Is it possible to use the smudge tool or mixer brush on a new layer?

[JodyC]

There aren't any pixels on a new layer, but is it possible for the smudge tool to smudge pixels from a lower layer onto a new layer (to maintain the smudge separate from the original layer)?

With the mixer brush, you can color pick from a lower lay and mix colors on a new layer.

Any other suggestions for this?

Thanks!

[NotMyFault]

It seems there is no option like „current and below“ or „layers below“.

But you can extract pixels affected by smudge tool (or any other edits) to a seperate layer using this workflow:

• duplicate pixel layer
• edit top layer with smudge tool
• when finished, set blend mode to difference
• add levels adjustment, set white level to about 50%
• Merge visible
• rasterize to mask
• Set blend mode back to normal
• delete levels adjustment
• move mask to top pixel layer. Only pixels edited by smudge tool will be visible.
•  

this is not perfect.

• You can record a macro to automate all steps.
• works only if pixel layer covers full canvas. 
• mask has partial alpha, you may need to experiment with white level. If set to 0, you get a hard mask.

 

[JodyC]

Thanks for the work around.