Bracket Keys

[conjomom]

I just bought a CS2 - have been using Elements where you can enlarge or decrease the size of your brush using the bracket keys. It won't work in CS2. Is this correct? Also, when I crop a photo, it does not let me move the crop around. The center will move, but the bounding box does not?? Maybe I should have stayed with Elements??
Thanks for your input.

[Robyn]

Hello conjomom.......

WELCOME to our forum, you will find that it is really great place to be; there is always help available, so never be afraid to ask.

I'm using CS2 and previously used PSE3. I'm not sure why you are having trouble because the bracket keys and the crop function are the same in both. Please get back to us if you can't get this to work and we'll see if we can work out just why you are having this problem.

[Wendy]

Hi Conjomom ...

... and welcome :)

For the crop tool ... try selecting it and then look at the top of the screen and click on Clear. See if it works OK once you have done that.

I really don't know why the bracket keys are not working ... but just make sure that your Caps Lock isn't on and that you are using these bracket keys [ ]

If none of those work then it may be an idea to reset the tools/and or delete the prefs. (You do those in just the same way that you did in Elements)

Wendy :)

[digigal]

Hi Robyn,

I don't have a problem, but have seen this before about "deleting the preferences," -- could you please explain how to do this, so if I need to I can? Thanks! :)

[digigal]

(sorry, meant to say Wendy) :)

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Both Photoshop & Elements are prone to the preferences file becoming corrupt and when it does then strange thigs happen. Thats why one of the first things we suggest is to delete the prefs file if you have strange problems :) When you delete the file then Photoshop just rebuild a new one (without any corruption :)

To do that close down Photoshop or Elements then click on the Editor start up icon and quickly hold down the Control, Alt and Shift keys (Mac users: Command, Option and Shift). Continue to hold down all three keys until you get a screen asking if you want to delete Settings ... just say Yes. You do have to be quick holding down the keys so if you have problems with it try holding down the keys with one hand before you click on the icon :)

Wendy

[conjomom]

Thank you for your great advice. I finally got the preferences quickly deleted. You were right. You DO have to be quick. And . . . it did fix the cropping tool. Whew!! Thank you. Now . . . do you have a good tutorial on settings?? Or are the default ones good enough????

But . . . I still cannot get the bracket keys to work. Boo Hoo. I didn't realize how much that I used them. It's a great shortcut. Should I contact Adobe??

Thanks so much for everything.

Conjomom

[Priss]

Suggest you leave defaults for a while until you can find out where the bracket key problem is --EXCEPT for things such as the general tab's history states, and the colors and spacing on gridlines--that kind of setting. BTW---just on another goofy chance---is the "display and cursors" area of preferences showing NORMAL brush tip and is CRosshair DESELECTED?--that you don't have the "precise" setting for painting cursors? I think yes---contact adobe, I'll continue to ask, but I personally don't know the answer.

[Wendy]

Hi Conjomom ...

Have you installed anything recently ... I'm just wondering if there is a conflict ??

Wendy

[ArtyBoy]

a kinda expensive fix for this is to get a tablet like the intuos3 that has scrolly things on the side of it. I have them setup to change the brush size, and the other to zoom in and out... It's very time saving.

[Priss]

a kinda expensive fix for this is to get a tablet like the intuos3 that has scrolly things on the side of it. I have them setup to change the brush size, and the other to zoom in and out... It's very time saving.

Great idea--never thought of that! Going to set that up T0-day--thank you very much!

I suppose if I read the manual I might learn a thing or two about my Wacom!

;)