PSP 2019 Crop tool increases color depth from 2 to 8 bits

[Old Cutter John]

I see a new behavior of the Crop tool in the 2019 version of PaintShop Pro, and it's disrupting my customary workflow. What's happening is that if I so much as SELECT the crop tool while a 2-color image is open, the color depth is instantly increased from two bits to eight. This happens without warning even if I've gone through File —> Preferences —> General Program Preferences —> Auto-Action and selected "Never" on the line labeled "Converts image to RGB - 8 bits/channel"; and it happens even if the Enhance Photo options of the Crop tool were turned off before the Crop tool was selected and remained turned off throughout. I see it as a bug that needs to be fixed by Corel, but if anyone knows how to how to make the tool work correctly without that level of intervention, I'd appreciate the advice.

[ehume]

I saved and reopened a 2-color image in PSP 2018. When I invoke the Crop tool the image remains 2-color. Must be a regression in PSP 2019.

[Old Cutter John]

Must be a regression in PSP 2019.

Indeed it is! The PSP 2018 (and earlier) behavior was kind of integrated into my established workflow practices, which is why I'm squawking.

[hartpaul]

I can also confirm that difference between 2018 and 2019. So if others can also confirm then put it down as a bug.
So far only 2 reports.

[tlveik]

Don't have 2018 but I see the same thing in 2019. Just tried it.
Turned off the auto 8 bit conversion.
Enhance Photo options of the Crop tool was turned off previously.
Bit depth gets changed from 2 color to 8 bit when selecting the crop tool.

[JoeB]

So given the reports in the posts above, Corel managed to make the Crop tool even more useless and crappy than we actually have found it to be since the 2018 implementation. Can they screw it up even more do you think? I would like to know what programmer they have in charge of the crop tool changes and implementation so that we can complain to Corel about the specific person or team responsible for this continued degradation of the crop tool. This is getting to be beyond frustration.

[Old Cutter John]

So given the reports in the posts above, Corel managed to make the Crop tool even more useless and crappy than we actually have found it to be since the 2018 implementation. Can they screw it up even more do you think? I would like to know what programmer they have in charge of the crop tool changes and implementation so that we can complain to Corel about the specific person or team responsible for this continued degradation of the crop tool. This is getting to be beyond frustration.

Yeah, the new snap-to-center is particularly frustrating when trying to fine-tune the corner of a crop; but if we complain about that, we'll be told that it's working as redesigned, though we probably won't be told why it was redesigned that way, because there's no sense to it and no way to justify it.

[ehume]

So given the reports in the posts above, Corel managed to make the Crop tool even more useless and crappy than we actually have found it to be since the 2018 implementation. Can they screw it up even more do you think? I would like to know what programmer they have in charge of the crop tool changes and implementation so that we can complain to Corel about the specific person or team responsible for this continued degradation of the crop tool. This is getting to be beyond frustration.

Yeah, the new snap-to-center is particularly frustrating when trying to fine-tune the corner of a crop; but if we complain about that, we'll be told that it's working as redesigned, though we probably won't be told why it was redesigned that way, because there's no sense to it and no way to justify it.

Too bad there's no "Thanks" or "Life" button. I wish there was an "Amen, Brother!" button.

As it is, we have three issues with the Crop tool:

1. The image rotates, rather than the Crop area. Why not make doing it old-style an option?

2. The new snap-to-center feature can be frustrating, especially when trying to fine-tune the corner of a crop. Why not make doing it old-style an option?

3. The automatic increase of color depth is a bug that needs to be addressed.

[calif909]

I have the same problem with the crop tool, and the system crashes regularly and is buggy and slow. My system is an i7-8750H, 32 GB Ram, SSD...this program should fly. I have no problems with Lightroom but like to use PSP2019 for everyday fast editing. Hope the updates fixes it or it's off to the trash for PSP...arrrgh

[Simone Corel UK]

@ Old Cutter John

This issue is already logged and looked into it.

Current workaround is to change it manually to a 2-bit image again.

[JoeB]

@ Old Cutter John

This issue is already logged and looked into it.

Current workaround is to change it manually to a 2-bit image again.

While you're here, can you tell us if Corel is planning to fix ALL of the issues with the new crop tool, of which there have been multitudinous complaints?? Or at least provide the option to use the legacy crop tool from a couple of versions ago? It's ridiculous how bad the new implementation is!

[Old Cutter John]

I got a definitive answer from a Corel support over the signature "Angel." I quote verbatim: "The crop tool behaves normal and you may decrease the bit rate again." Stonewalling as a support strategy. Time to tackle the Photoshop learning curve!

[JoeB]

I got a definitive answer from a Corel support over the signature "Angel." I quote verbatim: "The crop tool behaves normal and you may decrease the bit rate again." Stonewalling as a support strategy. Time to tackle the Photoshop learning curve!

I think most of us have become used to the fact that the term "Corel support" is an oxymoron.