REJ Loc: Ontario Canada

Hi All I can't believe that I am the only person that has this problem. When using the select tools they seem to disappear into the background, its hard enough trying to trace an outline with a mouse, not being able to see the tool you are using makes it that much harder. Is there any way to change the shape or color of the tool. TK's in advance. REJ

EstherP

Not sure what you mean by "disappear into the background".
The lasso tool, for example, is black on light backgrounds and white on dark backgrounds. Same for the line it draws.
Could you explain a bit more, or even post a screenshot?

Have you tried re-setting the tools? In the toolbin along the bottom of the PSE screen, on the right-hand side, look for a tiny icon made up of three little lines. Click on it to reset.

Also have a look here:
http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/using/tools.html

EstherP

REJ Loc: Ontario Canada

Hi EstherP I don't know how to present my question any clearer, the lasso tool is approximately 1/4 in diameter with a tiny nib on the bottom side and as you say its white on black and black on white. But when I press the left mouse button to trace an out line the lasso tool fades into the background and does not reappear untill I release the left mouse button and then the trace that I drew is clear but usually not where I wanted it. This happens on my computer and my setup, I don't know about other setups. Into the background my be a bad choice of words. The tool looses about 90% of its outline color and is very hard to see that small point on the bottom side.

phoneguy55 Loc: upstate NY

I have read about a bug regarding use of the lasso selection tool in various versions of Elements, and some users say that if they hold down the SHIFT key, while making a lasso selection, that it seems to work correctly. I haven't had this happen myself.

Just an FYI about something I read.

Hope it works.

Ziza Loc: USA

Oh! No! In PSE11, Adobe was supposed to have fixed the "Jumpy" Lasso tool syndrome, which has afflicted this tool since at least PSE9. And I even reported it had been fixed.

I believe that's what you are experiencing with the Lasso Tool.

You activate the Lasso tool and begin making your selection.
In the middle of the selection process, the Lasso tool does a slight jump (jerk?) and the marching ants disappear.
You continue making your selection and eventually the marching ants will reappear when you complete your selection.
Unfortunately, the selection you end up with is not the one you had in mind.

I first experienced this issue (and reported it) in PSE10 running on Windows 7. I tried resetting the Lasso tool, resetting all tools, restoring PSE Preferences file to its default, and running PSE10 as an Administrator. Nothing worked!!! Finally, I followed the steps below. Problem solved! The Lasso Tool stopped misbehaving.

1. Go to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11\ . . . (On a 64-bit OS -- C:\Program Files (x86)\ . . .)
2. Locate the PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe file.
3. Right-click on it and select Properties.
4. In the dialog box that opens up, go to the Compatibiliy tab.
5. Under the Compatibility tab, select Run this program in compatibility mode for.
6. Next, select your OS from the drop-down menu in the box.
7. Click on the Apply and the OK buttons.

EstherP

No wonder the question was not clear to me - I have never had anything like this happen.
REJ, I really hope that this is what you're experiencing and that Ziza's instructions will fix it!
And Ziza: Thank you!
EstherP

REJ Loc: Ontario Canada

I went through steps 1-7 No change. I have a photo here with large grey area. I select a lasso tool goto the grey area, The tool shows up as black circle with a nib on the bottom, nice and black. The moment I depress the left mouse button the lasso fades by at least 80 to 90%, the tool and the marching ants become very hard to see even on a grey background. Would one of you kind people try the same thing and let me know if that is normal or that I have a dud pse11. TK's REJ

Ziza Loc: USA

I tried to replicate this situation. I opened a few images which had a large grey area. I activated the Lasso Tool and began making selections in different parts of the grey area. Guess what? I encountered the same problem you are describing. Interestingly enough, this didn't occur when I made a selection in a white- or black-colored area (or any other color). The grey area in my images had different shades of grey. The problem surfaced in the areas with a light shade of grey.

I am going out on a limb here because I don't have enough evidence, but I believe you may have discovered a new problem with the Lasso tool. It is too early to declare it a "bug" (officially). I need to do further troubleshooting, but here is what I have so far.

1. I tested the Lasso tool and the same images in PSE7 and PSE10. No such a problem. I can't test other PSE versions, because I don't have them on my computers any longer.
2. I tested the Lasso tool in PSE11 installed on my desktop and on my laptop. The problem was present in both.
3. So far this problem seems to occur when the area to be selected involves the gray color.
4. This problem is NOT the same one described as a "Jumpy" Lasso tool syndrome. This is definitely something new.

I would highly recommend you did the following -- post in the Adobe Forums/Photoshop Elements. They may be aware of this problem already and they may have a workaround for it. If they think this is definitely a bug, they will recommend submitting a report to Adobe.

http://forums.adobe.com/community/photoshop_elements

I am going to check around to see if someone else has experienced this problem or if someone has made a report. If I learn something, I will post back.

Ansel Rosewater

I've been having exactly the same problem... but only with the lasso. I have found that the icon doesn't disapear, but the line does. While the line disapears, the effect doesn't, so when I then copy and paste the selected area, it transfers correctly.

It's not too much of a problem because I've come to select a wide area rather than closely mark the object I'm copying. After pasteing, I erase what I don't want anyway. It wasn't always this way... it just started a few months ago ?????

REJ Loc: Ontario Canada

Hi Ziza I tried to post this to the url you listed but no joy. if you find out anything new will you let me know. TK's

REJ Loc: Ontario Canada

Hi Ziza I tried to post this to the url you listed but no joy. if you find out anything new will you let me know. TK's

REJ Loc: Ontario Canada

Sorry for the double post finger slipped.

Ziza Loc: USA

Hi REJ,

You need to register with an Adobe ID to be able to post in the Adobe Forums. Here are the instructions how to go about it.

http://forums.adobe.com/docs/DOC-2322

I am still looking into this problem with the Lasso tool. I tried running PSE11 as an Administrator. It made no difference; the problem persisted. Then, I noticed this remark by Ansel Rosewater:


So, I began looking into the possibility of a corrupted PSE Preferences file. I restored this file to its default. It didn't help. To be honest with you, I didn't think it would. We now have three people reporting the same problem.

I am now looking into this possibility. When Adobe fixed the "Jumping" Lasso tool, inadvertently another problem was introduced. Now we have a "Disappearing" Lasso tool (one which fades into the background). Things like this can happen and do happen. For example, when Adobe redesigned the interface in PSE11, it created a problem with the Type tool. I am hoping this will be fixed in the next version of PSE.

sportyman140 Loc: Juliette, GA

Hey thank you very much It helped me.

REJ Loc: Ontario Canada

Hi Ziza My computer is runing Windows 7 and I find no matter what color I place the lasso tool on there is some reaction (fading) moreso on light colors ie green, grey etc.

Aside to sportyman140 would you mind listing what helped you, it might also help me. TK's REJ