Paintshop Pro X6 help file is not up to date?

[Mark Swanson]

Ok, I have this program and am learning to use it so I have a little way to go yet. I was trying to learn how to use Gradients, and decided to consult the Help file for instruction. Well, the help files' info doesn't match the program's features, as far as I can tell...the things it is telling me to do don't make any sense as they reference features that are not there. I know this program is new and they cleaned up the interface and changed a few things. Could it be that the help file is not up to date, and is for a previous version?

[LeviFiction]

As far as I can tell Gradient editing has not changed in quite a while. And at first glance I'm not finding any issues so far.

What areas specifically are you having trouble with?

I have an old video I recorded with version X2 (or was it X3?) does this help at all? - http://youtu.be/3mBYIND-Dhg

[Ken Berry]

FWIW, just a couple of days ago I was playing around with gradients in X6 and had to look up the Help files on some specific, and I admit pretty basic, points. But from what I could see, the basic things were all there on screen and easy to access after reading the help files...

As Levi Fiction has already said, what specifically are you finding problems with?

[Mark Swanson]

Thanks for your help folks. Ok, I have two computers running this software, a 32 bit Vista machine and a 64 bit with 8.1.
I am on the Vista 32 bit now, and when I click for the help file it gives me a "Web Works Fail!" message. Later tonight I can do a cut-and paste from the help file when I can get to the 64 bit machine, which finds the help file easily. I don't why it is missing on the 32 bit Vista!
Right now, I am wanting to use one or some of the preset Gradient patterns. I can open the Material Properties box. I can select "Gradient" from there, and I can click the "Edit" button and see the presets. The Help file tells me to select one, and then click "OK" but there is no Ok box to click. It also mentions to click on some box to see "thumbnails" of all the available gradients. I can click "save as" and then call the file something else and it will become active then. Why can't I use a preset without having to re-name it and save yet another file? The help file doesn't seem right either.
thank you!

[LeviFiction]

I think I see the problem.

If you watch the video I posted you'll see it. When you hit "Edit" it takes you to the gradient editor. The gradient editor is where you edit, create, or delete available gradients. Nothing else. You then either save your changes or cancel.

The materials dialog box is where you select the gradient to use in your project. So when you open up the color picker, and then click on the gradient tab. That's it, don't go any further.

The big box that shows the current gradient, when you click on that it'll open up a preview area where you can view thumbnails of all of the available gradients just like it says in the help files. It's in this area that the help files are telling you to select a gradient and then hit "OK." Not in the gradient editor.

[Mark Swanson]

I have it figured out now, thank you. That's a good video, it helped me a whole bunch. The little spot to click and make the thumbnails appear is almost invisible in X6!

[hartpaul]

This has been a common problem with all of the PSP.
The little side arrow for many presets Gradients, Patterns, Textures almost blends into the color of the box as if they are trying to make it blend in when they should be making it very obvious as it is an important part.

[LindaSue]

I never noticed the nearly invisible drop-down arrows because I normally just click on the swatch to open the list. I see what you mean and I think there's something not right about it. I use the light workspace color and the little arrow is black. But, if I switch to the dark workspace scheme, the arrow becomes pale gray and almost invisible as if the arrow isn't active (greyed out).

Here's how it appears in the light workspace:

Dropdown light workspace.jpg (12.48 KiB) Viewed 4869 times

And here is how it appears in the dark workspace:

Dropdown dark workspace.jpg (11.83 KiB) Viewed 4869 times

Other than the drop-down arrow, the dialog box looks identical in both workspace color schemes. For comparison, this is how it looks in PSP8:

Dropdown in PSP8.jpg (6.65 KiB) Viewed 4869 times