Photoshop Elements > Troubleshooting
Layers Panel (Layers Palette) Problems
The Layers panel (Layers palette) is on the right side of your screen.
If there's a problem, first look there.
1 - Wrong Layer Is Active
The #1 problem is not having the right layer active (highlighted).
You usually need to be on a layer with pixels, such as the Background
copy layer.
You can't edit a layer that has no pixels, such as a Levels adjustment
layer.
There are no pixels there, just lots of mathematics.
A layer is active (highlighted) when you click the layer.
In 6.0, an active layer is a lighter gray.
In 7.0 and 8.0, an active layer is black.
Check which layer is active if:
• Photoshop isn't doing what the program is supposed to be doing.
• A box pops open saying you must flatten the layer, and you'd
normally not have to do so.
The Active Layer Jumps
When "You're Not Looking"
You'll be nonplussed when the active layer jumps from the Background
copy layer up to a Levels adjustment layer.
Photoshop Elements will do so, all by itself, when "you're not
looking."
So, check to see if the active has been changed by Photoshop
Elements.
2 - Wrong Position in the Stack of Layers
Levels on Top
You usually want to keep an adjustment layer, such as Levels,
on top of the layers stack.
In that position, the adjustment layer can "broadcast" its mathematics
down to the layers below.
Can't See Something
If you can't see something, check to make sure the layer is in the right position in the
stack of layers.
Let's say you can't see a face that you've taken from another
photograph.
The face may be blocked by a layer above the face layer.
If you can't do something, check to make sure you haven't inadvertently
locked a layer.
A padlock icon is present on the right side of the layer if it's
locked.
No—don't unlock the layer by clicking the padlock icon in the
layer.
Instead—click the padlock icon in the Layers panel (Layers
palette).
In versions previous to 8.0, the padlock is at the top of the
layer stack.
In version 8.0, it's at the bottom of the layer stack.
Background Layer Is Locked
The Background layer is locked by default.
You can unlock it by changing its name.
Check to make sure two layers are
grouped,
if they need to be grouped.
Check to make sure you've selected the right tool.
If you haven't already, go to
Tools.
• Some of the tool icons are similar.
For example, there are lots of tools that have brushes in their
icons.
• Some tools are members of a tool family.
For example, the Lasso tool family includes the Lasso, Polygonal
Lasso, and the Magnetic Lasso tools.
Check to make sure you've selected the right member of a tool
family.
• If a tool is missing, go to
Brush Tool Is Missing.
• Occasionally a tool will "get sick" for no reason.
The tool will stop working properly.
For example, you may not be able to change the size of a brush.
To cure the tool, try the following, in the following order.
1) Select another tool, and then return to the recalcitrant tool.
2) Look for the tiny black triangle on the left end of the options
bar.
Click it, and select Reset Tool.
3) Save your work, close Photoshop Elements, and then reopen
the program.
4) Shut down your computer and restart it.
5) Delete the Preference file.
Where's the Brush?
If you can't see the brush, press and hold the space bar.
The brush will turn into the Hand tool icon.
The brush may be tiny—or huge.
Press the bracket keys, [ or ], to change the brush size.
Caps Lock
If you can't change the size of a brush, Caps Lock may be on.
Look for the Caps Lock key, and press it to turn it off.
If that's not the problem, you may have a brush that's huge.
If so, when you go to change it, you can't see it because the
circle is completely outside your screen.
Go to the options bar, and check the size of the brush.
Options Bar Problems
The options bar is above your photograph.
There are two ways the options bar can create mayhem.
#1 - Options Bar Settings
Check the options bar settings.
For example, you may have used the Brush tool last week as an
airbrush.
This week, when you go to use the tool, it's misbehaving.
That's because it's still set to be an airbrush.
You can reset the options bar settings to their defaults.
Look for the tiny black triangle on the left end of the options
bar.
Click it, and select Reset Tool or Reset All Tools.
After you make some changes, two icons may appear in the options
bar.
There's a checkmark.
If you want to commit the change, click it.
There's also a circle with a diagonal line.
If you want to cancel the change, click the circle.
1 - Didn't Click OK
You have to click OK on many windows and dialogue boxes.
If you don't click OK, you won't be able to go on to the next
step.
Background Colors
For most operations in Photoshop Elements, you want to use the default
foreground color, black, and the default background color, white.
If you haven't already, go to
Foreground & Background Colors.
3 - Hidden Selection
Selection Is Hidden
If a tool is misbehaving, and you've been working with a selection,
check if the selection is hidden.
You may have pressed Ctrl + h to hide the selection.
Press Ctrl + h, again, to make a hidden selection appear.
If a selection reappears, do one of the following.
• Press the Esc key (upper-left corner of your keyboard).
• Press Ctrl + d.
• Go to Select > Deselect.
Hidden Selection Deleted,
But Still in Hidden Mode
You may hide a selection.
Then, later, you may delete it (press Esc or Ctrl + d) without
first making it reappear.
By doing the above, Photoshop Elements is still in hidden mode.
Any new selection is hidden.
So, you think the selection tool isn't working.
The selection tool is working, but you can't see the new selection
because it's hidden.
Press Ctrl + h to make it appear.
Don't delete a selection that's hidden.
Make it reappear (Ctrl + h), then delete it.
4 - Cropping & Snap to Grid
If you're trying to crop something, and the cropping border jumps
to places you do not wish to crop, then the snap-to-grid feature
may be engaged.
Press Ctrl to turn it off temporarily.
To disable the feature, go to View > Snap to Grid.
Photoshop Elements stores your preferences in a file.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Preferences.
If the preferences file becomes corrupted, Photoshop Elements
may misbehave.
Go to Delete
Preferences File.
6 - Repair, Forums, & Adobe
If deleting the Preferences file doesn't help, insert the Photoshop
Elements installation disc and select Repair.
If Repair doesn't solve the problem, search these
forums
for a solution.
If there isn't a thread about the problem, join the forum and
ask about the problem.
If there's no solution on the forums, contact
Adobe.
Sometimes computers and their users are momentarily infected
by a poltergeist.
If this dire condition occurs, try starting over.
Save your work, reboot the computer, and do your equivalent of
taking the dog for a walk.
