Making PhotoShop Work

Garry Stasiuk <garrystasiuk@mac.com>
garrystasiuk@comcast.net



Making Photoshop, PhotoShop Elements, and other programs work.

I have noticed from time to time that for some students Photoshop in the classroom does not seem to be working.


1.  Look at the menu bar, if most of the menu items are ghosted a process is not finished.  
Either,
Press the return or enter key to apply the change.
Or,
Press the escape key (Top Left on the keyboard) to terminate and cancel the process.

2.  Take a look at the layers palette.  
You may be working on a type layer, or an adjustment layer, or an empty layer, not the one you want.

Make sure the proper layer is activated by clicking on the layer in the layers palette with the mouse.
(The selected layer will turn Blue)
Make sure the layer you are working on is unlocked.

To check for a "hidden" layer press control (H) on the PC or on the Apple Command (H) to activate the hidden layer.

3. Check the tool settings in the options bar, a value may be set real low or at zero.

4. Check the dialog box to see if "preview" is turned on.

5. Read Ben's article at http://www.digitalmastery.com/tips/090203tip.html  for more details.

6. If all else fails re-boot.

7. If need be re-install the program (absolutely last resort).