how to geek - 10 common photoshop frustrations (and how to fix them in five minutes)
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10 Common PhotoshopFrustrations (and How toFix Them in Five Minutes)
Photoshop is not always the most user friendly of programs.Sometimes it has frustrating issues, and the solution is not alwaysclear. Here’s a list of 10 annoying problems you might have withPhotoshop, and simple solutions to fix them.
They’ll range from simple to complex, some dealing with why theprogram won’t let you use your cursor tools, or why your cursor has
changed shape. Read on to see the list, and what you can learn tomake your graphics editing experience more pleasant andproductive.
Your Cursor Disappears or ChangesShape
The Problem: After working with some type or some other tool, onlyto return to the brush to find that your cursor has changed shape,and is difficult to see. What the heck has happened?
The Solution: If your cursor looks like the ones directly above,you’ve probably switched to “precise cursors.” A simple press of theCaps Lock key will return them to normal. You can also changethem under your preferences, shortcut key Ctrl + K.
Your Panels Keep Disappearing
The Problem: Uncertain what you’ve done, all your panels havevanished from your screen. The menu is still available, but what hascaused them all to go away?
The Solution: Normally, all panels are hidden by a quick press ofthe Tab key, often by accident. A single press hides all activepanels, and a second one brings them back as they were, no need
to reactivate them under the Window menu.
Your Brush Tool (Or Others) HaveStopped Working
The Problem: You’re trying to paint, erase, clone stamp, heal brush,etc, and Photoshop simply won’t make a mark on your canvas or letyou use your tools like normal.
The Solution: This can be one of several problems. Go to Select >Deselect if you have an area selected with the marquee tool that youmight have forgotten or can’t see. From there, Navigate to yourchannels panel, and check that you’re not working in a quick maskchannel, or any other extraneous channel. If you are, click thecombined RGB channel (pictured above, center) or the combinedCMYK channel, if you happen to be working in CMYK. You shouldalso be able to see if you are in a mask channel, another potentialpitfall.
If you are working in Quickmask mode (pictured above right) youcan press shortcut key Q to return to normal, or simply click the iconin your toolbox.
Clipboard Export Error When SwitchingPrograms
The Problem: Photoshop hangs up every time you try to switchprograms, and often gives you a strange error about the clipboard.
The Solution: Press shortcut key Ctrl + K to bring up yourpreferences and under General, you’ll find “Export Clipboard.” Thiswill stop you from copypasting image data from Photoshop, but notinto Photoshop.
Documents and New Files Always Open InTabs
The Problem: You’ve migrated to a new version of Photoshop,except you are forced to use the tabs feature whenever you open adocument or create a new one.
The Solution: Visit Preferences by pressing shortcut key Ctrl + K.Navigate to “Interface,” where tabs can be disabled for newlyopened documents, illustrated above. To put an image into a tab,simply drag it to the snap area at the top of the program, directlyunder the topmost options panel and menu.
Important Image Files Aren’t AssociatedWith Photoshop
The Problem: You double click a file you expect to open withPhotoshop, and a program that has installed and taken over that fileassociation.
The Solution: Right Click the file in Windows Explorer, or any file ofa similar type. Find “Open With,” then pick “Choose defaultprogram.”
From there, you can associate the file (and subsequent filetype) withPhotoshop, and instruct Windows to always use that program forthat type of file.
No Control Over Automatic “SmartQuotes”
The Problem: You prefer, for various reasons, to use the “StraightQuotes” versus the curly “Smart Quotes,” but have no control overhow to make them.
The Solution: Little known fact, “Straight Quotes” are actually notquotes at all, but a notation of feet and inches. Most programsautocorrect “Smart Quotes” in place of them, but this can create a lotof issues. The easiest way is to sidestep using smart quotes is toturn them off. Use shortcut key Ctrl + K to open Preferences andnavigate to “Type.” You’ll find an option there to turn off Smart Quoteautocorrect.
You Are Constantly Resizing YourWindows After Zoom
The Problem: You end up zooming in and out of your image. Whenyou zoom in, your window remains the same small size as when youwere zoomed out, and you have to constantly resize it.
The Solution: Preferences has an option to curb that problem, aswell. Bring them up with shortcut key Ctrl + K and look under the
“General” tab. You’ll see the option for “Zoom Resizes Windows,”which will automatically resize your windows when you zoom into animage file.
The Scratch Disk Is Full?
The Problem: Photoshop runs worse than ever, and that systemdrive is looking really full. When you go to perform big actions andfilters, it gives you an error—something about scratch disks?
The Solution: Press a simple shortcut key Ctrl + K to openpreferences, then navigate to “Performance.” You have options on
Scratch Disks to enable, and can add any of your free drives forPhotoshop to use as extra scratch disks.
It also can’t hurt to clear up space with a Disk Cleanup. Go to yourStart Menu, and find “Disk Cleanup” to help clear up some space onyour system disk.
Photoshop Runs Slow on UnderpoweredMachinesThe Problem: Waiting forever for those filters to run? Perhaps justbasic commands are taking forever? Photoshop runs like a dog onyour computer—is there anything you can do?
1. mailto:[email protected]
2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sybrenstuvel/
3. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/byncnd/2.0/deed.en
4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/37prime/
5. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/byncsa/2.0/
The Solution: The obvious answer is to upgrade your machine, inparticular to add RAM. However, a new PC or components are notalways an option for PC users. So simply navigate to yourPreferences with shortcut key Ctrl + K. Under “Performance” you’llfind a submenu that allows you to give Photoshop more resources,up to 100% of the available RAM. The more the better, althoughtake note of the “Ideal Range”, unless you don’t plan on running anyother programs along with Photoshop.
And when all else fails, it can’t hurt to turn it on and off again.
Have questions or comments concerning Graphics, Photos,Filetypes, or Photoshop? Send your questions to
[email protected][1], and they may be featured in afuture HowTo Geek Graphics article.
Image Credits: Frustration by Sybren A. Stüvel[2], available under
Creative Commons[3]. RAM by 37prime[4], available under Creative
Commons[5].
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