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Can one retouch after adding several layers


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photootto

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Hi all ,

I just completed a project that involved four layers. this was my first attempt at layering and i must say it turned out real nice. After I finished I thought I would go back and do some retouching with the healing brush but I now get a message that "cannot use the healing brush because the target layer is hidden".

From now on I will do my correction and retouching before I add layers.

Anyway to use the healing brush or clone stamp now on the finished (layered) file???
 
Did you save the psd file ? If all layers are there I'm not sure of what you mean...
 
yes, i saved as a PSD and all the layers are there. I tried to go back and just retouch the individual layer but no go. Other tools seem to work but not the healing brush or clone stamp
 
ok now I dont get the layer is hidden message but nothing happens when I use the healing brush or clone stamp. No correction is made to the area of the image
 
When using the clone tool doesn't window come up telling you what's wrong like select's source or something like that
 
No, now that I used your advise and selected the layer to turn it on, it allows me to use the clone stamp, or healing brush and when I toggle over the area it gives me a preview of what my action will do/look like, but if I click the mouse no correction is made
 
Are You sure you're applying it to the correct layer?
 
Well, first of all, I would recommend never doing the retouch directly on the same layer. Make an empty layer above and be sure the setting at the top says current and below or all layers. Then you can do the cloning above and keep it non-destructive. I have had this problem before, seeing the source but not having it show up as I work. Be sure you have your opacity for the tool at 100%, or if you're blending an area, lower. If this is still happening, I would recommend: 1) close and reopen the psd. 2) close and reopen Photoshop. 3) still having the same problem, reset your preferences. Sometimes that will fix "strange behaviours. Here's a link to that. Why is Photoshop Acting Strange?

If that doesn't fix it, take two aspirin, go to bed, and call us in the morning. :bustagut:
 
Ibclare for the win!! Why didnt i think of something so simple as a restart. I shut down PS (haven't done that in about a month) and closed the PSD file as well and walaa.... What do we always bypass the obvious and think there is a problem when in fact there is none.
 
So here is the completed image. It has five layers.. background, 2 kids on left, dancer in yellow, dancer jumping, and finally the hat.

I was trying to retouch the blemishes on the subject in brown and clean up the costume on the subject on the far left.Final comp w.jpg
 
I would suggest a few shadows. Make a new layer above each actor. Ctl/cmd click on the thumbnail of the person's image layer. Here is a good point to feather the selection edges to make the shadow more realistic. Fill the layer with black. Transform flip, warp, etc. so the shadow falls in the right direction, and of course is never as tall as the object so shorten it too. Then set the blend mode to hard light (I use that, seems to blend in best) and lower the opacity till it matches the tree shadow. Then you need to darken some areas where shadow would be most dense, such as right near a body or along its edge, then maybe soften the edges a bit more. You might want to use a black to clear gradient overlay as shadows are not one density.

Just a thought.

One more thing, your text gets a bit lost. Maybe it needs a drop shadow or a bevel with color shadow or color bevel. Slight if you use bevel. It doesn't need much or I think it wouldn't work with the delicacy of the image.

If you want more critique, let us know. There are a few other things, but for me, the above are most apparent.
 
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