Double processing in elements 9

[henryh]

I've been trying to double process images in raw using elements 9 to deal with blown out skies. I create 2 images one processed for shadows and the other for the sky. I loaded the images into editor with the properly exposed sky on top. I then created a black mask in the layer and used a brush tool with the foreground set to white to reveal the darker sky.
I started to paint but nothing happened. I've spent 2 days trying to figure out what seems to be a simple process. The brush tool is working ok in other situations.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong ?


Henry

[Doug Sundseth]

There are many things that could be happening:

Is the top layer visibility on?

If you turn off the top layer visibility, does the image change?

* Do you have the correct images on top and bottom layers?
* What is the opacity of the top layer?
* What is the blend mode of the top layer?

When you paint on the black layer mask, does the part you are painting on turn white on the thumbnail?

* What is the blend mode of the brush?
* What is the opacity of the brush?
* What are the size, shape, and feathering settings of the brush?
* Do you have the layer mask selected when painting?

All simple things, of course, but it sounds as if you might have missed something simple (and I've missed some of these at times).

[henryh]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

The top layer visibility is on. If I turn off the top layer visibility the image does not change.

The top image is the properly exposed sky which is what I want to add. The bottom image has good shadows but blown out sky.

The opacity of the top layer is 100. I tried normal and overlay blending modes.

When I paint on the black layer mask the thumbnail does not turn white. I made sure I selected the mask.

The brush is a round soft #300 with ovelay blending.


Henry

[Doug Sundseth]

Try setting the layer blend mode to Normal, and more importantly the brush blend mode to Normal. Using a white overlay brush on a black mask results in no change.

HTH

[henryh]

Doug,

Problem solved. Normal blending mode was not an option for the brush tool. So I tried them all and lighten did the trick. Many thanks for getting me headed in the right direction.

Henry