Greyscale tif images not displaying correctly

[lgzachos]

I have some 8-bit greyscale images created with Visio that display as 1-color black in PSP X9. Other software displays them correctly, and, in fact, if I read the file into Paint, write to a new tif file, the new tif file displays ok. I can not figure out this problem - and I've attached one of the tif files that displays incorrectly. Any ideas appreciated.

[Ken Berry]

FWIW the image opens correctly in all of my image editing programs except PaintShop Pro (in this case both PSP 2018 and 2019). It opens correctly in Windows Paint, Adobe PhotoShop Elements 14, Ashampoo PhotoCommander 16 and Corel PhotoPaint X7. While showing as solid black in PSP, PSP's Image Information shows it is indeed 8 bit greyscale.

Hopefully one of our experts will be able to explain why PSP is the sole exception, because I can't...

[JoeB]

I suspect that it has something to do with how Visio embeds the color depth information in this file. The original you posted shows the color information as Grey-8 bits per channel. If I open it in PSP and simply save the black image without making any changes, it overwrites the original and now displays properly. But the image information shows the color depth as Index-256 color palette. While the original opens fine in Irfanview, if I save the result with Save Palette for Greyscale images checked, I get the same image information. But if I uncheck that option then save, the image information shows Grey-8 bits per channel and still opens fine in PSP.

So there seems to be something different about the info embedded by Visio in the original image. I notice that the Date Created and Date Modified shown for the image is September, 2008. Perhaps the algorithm that Visio used at that time produced embedded information that PSP hasn't retained the ability to read properly (or maybe never could read it properly).

Otherwise I don't know why PSP can't read the original with the 8 bit per channel image info while other programs can. And don't know if the info I've provided is any help to others who might be trying to figure it out.

[Jean-Luc]

It doesn't show the content on PSP X7 (the older version I own on this PC from Corel's production).
But it opens and shows the content in PSP 8 (Jasc) !
Something is broken since the Jasc days...
It you permit it, I may send the file directly to Corel.

[Ken Berry]

If I open it in PSP and simply save the black image without making any changes, it overwrites the original and now displays properly.

JoeB -- when you open that image in PSP, do you use just "Save" or do you use "Save As" and select TIF as the output format? Do you have to close PSP and reopen the see the corrected image? I ask because I have tried both ways (Save and Save As+TIF) but the image remains pure black in PSP 2019 and PSP 2018...

[lgzachos]

Yes you can send it to Corel. And JoeB you are correct. Although I have the same problem with Visio images, the file I posted came from Amira a few years back. The Visio image was too large to post.

[hartpaul]

It opens correctly in PSP versions 8, X2 and X3.
Seems that X4 started the rot

[JoeB]

If I open it in PSP and simply save the black image without making any changes, it overwrites the original and now displays properly.

JoeB -- when you open that image in PSP, do you use just "Save" or do you use "Save As" and select TIF as the output format? Do you have to close PSP and reopen the see the corrected image? I ask because I have tried both ways (Save and Save As+TIF) but the image remains pure black in PSP 2019 and PSP 2018...

DDIT! WHAT I DESCRIBE BELOW IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I USE IRFANVIEW AND SELECT SAVE IN ORIGINAL FOLDER. I HAVE TO USE SAVE AS IN PSP! USING ONLY SAVE IN PSP JUST SAVES AND DOESN'T CHANGE EITHER THE IMAGE OR THE IMAGE INFORMATION!

I just used Save. Then the dialogue opened asking if I wanted to overwrite the existing file, as well as displaying the Tif save options. That's when I could choose whether or not to untick the specific item I mentioned and get the different save results with the different image info.

[Jean-Luc]

Yes you can send it to Corel.

Thank you.
Done.

[Ken Berry]

I just used Save. Then the dialogue opened asking if I wanted to overwrite the existing file, as well as displaying the Tif save options. That's when I could choose whether or not to untick the specific item I mentioned and get the different save results with the different image info.

In PSP 2019, if I press File > Save, I get no dialogue box as it just saves the existing file (which is what I thought it should do in any case). To get the dialogue box I have to use Save As and select TIF as the format, and then press the Options key. This is what I end up with:

[JoeB]

I just used Save. Then the dialogue opened asking if I wanted to overwrite the existing file, as well as displaying the Tif save options. That's when I could choose whether or not to untick the specific item I mentioned and get the different save results with the different image info.

In PSP 2019, if I press File > Save, I get no dialogue box as it just saves the existing file (which is what I thought it should do in any case). To get the dialogue box I have to use Save As and select TIF as the format, and then press the Options key. This is what I end up with:

SORRY! What I described is what happens when in Irfanview when I select Save in Original Folder! I will correct my reply to you!