Damien Symonds

And make sure you have Bridge installed. Instructions for doing so in this free module.

Oh gosh no. Tiff or PSD are the ONLY format to use. I assumed you'd found me because you found this article. But maybe not? Make sure you read it, it's SO important.

The Photoshop is all you need. And Bridge of course.

@cathm?

Hi Alex, The Epson range of scanners are great. For most of your photos, you'll be very happy with it. I feel obliged to point out that the V600 only has a Dmax of 3.4. Dmax indicates how sensitive the scanner is for very dark detail. If you had mentioned to me that you were scanning negatives, I would have encouraged you to stretch your budget to the V800 (or V700 if you could still find one for sale) which has a Dmax of 4.0. But as long as most of your photos and slides are sufficiently well exposed, you'll be happy with the 3.4 of the V600. Do you already own any editing software? Or would you be relying entirely on that which comes with the scanner?

Dan, don't give up so easily. Please tell me how you're struggling, and let me help.

Gee. Yeah, better reset those prefs.

Is your clone tool exhibiting the same behaviour?

Yeah. Until then, you really are going to have to reset Photoshop's preferences, sorry.

And have you done this yet?

And then if you click on the white swatch to bring up the Color Picker dialog, is it saying 255/255/255 white?

Yeah, the mask definitely isn't white. When you Alt-click on the mask thumbnail to view in black and white, then run your mouse over those areas and watch the Info Panel, you'll see it's kinda 2% and 3%. So again I ask. Did you press D to reset the swatches to white on black?

Please save that test file as a PSD and send it to me: https://spaces.hightail.com/uplink/BellePhotography Oh, have you reset your brush tool? https://www.damiensymonds.net/2012/09/resetting-tools.html

What about your mouse?

Please open another photo (any random photo will do) and see if the problem also repeats itself there.

Okay .... but if you delete all the layers and start anew, it's ok? There should NOT be a solid color layer involved in this task in any way.

Yes, but you've restarted now, so that problem is fixed, yes?

No, I mean why are you using a Solid Color layer? You should be using a Gradient layer.

Now, let's talk about the photo itself. Why are you using a Solid Color layer at all?

More importantly, if you use the first layer, and fill its mask with black, then try painting on it again, does it work?

That's not a problem though, is it? You can use the new layer easily enough?

Great. Well, go ahead and restart, and tell me if the issue still exists.

Great. And your brush tool definitely at 100% opacity and fill?

This is not an uncommon problem. Can you do this for me?

Did you press D to make sure you're truly painting with white?