Layer Mask help...

[beedyb220]

Hello.. I was trying to create an action to do the following on a photo....

1. Duplicate the background layer 3x.
2. Add a 20px black stroke to the top layer
3. Gausian Blur the top layer by 20px
4. Set top layer to Multiply
5. Create a Layer mask on the top layer
6. Select a soft brush and paint back in the bottom layers using a soft brush.

When I do this, it paints black on top of my image and I see the black also painting in the little mask box. I have clicked on the layer mask box before I started step 6. Why isn't is revealing the lower layer. I have gotten this technique to work but now it isn't doing what I expect. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks
Bryan N.

 

[sPECtre]

Welcome!
Normally, one can't record paint operations in an action...

Use the layer changing shortcuts (next, previous) that you can find at: http://user.fundy.net/morris/photoshop01.shtml

 

[TaoBoogie]

Thanks for the link sPECtre, I seem to have mislaid my one time comprehensive list of PS shortcuts. I was just about to do a web search and you provided this
You don't happen to know where I put my shades do you

 

[sPECtre]

You don't happen to know where I put my shades do you

On your nose? you can stop re-calibrating your monitor, now...