How to Use Photoshop Eraser With Layers

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If you have a multi-layered photograph, you can use the “Magic Eraser” tool to automatically change similar pixels within the same layer. If you are working in a background layer, or an otherwise “locked” layer, the pixels will change to the background color you chose when you created the file. Otherwise, the pixels will be erased to transparency, or varying levels of transparency, depending on what options you set for the tool.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Select the Magic Eraser Tool in the toolbox. It looks like a rectangular eraser.
Step 2

An options bar will open at the top of your workspace. Enter a tolerance value that will define the colors to be erased. A lower number will erase a narrow range of colors similar to the first pixel you click. A higher number will erase a wider range of colors.
Step 3

Select “Anti-aliased” to create a smooth edge around the area that you erase. Selecting “Contiguous” will erase only the pixels next to the one that you click.
Step 4

Specify an “opacity” for the eraser. This will designate the erasure strength. A high opacity number, such as 100%, will erase the pixels completely. The lower the opacity percentage, the lighter the force of the erasure. For example, a level of 50% will erase half the opaqueness from the pixels.
Step 5

Click on the part of the layer that you want to erase. Experiment with varying strengths of erasure and opacity to discover the tool's possibilities.

Comments

ptIM81 said

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on 1/14/2009 Thanks for your article - very helpful! I've recently started a new Photoshop blog at http://www.photoshoptransparency.com/ that contains some tutorials, video, and review articles - please check it out if you get a chance - I'd love your feedback.

pearlyvictoria said

on 11/19/2008 Five stars for your article. Photoshop is so extensive it sure does help to have someone clarify some of its tools.

Thims said

on 9/21/2008 I can't believe all the features you can use in photoshop. This one just make things so much simpler
to edit photos.

empresdeb said

on 8/17/2008 This is a good article, I love to play with my pictures but have always become confused when it came to certain aspects of using photo shop - now a new layer of understanding has opened up for me.