Making PhotoShop Work

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. When this happens check the following.

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.

Look at the options bar... to complete or apply the process click the check mark, or cancel the process by clicking the Universal "No" sign.

2. 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). Check to see if the layer you are working on is locked.

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

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

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

  3. Choose Image > Mode to make sure your images are in the same mode (like RGB or Grayscale). If they are a bitmap, indexed color, duotone, or multi-channel mode, then try converting the image to RGB.
  4. Check the Image > Mode menu and choose 8 bits/pixel if its available because many of Photoshop's features don't work in 16-bit mode.
  5. If you are using a graphics tablet check the stylus, it may be upside down in Eraser mode.
  6. Still Stuck? Try to reproduce the problem with another file and if the problem persists, REBOOT!
  7. Still doesn't work RESTART Photoshop while holding the Shift-Option-Command keys (Mac), or Shift-Alt-Ctrl keys (Win). That resets all the Photoshop Preferences to default settings
  8. Check Adobe's web site for current issues and fixes.

  9. Read Ben Wilmore's articles at digitalmastery.com for more ideas and insights. Or, do an internet search for the solution.

  10. Still can't make it work? As an absolutely last resort (You have tried everything) re-install the program.