Strange Problem with Blur/Smudge/Sharpen Tools

[Ether]

Well, as you may have surmised, I've run into an odd snag with Photoshop. I've recently re-installed the program onto a new machine after my old workhorse computer died on me. Everything seemed to be working fine, until I tried using the three aforementioned tools...

The problem is basically this: whenever I use these tools on transparent pixels, the program starts generating black for no reason. As far as I can tell, it's treating the transparent pixels as "black" instead of "empty."

So, say I have a spot of color on a brand new layer above a white background. Blurring/smduging/etc. works fine between colors that have already been laid, but once I go off the edge...

http://geocities.com/etherart/exhibita.jpg

Similarly, say I start using semi-transparent colors on a new layer. If I try to blur or smudge a semi-transparent color, the program will abnormally darken the color -- definitely not something that should happen.

http://geocities.com/etherart/exhibitb.jpg

I've scoured all the settings I can think of for a solution, but so far nothing has been of use. For the record, these tools worked perfectly fine on my old computer -- this problem has only cropped up on the replacement one.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help out, and sorry if this is an (unintentional) repost of a similar problem.

-Ether

[CaneHoyer]

Turn off the "save transparency" checkbox of the layer, then it should work!

[Ether]

Many thanks, Cane!

Just one further question: where can I find this "Save Transparency" checkbox? No luck finding anything by that name in Photoshop 6.0.

Thanks again!

[CaneHoyer]

Its the first one in the row of icons above the layers.

There you can fix transparency, brushing, movement, or the whole layer.

[Ether]

Ah, you meant the lock transparency checkbox. Didn't do the trick -- all that does is prevent you from going off the edge in the first place, which wasn't really my aim.

I did get it fixed another way, though. Upgraded from 6.0 to CS2 and the tools work again. I guess 6.0 must have a few compatibility issues with newer comps.

Thanks again for the help Cane (and cool site btw)!

[CaneHoyer]

No the version 6 is okay.

Try this out, activate the checkbox and you will get the effet again.

Its the same thing in painter, if tranparency is saved and you are going to smear the colors, its getting mixed with black from the edges.