Help with assistant and mask layer

[srg]

He,

I often create a layer over a subject and after filling with a suitable color I start brushing on it to create a mask and  isolate the subject (the selection tool is never good enough in my hands).

When by mistake I brush over the active fill layer I often ruin everything not realizing what I did. Occasionally the assistant pops up telling me that he added a layer where my brush went, and that saves the mask.

I am wondering why that is happening only occasionally and what can I do to make it happen regularly if possible.

s w

[jmwellborn]

@srg  I have just found your post.  Don't know whether you are using V1 or V2, but if you have your Assistant settings per the screenshots below ("Add new pixel layer and paint") you should get a popup notice each time you attempt to paint on your active layer.  V2 on the left, V1 on the right.  Click on the Assistant icon on your Context Toolbar, and be sure that your settings match those below.   I hope this will help.

 

          

[srg]

1 hour ago, jmwellborn said:

@srg  I have just found your post.  Don't know whether you are using V1 or V2, but if you have your Assistant settings per the screenshots below ("Add new pixel layer and paint") you should get a popup notice each time you attempt to paint on your active layer.  V2 on the left, V1 on the right.  Click on the Assistant icon on your Context Toolbar, and be sure that your settings match those below.   I hope this will help.

 

          

Hi, I have the same settings except the "adding mask layer" which now I changed to "add mask as new layer" as you suggested. Will see how it goes. Thanks.

[srg]

2 hours ago, jmwellborn said:

@srg  I have just found your post.  Don't know whether you are using V1 or V2, but if you have your Assistant settings per the screenshots below ("Add new pixel layer and paint") you should get a popup notice each time you attempt to paint on your active layer.  V2 on the left, V1 on the right.  Click on the Assistant icon on your Context Toolbar, and be sure that your settings match those below.   I hope this will help.

 

          

No, it did not solve the problem. the assistant did not come up.

[jmwellborn]

@srg  That is very strange indeed!  Is the Assistant icon on your Toolbar?  I had to manually add it with my download of Designer2.  Photo2 downloaded with the icon present.  

[srg]

5 minutes ago, jmwellborn said:

@srg  That is very strange indeed!  Is the Assistant icon on your Toolbar?  I had to manually add it with my download of Designer2.  Photo2 downloaded with the icon present.  

YES is in the toolbar

 

[jmwellborn]

5 minutes ago, srg said:

YES is in the toolbar

 

Rats!  I will have to regroup, after several appointments today, when I can get back to my desktop.  Using my iPad right now.  Hopefully another user will figure this out long before I can attempt it!  I am so sorry.

[R C-R]

21 hours ago, srg said:

No, it did not solve the problem. the assistant did not come up.

Just double-checking, but do you have Enable Assistant & Alert when assistant takes an action options enabled? 

[srg]

1 hour ago, R C-R said:

Just double-checking, but do you have Enable Assistant & Alert when assistant takes an action options enabled? 

yes they are checked

 

[jmwellborn]

@srg  I am completely stumped!  I have tried and tried to replicate your issue, but can't.  Is there any chance that when this happens you have brushed outside your fill layer onto your initial layer, and that it is a placed image layer and not an opened pixel layer? If so, then the Assistant Manager will provide the popup message that it has rasterised the image layer and you will get a new empty pixel layer.  At least it does here on my MAC.  

    

[srg]

No, I am painting on the fill layer and only rarely the pop up alert comes up. Usually it does not. Absolutely random.

 

[StuartRc]

mm.. just a quick thought....have you checked ..when tying to paint the mask or paint IS the layer or correct layer selected. I get this sometimes when raster painting and accidentally (being an idiot!) deselect the layer...