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eileendigi Calculating status...

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why are my brushes smaller than the size I have set them for?

Apr 21, 2012 1:27 PM

Tags: #size #settings #brushes

No matte what size I set my brushes at, when I click to place them in a document they are around 30% smaller than the chosen size. I can't figure out what settings I need to change if that, in fact, is the problem.

1818 Views 32 Replies Latest reply: Barbara B., Apr 27, 2012 3:17 PM

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1. Barbara B.,

Apr 21, 2012 1:55 PM in reply to eileendigi

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Check to see if the airbrush setting is on.

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2. eileendigi,

Apr 21, 2012 2:12 PM in reply to Barbara B.

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I have checked that and it is off. No change in brush size.

eileendigi@gmail.com

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3. photodrawken,

Apr 21, 2012 2:51 PM in reply to eileendigi

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Edit...Preferences...Display and Cursors, then choose the "Full Size Brush Tip" option.

Ken

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4. eileendigi,

Apr 21, 2012 3:06 PM in reply to photodrawken

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Thank you Ken, but I've tried that too and the brushes are still not full size when I click on my open file. Do you think I should uninstall and reinstall Elements?

Eileen

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5. Barbara B.,

Apr 21, 2012 3:06 PM in reply to eileendigi

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Well, you can try going to the far left of the options bar. Depending on your version of PSE you'll see either a tool icon or a very tiny triangle. Whichever it is, click it and choose Reset Tool.

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6. eileendigi,

Apr 21, 2012 3:07 PM in reply to Barbara B.

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Barbara,

Tried that too…..no luck

Eileen

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7. Barbara B.,

Apr 21, 2012 3:09 PM in reply to eileendigi

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mac or windows? Which version of PSE?

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8. eileendigi,

Apr 21, 2012 3:10 PM in reply to Barbara B.

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Sorry…..MAC Version 9
eileendigi@gmail.com

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9. photodrawken,

Apr 21, 2012 3:19 PM in reply to eileendigi

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No to re-installing -- program code either works or doesn't, there's no in-between "sorta works".

What exactly are you doing when using a brush, and how are you measuring that it's "30% smaller"?

Ken

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10. eileendigi,

Apr 21, 2012 3:27 PM in reply to photodrawken

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OK…I purchased and downloaded Elements 9.0 for my MACs ( I have two in two different locations). I installed on both and the brushes work as expected on one of them but not the other. Guess that is why I asked about a reinstall….possibly something went wrong on this computer when installed.

I am just trying to create an image for a background paper and have selected a brush. I resize it with the bracket key (and have also tried resizing with the slider on the menu up top). I hover the brush over the area I want to place it and then click. The brush is smaller than the hover image every time. Makes it hard to know where to lace my brush for proper placement. As far as the percentage…..that actually is a guesstimate, but it isn't 50% smaller that's for sure.

Eileen

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11. Barbara B.,

Apr 21, 2012 3:30 PM in reply to eileendigi

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Go to your username>library>preferences and delete:

com.adobe.PhotoshopElements.plist
Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 settings
Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 paths

and try again.

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12. photodrawken,

Apr 21, 2012 3:40 PM in reply to eileendigi

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OK, if Barbara's suggestion of re-building the Preferences doesn't help, then it's probably a hadware problem. Make sure you have the latest video drivers installed and you don't have a weird display setting somewhere.

Ken

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13. eileendigi,

Apr 21, 2012 3:39 PM in reply to Barbara B.

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I could only find the first item on your list and did delete it. Opened Elements and still the brushes don't work as they should

Eileen

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14. eileendigi,

Apr 21, 2012 3:41 PM in reply to photodrawken

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Now you've got me……where do I start with that? I'm fairly computer literate but when it comes to hardware I get nervous and confused.

Eileen

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15. photodrawken,

Apr 21, 2012 4:07 PM in reply to eileendigi

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Can't help you with that (I'm the Windows Guy), so someone else will need to jump in there.

Ken

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16. Barbara B.,

Apr 21, 2012 5:40 PM in reply to eileendigi

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You have the latest video drivers. Not an issue with macs.

One thought. Are you using the exact same brush with the exact same settings on both computers? A soft brush will not solidly fill the cursor the way a hard brush will.

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17. eileendigi,

Apr 22, 2012 3:12 AM in reply to Barbara B.

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Thanks Barbara….glad to know it's not the drivers. Yes, I have tried all the same brushes and still have the problem. Do you think I should try reinstalling?

Eileen

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18. hatstead,

Apr 22, 2012 4:34 AM in reply to eileendigi

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Eileen,

This may, or may not help - just a thought----
On the brush tool's option bar, top right, there is a brush icon for setting the dynamics. Check the settings. The default is 0 for everything except spacing, which=25%. Roundness =100%.

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19. eileendigi,

Apr 22, 2012 4:39 AM in reply to hatstead

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Thanks for the offer, but sad to report that they are already set to that and still no difference.

Eileen

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20. Barbara B.,

Apr 22, 2012 8:03 AM in reply to eileendigi

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Can you post a screenshot, including the brush options bar and showing the cursor as well as the result of a single click?

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21. eileendigi,

Apr 22, 2012 8:22 AM in reply to Barbara B.

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Barbara,

Here it is. Not sure if I captured the brush options bar you were speaking about, but the image shows the difference in size between the cursor and the actual image after clicking. Hope you can figure out what is wrong. Thanks so much for sticking with me!

Eileen

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22. Barbara B.,

Apr 22, 2012 8:37 AM in reply to eileendigi

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There is no screenshot. You can't do this by email. You must come to the forum's web page and use the camera icon above the message composition area.

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23. eileendigi,

Apr 22, 2012 8:56 AM in reply to Barbara B.

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Sorry Barbara....didn't know that. Hope it shows now.

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24. Barbara B.,

Apr 22, 2012 9:18 AM in reply to eileendigi

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Oh, with specialty brushes like that it's sometimes normal. I thought you were having this problem with a plain ol' round brush. Just as some of them (leaf for instance) have a scatter setting that can't be overridden, so that you aren't likely to get an impression right where you click.

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25. eileendigi,

Apr 22, 2012 9:22 AM in reply to Barbara B.

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Barbara,

It happens with every brush I have, round, square, all default brushes. I can send you a screenshot of that if you need to see it.

Eileen

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26. eileendigi,

Apr 22, 2012 9:28 AM in reply to Barbara B.

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Here's a screenshot of just a plain round brush.

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27. R_Kelly,

Apr 22, 2012 7:32 PM in reply to eileendigi

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See if this helps:

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4140899#4140899

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28. eileendigi,

Apr 23, 2012 6:05 AM in reply to R_Kelly

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Thanks, but don't see a solution here....just a similar problem to mine. I hope someone can find an answer.

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29. Barbara B.,

Apr 23, 2012 6:26 AM in reply to eileendigi

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The answer for the poster in that thread was:

what I found was to be an operating system (OSX6.8) preference where I had chosen to increase my cursor size.
So either here:

or with one of the utilities that lets you customize cursors system-wide.

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30. eileendigi,

Apr 23, 2012 6:44 AM in reply to Barbara B.

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Thank you Barbara. I didn't see that. I am not at the problem computer now and won't be for several days but will check this out when I can. I don't ever recall changing that or seeing that option in my preferences.

Eileen

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31. eileendigi,

Apr 27, 2012 3:10 PM in reply to eileendigi

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Back at the problem computer......and that did the trick! Thank you all for such a simple fix.

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32. Barbara B.,

Apr 27, 2012 3:17 PM in reply to eileendigi

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Great, glad it was something simple, after all.

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