Just bought version 8 and was wondering.....

[RAMWolff44]

Hi all,

I am a long standing member of TG, known as RAMWolff aka: Richard http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I got a nice Best Buy gift certificate from my room mate for my 43rd BDay and so I found PSP 8 and decided "Why Not?" PSP has some great features but then there are some improvements that I noticed right away that this fine program could stand too!! The bevel tool is a bit strange and the anti aliaising on it is not all that good. I am a bevel freak and I usually use that tool to gauge a program on how good stuff like anti alaising is among other things.

So my question is when was PSP 8 released?? Just curious. I like it so far, I think I'll take the User Guide with me on the bus ride to work and read up on it a bit!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Thanks and being a software junkie, as I am, I am glad to finally own a copy of this program! It has a KILLER seamless tile creator plugin!!

Richard http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

http://www.ramwolffsworld.com//Publi..._Prowl_sig.gif

http://www.ramwolffsworld.com/RAMWolffsWorld

[RAMWolff44]

Hi all,

I am a long standing member of TG, known as RAMWolff aka: Richard http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

I got a nice Best Buy gift certificate from my room mate for my 43rd BDay and so I found PSP 8 and decided "Why Not?" PSP has some great features but then there are some improvements that I noticed right away that this fine program could stand too!! The bevel tool is a bit strange and the anti aliaising on it is not all that good. I am a bevel freak and I usually use that tool to gauge a program on how good stuff like anti alaising is among other things.

So my question is when was PSP 8 released?? Just curious. I like it so far, I think I'll take the User Guide with me on the bus ride to work and read up on it a bit!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Thanks and being a software junkie, as I am, I am glad to finally own a copy of this program! It has a KILLER seamless tile creator plugin!!

Richard http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

http://www.ramwolffsworld.com//Publi..._Prowl_sig.gif

http://www.ramwolffsworld.com/RAMWolffsWorld

[CBarrett]

Hi Richard,
The latest version of 8 (8.1....not to be confused with 8.01) was released the first week of October. It truly is an awesome program. I have been a user since version 5 and it is the only graphics program that I use, though I have several of the others.
I was a private beta tester for version 8, but I am still learning things about the program that escaped me during the testing phase. I must admit I felt a little out of my element because most of the other testers were quite knowlegeable about the program http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/frown.gif
I will do my best to answer any questions you may have, and if I can't I will try and point you to someone who might be able to help.
Carolyn

[RAMWolff44]

Hiya Carolyn,

I do have a few question. Hope you don't mind! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

1) If I want to recolor a raster object is there an easy way to do this without loosing all the effects I may have piled onto the object??

Edie, over at Pixelparity suggested that I use the Hue/Saturation/Lightness dialog to change the color, which DOES leave the effects in place while only changing the base color. Is this what you would do or is there another suggestion??

2) If I choose Fill Properties and choose to have a texture blended with the fill color I see no way to control the transparency. It seems to me that when the texture is blended into the base color there is transparency applied so that both show together, I could see this working in some ways but not in all ways. It's too bad there is not way to control the transparency or apply a fractal cloud or fractal plazma to the texture and then placing it over the base color would create some very interesting effects. There wouldn't be any way of doing this, would there??

3) Is there a way to turn on a working marque when working with the raster objects?? The only way I have been able to do this so far is to use the magic wand and that's not right about half the time. The Move tool will grab and move an object but when I grab a raster object I want to have selection handles, same as the vector tools. This makes no sense to me so far!

4) Why is the outer bevel tool grayed out and only becomes active if I use the magic wand tool to select the raster object?? That's kinda weird!! All the other Effects/3D Effects tools are available!!

5) When working with the vector objects it's possible to select them and align them. Is there something similar that can be done with the raster objects?? Seems like there should be!!

and finally for now..

6) If I have a bunch of objects all linked together it would seem to me that if I choose the Deform tool and resize the linked objects that all the linked objects would resize but that is not the case. Only one at a time?? Arggggh!!
Neat program but the User Guide is NOT all the informative in the areas that I wish addressed, so please lend me some help!!

Many thanks Carolyn!!

Richard http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

http://www.ramwolffsworld.com//Publi..._Prowl_sig.gif

http://www.ramwolffsworld.com/RAMWolffsWorld

[CBarrett]

http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/eek.gifBoy oh boy did I ever ask for it http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gifI will try to answer what I can and I will also include the url to Jasc's forum...most of the people that were beta testers hang out there and are always willing to answer question...sometimes even members of the Jasc team chime in and offer their help http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
For question 1: One of my favorites to change the colors slightly is to use the color balance under the "adjust" menu. Color balance is the one with the icon that looks like a teeter-totter. Another way to change the color is to select the object, add a new layer and flood fill with your color of choice and then play around with the blend modes to see the different effects. I use that a lot with the "color" blend mode.
#2: I really am out of my element with this question... http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/redface.gif
#3:The only way I can see to do this is to use the deform tool to select the raster object and move it where you want...that will give you handles to rotate or deform it with.
#4:I really don't know the answer to your bevel question because that is one tool I rarely, if ever use.
#5:I think the answer to this one is no. But if you use the "cut" on an object and then choose "paste as new layer" it will center your object in the exact center of your window. I guess you could do that with each one, but that is time consuming and very limited as to placement.
#6: Do you mean vector or raster objects and by linked do mean the layers linked or the objects grouped? If a bunch of vector objects are grouped then use the "object selection" tool and pull out a big enough area to enclose them all and they should all resize together.
Sorry I couldn't answer all of your questions, but be sure to check out the forum and I'm sure you will get some help there.
Jasc User Forum

http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/cool.gifCarolyn

[RAMWolff44]

Hey Carolyn,

Many thanks for the helpful tips. Yup, I signed up for the forum but there is issues logging on and actually getting into the forum to ask the questions. It's been 3 days now, so I'm not sure what the heck is going on there but I would DEARLY LOVE to go there. I heard it from someone else as well that many of the folks that work for Jasc help out and that would be really good!!

Thanks again Carolyn!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Richard http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

http://www.ramwolffsworld.com//Publi..._Prowl_sig.gif

http://www.ramwolffsworld.com/RAMWolffsWorld

[CBarrett]

I have problems posting there with the AOL browser so I switch to my IE browser and don't have any problems. They are supposed to have a newsgroup setup also, I will go back and see if I can find how to get to it. Just a warning, I was just there, since it had been a while since I was there I thought I had better check things out, and there is a little bit of a tiff going on with some members and one of them is the one that I was hoping would help you with vectors. But it's still a nice place to check out...just ignore the trolls http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/eek.gif
Carolyn

[CBarrett]

I haven't tried the newsreader out yet but here are the instructions that I copied/pasted from the Jasc forum on the subject. I hope they will forgive me for plagerizing http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

If you do not already have an account, click the "Sign Up" link at the top of User Forums home page (http://forums.jasc.com/). You will be asked to enter a username and your email address. A password will be emailed to you after you agree to the Terms of Use and click the Signup button. You can use this default password or change it by clicking the "Options" link and selecting "My Profile" from the available options.

We recommend using Outlook Express for best results, but access through many other newsreaders is also possible. To access the User Forums through your newsreader, follow the steps below:

OUTLOOK EXPRESS (v5.0 and later)

1. Open Outlook Express.

2. In the program window, click on Tools, then Accounts...

3. In the Internet Accounts window, click Add, then News...

4. In the Internet Connection Wizard window, enter a display name (this name will be displayed on all your postings and replies). Click Next.

5. Enter your email address, then click Next. Please note that if you chose to hide your email address in your account profile, it will also be hidden on all posts you make using your newsreader.

6. In the News (NNTP) Server field, enter "userforums.jasc.com" (without the quotes). Click in the "My news server requires me to log on" check box (it should display a check mark). Click Next.

7. In the Account name field, enter the User Forums username that you created and in the Password field, type the password that was emailed to you or that you changed. Click Next.

8. Click Finish, and you should be back at the Internet Accounts window. "userforums.jasc.com" should be listed as an account.

9. Click Close. You will be prompted with a window asking if you would like to download the newgroups from the account you just added. Choose Yes.

10. In the Newsgroup Subscriptions window, there will be a list of available groups. These are the same groups as in the web interface.

11. Highlight a group by clicking it and either click Go to (if you want to go to the newsgroup now) or click Subscribe and OK. You can subscribe to as many groups as you want to participate in.

note to the admin....if this post is not appropriate, let me know and I will delete it

[RAMWolff44]

Hi Carolyn,

Well, this is the second time I have tried to set up the newsgroup thing through Outlook Express, I'm a bit of a geek boy so I'm not ignorant when it comes to setting up accounts and such, and it's not taking. I have 4 other newsgroup servers that my line talks to just fine but this one is not going through!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Not sure what to think about Jasc's server setup there!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Thanks for the info though!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Richard http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

http://www.ramwolffsworld.com//Publi..._Prowl_sig.gif

http://www.ramwolffsworld.com/RAMWolffsWorld

[BobShrader]

Richard, I assume by now you have explored the depths of PSP 8. In case you still have not been able to solve your problem with the transparency question you posed (#2), try experimenting with layers and use the blending modes. You can get some fantastic effects.

There was a Sams publication, "Teach Yourself Paint Shop Pro 7 in 24 hours" which had a good chapter on this. You might be able to find it in a bargain bin somewhere. (I haven't looked for the same book for version 8.)

My problem with PSP 8 is that the accompanying documentation is extremely limited, providing little guidance on use of some of the advanced features.

The PSP background eraser is another example of a super feature with only limited guidance on its use.

Bob