Anyone know why sometimes the smudge tool will leave a black feathery outline when you smudge off the edge of your image? I've noticed the blur tool does it sometimes too. Is it something I'm doing wrong or is there a way to easily get rid of it? I would be grateful if someone were to help me.

Yup. You're doing it wrong.

Why you always gotta beat around the bush?
Just tell it straight for once.
Hey guy...yer doing it wrong.

..and no need to ask 'how wrong?'
Pretty stinking wrong that's how wrong.

That's a great U2 song
How wrong......how wrong must we sing this song?
HOW Wrong! How wrooo...o.o.o.o ngng

Jordon,
Please ignore the monkeys. We let them out of their cages on weekends.

I just opened an image and messed with it, and I don't get the black outline you are asking about. My smudge tool is set to 50%, normal. Have you tried different brushes? Maybe the brush you are using has sharp edges?

Hopefully someone else will come along who knows what this is. Sorry I haven't been much help other than to say mine doesn't do this.

There ya have it. Like Nancers said....Go in properties, and set your brushes back to Photoshop defaults. Nancers has all the answers.

I tried everything to make my smudge do that. . .and it won't. The only time it would do that is if the edge of your image already has a slight black outline. There are numerous ways to clean the edges of your image.

Can you post the image?

edit*
*sigh*