Painting on multiple layers simultaneously

Dumpling-Boy

hi everyone

I have an image consisting of 4 layers.

I want to erase a small section of my photograph using the eraser tool on more than one layer at a time (so that the eraser tool is affecting all 4 layers at one time instead of individually erasing all 4 seperate layers)

So what I mean is that I would like to erase a small portion of the top layer, but also have it erase the same portions on the 3 layers beneath, all at the same time.

The way it is now, is that I have to erase the section on the top layer, then switch to the next layer beneath it, and erase that section again, and so forth until I've done all 4 layers.

Is there a way to paint/erase on more than one layer at a time? If I select multiple layers in the layers window (hold down shift and select the desired layers), then the brush/erase tool becomes inaccessible/greyed out.

I hope this makes sense.

Thank-you!!!

Auieos · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:00 pm Post subject:

Hey,

Create a new group.
Drop the four layers into the new group.
Add a mask to the new group.
Erase using the mark.

Masking may also be useful for your other problem.

Dumpling-Boy · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks Auieos, you're the man!!

It worked like a charm. I have been trying to figure this out for years and have never known the solution.

It isn't working for the other problem but that's ok, I'll figure that one out. Thanks again bud

YourOnlySin · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:20 pm Post subject:

You got the right answer the first time! Way to go!

When you select multiple layers the brush is grayed out because its expecting you to do something else with the layers first like group them or merge them. Once you do that you can apply your brush.

Here's a tip just in case you didn't know already. If you create something like a logo, using multiple layers, you can select all of the layers (ctrl click or shift click) then link them from the layers menu. Now, whenever you use the move tool on any of the linked layers, all of the other layers linked to it will move with it. This, along with grouping, can really help streamline your work, especially if you have a lot of layers to deal with. You can never have too many layers!

Dumpling-Boy · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 12:17 am Post subject:

I use many, many layers for each project in photoshop. The problem is that is just gets waaaaay too confusing and I begin to 'lose it" sooner or later lol. Trying to find out what's on what layer is a real big headache for me the further I get into each project. I know I can right-click on the image and it brings up all the possible layers, but even then it gives me a list of 10 or 15 layers to choose from.

The layers pallet shows each layer with a small thumbnail, but again it's just a small thumbnail and doesn't show much.

Another problem I have is that it really begins to slow photoshop down when there's too many layers with blending modes.

But that's the breaks. I need these layers to be able to edit my image later on when i'm nearing completion. This gives me a lot of freedom to continue to alter smaller portions of my project as opposed to a flat layer where everything is affected. Thanks again guys

thehermit · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:03 am Post subject:

Group things, label layers and keep things organised, you can even colour the layers for better housekeeping!

Dumpling-Boy · Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:29 am Post subject:

Yes, now I wish Adobe would allow us to choose from a wider variety of colors to code our layers with. Right now all we have is the usual violet, blue, red, orange, yellow, grey, green. They should allow us to open up a colors pallet and choose from any color we want. But that's just a small nitpick.

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