PSPx4 frustrations

[brucet]

Hi I'm new to this board out of desperation trying to get x4 to work.

I've installed x4 on 2 computers. One a laptop and one a desktop. Both have the same specs. 64 bit win7 etc. Both have the same problems.
I've use Corel for many years. Have just recenlty moved from x2 to x3 with no issues at all. (Have both on 4 computers. I travel a lot and have travel laptops and some overseas in 'home' bases). Now along comes x4. Yippeee. NOT.

First others have told me to try holding down the Shift key. Does nothing. Am I missing something?

My main issue is with saved files.
(I have followed this work flow for many hundreds of photos on x2 and x3).
Load a 90meg 16bit tiff.
Save as a psp file.
Then work on the file. including as many as 6-8 layers.
I save on a regular basis.

Now x4 either hangs up during about the 8-10th save.
OR if I close the files and come back to it later it simply won't load.
It will try to load and then gets bogged down. ctr/alt/del is the only solution.

In Manager I can find the file. It sees it but wont load it. I even see the thumbnail ok.
(I've tried loading in x2 and x3. It wont rec the file. I have saved a file in x4 as a PSP12 file and loaded it into x2 and x3 ok. But I lose my layers).

So where to start?

HELP.

Thanks.

[brucet]

Just an update.
I unistalled x4 and deleted the downloaded file.
I then downloaded the file again from Corel. (Not easy with a slow connection. Took 80 minutes).
Then done a complete new install.
So far the program has run as it should. I have had only one unread file. But that could well be caused by any other issue.

So it seems the problem was with a bad download file!
Maybe!

Anway I will keep testing.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Glad you seem to have fixed the issue, and apologies in the delay in replying to you.

Maybe when you said “Both have the Same Problem” should probably have run bells.

Good luck

[el48tel]

This is an intermittent problem - I've suffered with it too - re-load/re-install achieved nothing - found it best to save often; delete superfluous layers and intermediate working stuff; deal with each image separately (don't try to do more than one job at a time); save a back-up as a PSD (seems to read those OK and you can always go to PSE to get you out of trouble); close down PSP and make a coffee regularly since it seems unable to release used memory; and keep all your digits crossed if the image is a big one!!!!

Terry

[brucet]

OK I take all it back.

After an hour or two of work and saving and opening files ,PSPx4 has once again crashed on me and will not open the file I've been working on.

I work with several layers. If I save as PSP12 then I can reopen the file. But without the layers. But it defeats the point of having layers. Besides I never know when it's about to crash on me. (I can go to 'Manager' and see the file. Open it. I can then resave the file. But if I then go straight to 'Edit', x4 once again locks up. But if I do the resave, with a new name, and then change to another file in 'Manager', then go to 'Edit', close the file, I can then open the resaved file. Albeit without the layers).

After 30 years in the computer industry and many years using Corel/PSP products this would be the most annoying problem I have ever had.

Boy Photoshop is looking attractive!

[brucet]

An update!!!

I would like someone to try something for me and see if they get the same results.

I have been trying to figure out my problem. (Maybe Corels problem).

Read the above posts for full details.

Now I have discovered something.
I start with a tiff file.
Load and save as a PSP file.
Then I work on the PSP file.
I have discovered that anytime I add an, Image/ 'Picture Frame' to the file, and then save, close the file, and then try to reload the file. The file will refuse to reload.
(It must be resaved as a PSP file. If I save the file, including 'Picture Frame' as a tiff then all is well).
Of course with PSP the frame is a seperate layer. But with a tiff there are no layers.
It's important to my work that the 'Picture Frame' is a seperate layer.

Is it a problem with PSPx4 or is it in my system?

Thanks.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Bruce

I have just run through the process in using a tiff + frame as you describe and have no problems in saving and opening the PSP file.

I’m relatively new to PSP I notice there are two options PSPIMAGE and PSP Animation
Which one did you use and what’s the difference?

PS working on Vista PC.

[el48tel]

An update!!!

I would like someone to try something for me and see if they get the same results.

I have been trying to figure out my problem. (Maybe Corels problem).

Read the above posts for full details.

Now I have discovered something.
I start with a tiff file.
Load and save as a PSP file.
Then I work on the PSP file.
I have discovered that anytime I add an, Image/ 'Picture Frame' to the file, and then save, close the file, and then try to reload the file. The file will refuse to reload.
(It must be resaved as a PSP file. If I save the file, including 'Picture Frame' as a tiff then all is well).
Of course with PSP the frame is a seperate layer. But with a tiff there are no layers.
It's important to my work that the 'Picture Frame' is a seperate layer.

Is it a problem with PSPx4 or is it in my system?

Thanks.

the layered images I had the most problem with contained frames
I'll report it again!

Terry

just been back and can't get it to fail even with an enormous file - so it is intermittent

[Kathy_9]

snip. . .
I’m relatively new to PSP I notice there are two options PSPIMAGE and PSP Animation
Which one did you use and what’s the difference?

PS working on Vista PC.

PSPIMAGE is the PSP native file type (preserves layers) and PSP Animation is the file type that you would use when you want to save an image with multiple frames (layers) and open in Jasc Animation Shop.

[brucet]

I've been running more tests and everytime I save a PSPImage file with a frame it won't reload.
This happens on both my computers.

I have also asked the same question over at DPReview. A number of folks are getting the same problem.

It seems like a Frames issue as I have no other problems.

Thanks.

[Kathy_9]

I just opened a jpeg image, duplicated it and added a picture frame (so I now have three layers) and saved it as a pspimage file and closed the image from the workspace. I then re-opened the image I had just saved as a pspimage and didn't encounter any issues.

[brucet]

Just to add a further complication!!!

On my computer I have many 'older' photos, done with x3, with multiple layers. Including a Frame layer. These photos/files load and retain the layers ok. (6 layers including the Frame layer).
x4 loads these 'older' x3 based photos into x4 ok. They save ok. They reopen ok. I can modify them. Save and reopen all ok. They do everything they should do. If I then go and open the original tiff that the 'old' photo was based on and go through the same work flow. Save and then try to reopen I get the lockup.

So the problem is with x4 saving and loading a new file with a frame layer in it.

Thanks.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Bruce
I know this is a long shot, but can you e-mail one of your Tiff files
I don’t think anyone has been able to replicate your problem which would suggest its your system rather than the program.
I doubt using your image files will cause any problems, but a can try.

view my quick guide below for my e-mail address.

[el48tel]

Trevor
during the beta testing Corel were made aware of the problem of some TIFFs of some sizes on some systems
Terry

[Trevor Andrew]

Thanks Terry for that info, does that mean Corel are gonna fix the problem?

I am aware of some programs not supporting Tiff saved with transparency, but that’s about all I know.

Guess Brucet is in a bit of a pickle, till a fix is done.
I suppose batch convert is on the cards.


Still willing to give your images a run.