A Way to repeat a tool on several selected areas at once?

[Clutch Cargo]

Probably a bad subject title so let me explain what I am trying to do.

I have a very basic image (screenshot 1). Trust me, this is not an exercise but similar to the image I will be using,ha!

I select each white circle and using smart erase I can erase each circle (screenshot 2) but I want a feathered/gradient effect like (screenshot 3).

Then when I add a background color it gives the effect I am after (screenshot 4).

So here is the issue - Each image will have 100's of white dots and they will be random on each image (sort of like a star field would be a good comparison). So I need to find a way to perform the same procedure all at once on all the dots (preferred way I would think), sort of like using smart erasure but with a feather effect, or need to create an "action" that will do that.

So I guess my questions are:

1. Can one create a gradient that goes from "eraser-to-black", and then save it as a mask? (to use for question 2)

2. or perform the same task on each selected spot at the same time using a mask or

3. If I need to create an "action" for this how would one move from one spot to the next to perform the task on each spot?

Since I am new here I am beginning to search through the massive forums here but thought I would throw this out will I keep searching. Thanks so much.

Clutch

 

[MikeMc]

I might suggest going about things 180 degrees different. I would not start by erasing, but rather make a mask. By making 4 circles on your black mask fill them with white. You can use a radial gradient or a simple change of fill color.....

Then another thought use a round brush set to airbrush and play with the pressure settings....

Then again I don't have a clue of where you are going.

 

[IamSam]

This is the closest I can get you and I'm assuming that the white dots on the black background are on one layer.

Go to SELECT > COLOR RANGE, with the eye dropper click on one of the white dots. Set your Fuzziness to 175, hit OK.

Hit delete.

Go to SELECT > MODIFY > EXPAND, and choose 4 pixels. Hit OK.

Go to SELECT > MODIFY > FEATHER and choose 2.8 pixels. Hit OK.

Hit delete and then contrl/com + D to deselect.

You may have to play with the feather a few times to get it the way you want.

 

[Clutch Cargo]

Thx for the quick replies guys. Mike, the dots are not created by me. They come in a certain format with geospacial references so I cannot create, delete or edit their positions. Fun riddle , eh? I can have them in the exact same size and color to work with however.

IamSam, I'll look at you suggestion this morning and tell ya the results...

 

[IamSam]

Ok, it may not be exactly what your wanting though but give it a try.

 

[Clutch Cargo]

You are the man!

I took your original steps and modified just a little:

1. SELECT > COLOR RANGE, with the eye dropper click on one of the white dots.
   1. Set your Fuzziness to 200, hit OK. (no delete)
2. Create a 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] layer (solid black). Move layer just above the “dot” layer in priority. Activate this layer to show the circles still selected. Perform the following on the new black layer:
3. SELECT > MODIFY > EXPAND, and choose __20___ pixels. Hit OK.
4. SELECT > MODIFY > FEATHER and choose __50__pixels. Hit OK.
5. Hit DELETE key
6. CTRL + D to deselect. Deactivate the original "dot" layer.

Here's the results. Get now a nice, smooth transition. Will test different settings for optimum results but I am already impressed. What's great about it is it performs the action on all dots at the same time. This should be easy to create an "Action" from this (and later a full blown script for automating).

You have saved me further days of frustration. Now I can start growing back the hair on my head that I was pulling out! :lol:

 

[IamSam]

Glad it worked for you!