Where is 'Deformation' tool in PSP 2018?

[terrypin]

Two questions, sort of asssociated.

Background: I'm pasting in various images in PSP 8 and positioning and resizing each of these new layers to make a collage. When I try to change the priority of a layer by dragging it up or down in the list, I'm frustrated 90% of the time because I get the red icon and cannot proceed. Just occasionally, after fiddling around somewhat blindly, I do succeed! I think the work around is to first save the file before attempting to drag layers, but would appreciate advice please..

Anyway, exasperated, I then re-opened the file in PSP 2018, pasted in a new image as a new layer and went to select the Deform tool to do my resizing, rotating and moving, etc. But I'm darned if I can find it!


Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[flagpole]

This what you're looking for?

Or it could be that thhe same thing can be achieved by selecting what you want then using the 'pick tool' (the arrow above the tool you've highlighted)

try holding Ctrl or Shift too.

[terrypin]

Thanks, appreciate the fast reply.

Mesh & Warp don't appear to allow me to drag to resize and rotate. And I did not have a Pick tool!


I looked in Quick Customize (first time I've opened that) and, as I expected, Pick was enabled. But I tried disabling it, closing, returning and re-enabling - and happily that got me the tool! And it does those simple editing operations.

Still like to continue in my comfortable PSP 8 though, so would like to know if there's a fix for that layer-prioritising problem/bug. Subsequent tests seem to confirm that I can change priority providing I save the file directly beforehand, but that's irritating.

[flagpole]

It's under the move tool. The cross made of arrows. You need to click the little black down arrow next to the move tool inorder to expose it.

I don't know what you mean about the layer priority bug. As far as I can tell this works as expected. Saving or no.

[JoeB]

@terrypin,

As was mentioned, the Pick tool is bundled with the Move tool.

To get comfortable with PSP2018 you first have to familiarize yourself with it. The best way to do that - with any program - is to explore every item of it. In the case of PSP, and with an image open, click all of the little down arrows you see beside various tools to open the sub-menu that will show you every other tool bundled with the tool that is presently showing an icon. There are also some down arrows beside various options in the Tool Options ribbon. Also click any little arrows that point left or right that you might see on the Tool Options ribbon for the various tools, because some options might be hidden because there isn't enough room to show all of the options a particular tool might have.

PSP2018 contains all of the tools, and more, that were available in PSP8, although some of them (like the Deform tool which is now the Pick tool) might have been renamed, moved to a different place, and perhaps have slightly different properties/options when using them.

[Jean-Luc]

I get the red icon and cannot proceed.

Background layer cannot be moved.
If you want move it in the Layers Palette, Promote the Background Layer (right-click on it).

[terrypin]

Jean-Luc: The problem is not with the background layer. As I said, no layers can be moved - unless I save the file first.

Anyone with PSP 8 able to reproduce?

[terrypin]

It's under the move tool. The cross made of arrows. You need to click the little black down arrow next to the move tool inorder to expose it.

I don't know what you mean about the layer priority bug. As far as I can tell this works as expected. Saving or no.

In PSP 8?

[Jean-Luc]

Anyone with PSP 8 able to reproduce?

I have PSP 8 (Jasc) installed.
No problem on my side for moving layers inside the Layers Palette with a file not saved.
What are your exact steps ?

[Jean-Luc]

I see on your screen capture you have 28 layers.
It is perhaps a memory problem. Not on your side (you have enough RAM) but PSP 8 is perhaps limited. How many memory occupies PSP 8 with the 28 layers before to save the file ? See TaskManager...

[terrypin]

Exact steps:
With any layer selected and the Deformation tool active I move the layer up or down the list but, as reported in my opening post, it is accompanied by the 'no entry/not allowed' sign. And the layer does not move. (I tried both a screenshot and a video but the icon does not get included.)

Memory
Could well be. I just tried a fresh file, pasted in two images as new layers, and I was able to reverse their order OK.

I've just made a copy of my 28 layer file and tomorrow I will delete successively layers, testing for the issue. If you want to try it in PSP 8 here's the file:

Hmm, using Image for some reason I get the 'It was not possible to determine the size...' message. So here's a link instead:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fwp3rpmpj35sf ... mage?raw=1

[Jean-Luc]

If you want to try it in PSP 8 here's the file:

I have moved all the layers to their original place without problem :

PSP8 29 layers.png (8.83 KiB) Viewed 2554 times

I cannot reproduce your defect...
I observed the memory charge but all is normal.
I don't know what produces your problem...

[hartpaul]

Well that was odd.
I took your image and loaded it into PSP 8 . No problems in moving any layers above or below another layer.

I loaded another image and I resized it to a smaller size and sharpened it and then drag its thumb over onto the collage image (effectively a copy and paste). I then used the deform tool and made it a bit smaller and then tried to change its layer position and received the circle with the bar across it - it was black by the way not red.

I discovered that while the Deform tool was active on that layer for the first time it would not allow that layer to be moved - move another layer and it becomes 'unlocked' change to another tool (pan) and back to the Deform tool and again it is 'unlocked'. Reuse the Deform tool on that image and again it becomes 'locked'

[ehume]

BTW -- a web link for PSP 8.10 is here: http://www.oldversion.com/windows/paint-shop-pro-8-10 .

[terrypin]

@Jean-Luc: That must be because you didn't edit first. Even a simple move or resize with the D tool causes the problem. I too did not edit when I did that test yesterday with only two layers, which is why I was leaning towards your suggestion about memory.