PSE 7-left tool bar/stroke outline/freezing/jerking

[RobynR]

PSE 7-I have 3 questions:

1. I am unable to reset the left tool bar even when I go to the triangle that
says to reset all tools and answer yes. It remains a double tool bar.

2. I have tried to add a stroke (outline) selection to pictures and that option is grayed out. I used this tool all the time in PSE 5 without problems.

3. I am having difficulty with the program moving slowly (freezing/jerking) in sections and sometimes to the point I need to Ctrl/Alt/Delete to escape.

Please help me with the above questions so I can finish my scrapbook gift to
get it in the mail by Christmas! I did not have these problems in PSE 5 and really never used PSE 6.

Thank you in advance for your help.

RobynR

[troush]

Robyn,

1. On both of my computers, the tool bar is 2 columns. I think that may be a new feature of PSE 7.0.

2. Do you have marching ants around what you are trying to stroke? There are some times you can't stroke, but I can't remember what they are off the top of my head.

3. What are your system specs? If you went from PSE 5.0 to 7.0 on the same computer (assuming an older computer), your system might not be fast enough to support it.

-Trish

[RobynR]

Hi Trish,
Thank you for replying.
I do not have marching ants around what I am trying to stroke outline, I just have the bounding box or blue box.
I am using Windows XP home version. My computer is approximately 3 years old. I do have PSE 5, 6, and now, 7 on my computer. I did not use 6 very much as 7 came out so soon...digital scrapbooking is an addiction!!!
Do you think I should remove 5 & 6?
Robyn

[troush]

Robyn,

Ctrl click on the thumbnail of the layer you want stroked on the layer's pallet. That will put the marching ants around the item. Then, edit->stroke should be available.

I need to know your processor speed and how much memory (1MB or 2MB) you have. Disk space may affect speed, but not as likely.

-Trish

[Candy3]

I realized the other day when I tried to put a stroke outline that the layer needed to be simplified first...not sure if that helps

[RobynR]

Trish,
IT WORKED!!! YEAH!!! Thank you so very much. You saved my Christmas project. I make a yearly scrapbook of my grandson and give a copy to my daughter and son-in-law as well as his parents. I switched to PSE 7 in the middle of the book. I find it easier at times to use the stroke outline as there are a lot of pictures.
Thank you! A million times thank you!
Robyn
PS-A hint for anyone who makes multiple copies of their scrapbook. Make one book and have someone check it for typos, etc. Then print out the other copies. Last year being new to digital scrapbooking I printed each page as it was completed. When errors were discovered I then needed to reprint 3 pages which became very expensive! Live, learn and share!

[RobynR]

Trish,
One more thing I forgot in my excitement. How do I get rid of the marching ants?
Robyn

[Wendy]

Hi Robyn ...

Just do Select>Deselect .... or Control>D is the shortcut :)

Wendy

[RobynR]

Thanks Wendy!
I was also able to get to the stroke outline when I simplified the layer as Candy suggested. Thanks Candy!

[Wendy]

Oh that is good news :)

Wendy