Robg

I just got Lr (CC), installed it on my Win 10 computer and have been going through the tutorials.

In the tutorial on the Linear Gradient there is a demonstration of how to use the Linear Gradient Brush and Eraser with the overlay, but I cannot make this work nor can I use the letter O to toggle the overlay.

I can see the overlay when I hover the cursor over the blue dot in the center of the Gradient, but as soon as I move the cursor, the overlay goes away. I did figure out that by right clicking I can use "Cycle Overlay" to make the Mask Overlay appear, but after I do that I still can't get the Linear Gradient Eraser tool (nor the Linear Gradient Paintbrush tool) to change the mask. This is really frustrating because I would like to be able to change the mask.

Anyone have any idea what could be going on? Is there any setting that turns off some features?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Did you intend to install the tablet-based 'cc' version or the fully operational LR Classic software? Could that be the issue?

Robg

I've installed the cc version, and the tutorial I'm following is specifically for the cc version. My cc version does not behave like the one in the tutorial wrto brushes.

Since my initial post, I've explored further and found that edit brushes similarly also do not operate for me. They don't alter the image when I paint with them.

I'm wondering if it might have to do with my monitor which is ultra HD, or my graphics card settings?

bleirer

I once scratched my head for hours until I realized that either the flow or the density, I forget which, had been slid to the left, meaning I was painting an adjustment with zero flow, in other words nothing happened. Worth a check.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Good point worth mentioning!

Robg

Thank you for the excellent suggestion, and I checked, but my flow is at the default 50 and density is at the default 100. I did then try setting flow to 100 which has the effect of showing a faint mask where I apply the brush, but I don't dynamically see the brush effects until I press the Enter key. And the effects that I see after the Enter key is pressed are not nearly as marked as I would expect based on what I see in the tutorials.

For example, I slide Exposure all the way to the left (-4.00), apply the brush. At this point I see a faint reddish mask where the brush has been applied. Now I press the Enter key, this changes where the brush was applied to a slightly more exposed image but not nearly as dark as what is shown in the tutorial or what I get when I edit the entire picture and change exposure to -4.

bleirer

My only other random thought is to check if you have too much feathering. This is adjusted by holding down shift while pressing the left or right bracket key. Otherwise I would try another tutorial or go via the help button to chat with Adobe, they eventually get you to the right person who can remotely access your computer and check your setup.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I'd install the Classic software onto my laptop computer.

Robg

I got online with Adobe support chat and the problem was eventually resolved. It took two support reps. In my first chat I got somebody who absolutely did not know LightRoom CC as he insisted that there were no brushes in CC and that I must be using Classic and that I needed to install brushes in Classic before I could use them!

I just quit that Chat before I started using expletives (expletives prevented rather than deleted).

Second chat person I got was very capable. However, she attempted several fixes before hitting the one that did it, which was an uninstall followed by a re-install.

The other fixes she tried before that were to update my video drivers, and when that didn't work, to delete the Lightroom Settings file from appdata. That last step fixed the brushes in Edit, but did not fix the brushes in Linear Gradient.

The reinstall fixed the brushes in both places and enabled typing the letter O in linear gradient to toggle through the various overlays.

So, in the future, if I re-encounter weird glitches, I will do another uninstall-reinstall-update cycle.

Thank you CHG Cannon for your help!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

For future reference there is a "reset preferences" option that fixes "weirdness" issues.

Victoria Brampton: "In Lightroom and Lightroom Classic, there’s a simple automated way of doing it—just hold down Alt and Shift (Windows) / Opt and Shift (Mac) while opening Lightroom and it’ll ask whether to reset the preferences."

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-do-i-reset-lightrooms-preferences/

Robg

Useful to know. Thanks!

Deanie1113

So glad you got your problem fixed! Just so you know (for future issues) the FB group "Lightroom Help Group -- Intermediate and Advanced" is a tremendous resource for LR info and help. I've used them many times and they never fail to help.

Robg

Thank you, Deanie! That could prove to be useful in the future.