what brucet is asking for.

Cheers

Burkhard.

[photoken]

Photoken, you probably mean a layer mask.

Exactly right, Burkhard. I've edited my original message to be more precise.

[Herbert123]

I agree: a layer mask is much more effective, and it is simple and quick to switch between black (hide) and white (show) with the <X> key. And for very precise mask edits, a second window can be opened to display the actual black and white mask.

[brucet]

Thanks guys. I'm being lazy and want what I've always used!!!

I'll give the layer mask a go and see how I go. BUT a right click seems so much simpler!!!!

regards

[photoken]

I'm being lazy and want what I've always used!!!

In fairness to PSP, the erasing feature of theirs that I really liked is the way the Background Eraser tool works by constanty using the colour under the center of the cursor to define the colour being erased. A long time ago, I asked for an option for PL's AutoEraser tool to "Monitor colour under cursor" so the AutoEraser could do that.

It's not something that is often used, but there are times when it would really come in handy. Such as when refining an extracted object like a portrait where the hair was originally against a multi-coloured background.

[bkh]

Thanks guys. I'm being lazy and want what I've always used!!!

Well, that's not what you asked for in this thread. What you asked for seems to be just what layer masks/clipping layers do.

As I wrote in the previous thread, you can almost have your "paint back" feature, by selecting the brush and setting it to "Alpha channel only", then erase with the right mouse button and paint back with the left one.

Maybe the developers will consider an "unerase with right mouse button" feature, imo, it wouldn't be difficult to implement.

Cheers

Burkhard.

[brucet]

Old dog new tricks etc etc !!!
I just don't like change. However PL makes flipping over to PSP so easy many of my favorite actions are easy to get to. Simple use of the left and right buttons while erasing seems a natural action for me. Less mucking about with layers and masks.

Anyway I hope the developers consider it.

regards