How to isolate a layer from an erase blend mode layer above?

[Stitches]

Hi all,

How does one isolate layers below a layer set to erase blend mode? In this example Layer 5 has a png set to erase and it is burning through Layers 1-4.
Layers 1-5 are grouped. Layer 0 is not grouped residing below the rest with a rectangle in it that I would like to try other contrasting colors in. Also...what is that symbol in La yer 5 mean? Can someone enlighten me please?

[firstdefence]

The only way I know of is to place whatever you don't want to erase above the layer set to blend mode: erase.

As far as I am aware, the dot means it contains a layer set to Blend Mode: Erase, if you change the blend mode to any other blend mode the icon will disappear, Change the Parent Layer (Layer) to Erase from Passthrough will not show that icon, it's only when there is a child layer set to erase.

Have you tried blend modes like Multiply and Screen, Multiply makes white transparent and screen makes black transparent.

[Stitches]

23 minutes ago, firstdefence said:

The only way I know of is to place whatever you don't want to erase above the layer set to blend mode: erase.

As far as I am aware, the dot means it contains a layer set to Blend Mode: Erase, if you change the blend mode to any other blend mode the icon will disappear, Change the Parent Layer (Layer) to Erase from Passthrough will not show that icon, it's only when there is a child layer set to erase.

Have you tried blend modes like Multiply and Screen, Multiply makes white transparent and screen makes black transparent.

Thanks for the reply. I could have sworn I've pulled this off before by grouping.

I guess I'll have to burn a png to get a layer of color behind this. Sorta sucks the spontaneity out of this as I'm experimenting at the moment.

Thanks for clearing up the folder icon. Beyond me at times to put 2 and 2 together.

Re: blend modes. I tried putting a white color overlay on the png and setting blend mode to multiply both within the effect module and at the layer level and the overlay gives me an undesired white background. Sorta kinda worked. Will play with this a bit more. Never knew exactly how screen and multiply worked btw. Going up on my wall on a post-it alongside 100 other tips I always forget to look at.

Off topic: Looking at your avatar.... Are you in the Illuminati and if so what are your plans for humanity? Do you know Katy Perry-I heard she's a member? 

[markw]

 

Hello Stitches,
For what you are trying to do the object or image that has been set to Erase can not be in a Layer or Group on it’s own.
Take it out of Layer 5 and discard the empty Layer.
Example:

Erase.afdesign

 

[Stitches]

13 minutes ago, markw said:

 

Hello Stitches,
For what you are trying to do the object or image that has been set to Erase can not be in a Layer or Group on it’s own.
Take it out of Layer 5 and discard the empty Layer.
Example:

Erase.afdesign

 

@markw  Thanks for putting the file together. It's doing what I want it do now so problem solved. I had it somewhat correct. The image I'm using to erase still wants to be in a group with what it's erasing to isolate that from lower layers but it doesn't want to be in a group or layer of it's own within that group. Confusing bit of clarity there. Thanks for your help.

[firstdefence]

34 minutes ago, Stitches said:

Off topic: Looking at your avatar.... Are you in the Illuminati and if so what are your plans for humanity? Do you know Katy Perry-I heard she's a member? 

Can't say, it's top secret, level: Majestic 444

[Stitches]

@markw So interesting turn of events. I opened your file the other day and had a look. Again Thanks. Today while working on a project I had used my styles panel and all was normal....normal gear icon. I closed the file, had my dinner and reopened the file I was working on to find your cat from the file you sent had somehow injected itself into my styles panel as the styles icon. Any thoughts on how this m ay of happened? I'm mystified. You wouldn't happen to know how how to switch it back would you? 

[markw]

Just wait till tomorrow and all will be back to normal. (That is until Friday November 13th)

Serif programmers just love cats!

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, Stitches said:

Any thoughts on how this m ay of happened? 

This or this.