[HELP] Lighten/darken brush stopped working correctly

[Botta]

Hello! I am wondering if anyone else has been experiencing this strange issue that I am having.
I believe this error started after the latest update and it's driving me nuts. The problem is that the lighten/darken brush, instead of lightening or darkening the image as expected instead just created a dot that follows the mouse cursor around until I let go of the mouse button.

Here is a video example of what the issue looks like: https://i.imgur.com/hujOdzF.mp4

I have contacted the corel support and they told me to try the following solutions, sadly none of them have worked.
- Hold shift while starting the application to reset it to default.
- Uninstall and reinstall the application
- clear c:\temp | rename all registry keys for corel | rename the appdata folder for corel | restart PC

Please, if someone else has experienced this and solved it speak up, I am becoming desperate since I use this tool all the time and now it's been rendered completely useless.



*******UPDATE 2019-11-05*******
I am happy that I am not alone in this since I had huge trouble finding anything about it online.
I have been having a long discussion with corel support (based in india) and even had one of their representatives remote control my PC in an attempt to fix the issue. To my great displeasure, even though the tool is clearly broken the support representative kept saying that the tool was working fine, despite me showing him several examples of it not functioning properly. The representative then proceeded to basically click around the application, he used the brush tool a few times, then the change to target tool without actually doing anything. I do not have much confidence that Corel will help us fix this error.

Here is a full transcript of the chat I had with the support representative during the remote session if you want to read it: https://pastebin.com/w42x9ikg

[hartpaul]

Only way I could get close to what you are experiencing was to set the Hardness to 100 and Step to 30 for a 245 pixel brush and image that was 1333 x 2000 pixels.
Can you see if it improves by changing the hardness to about 10 and Step to about 10 and see if that makes any difference.

[Jean-Luc]

Please, if someone else has experienced this and solved it speak up,

Doy you have a Pattern or a Texture active?

[Neale Oxley]

I'm having the same problem with the upgrade to PSP Pro 2020 with the lighten/darken brush. I've reverted back to 2019 to get effects I need. Can Corel please fix this. I now wish I NEVER updated my program as I use this feature all the time. Been using PSP since it was freeware and expect that this issue be resolved, now knowing that others are experiencing the same FAULT. How do I roll-back the upgrade so I can use this feature again?

[ehume]

You don't roll back an "upgrade." A new version is a new version. The old version will still work. You can use older and newer versions side by side. So you can use your PSP 2019 freely. You will simply have to forego whatever is in PSP 2020.

[Neale Oxley]

I had 2020 working with the lighten/Darien feature working. Then there was an update to 2020 (not upgrade) and it was not working as was the others reporting this problem. I want the update rolled back to regain full functionality of this feature. I've paid good money and want this feature fixed. Time for the programmers to get to work. Why should I have to revert back to a previous version? That's rediculous. Just fix it!

[JoeB]

If it's only the new update to the program you don't want, I'm afraid that the only way to roll it back is to completely uninstall the program and then re-install your original installation files and don't bother adding the update. You can save your existing workspace settings by copying that file to another location like your desktop and then placing it back in its proper folder when you reinstall the program. However, you will have to reset your File Locations again.

[Neale Oxley]

Wouldn't it be better if they just fix the problem with a new update? I'll have to speak with Corel themselves as this is getting me nowhere.

[JoeB]

Wouldn't it be better if they just fix the problem with a new update? I'll have to speak with Corel themselves as this is getting me nowhere.

Nice to see overly optimistic people in this world!! Please let us know what they say when you get to speak to them.

[ehume]

Wouldn't it be better if they just fix the problem with a new update? I'll have to speak with Corel themselves as this is getting me nowhere.

Based on my prior experience and the experience of others, I would say calling Corel is a fruitless endeavor. Instead, write to them. You can reach Corel's technical support by writing an email message. I am trying it now with my ctrl-p issue. I'll let you know how it goes. Already I have encountered a more positive response than I ran into when I called them on the phone.

[patara]

Please, if someone else has experienced this and solved it speak up, I am becoming desperate since I use this tool all the time and now it's been rendered completely useless.

I get the same result with the tool in the latest version.
I don't know when it started because I normally wouldn't use the Lighten/Darken brush to dodge and burn.

As a workaround perhaps you could try the method I use for dodge and burn.
I make a new layer above the working image and fill with 50% grey and set to Overlay Mode.
Setting to Overlay makes the grey invisible.
I then use a black or white or grey brush with lowered opacity to paint on the dodge and burn in those areas where I want lightness and darkness.
I find this a better method as it is non destructive and easy to change by painting over with 50% grey.

[ehume]

Another workaround is to use the prior version until they fix this one. In the interim, might I suggest filing a complaint with Tech Support so the devs are alerted to the problem?

[Botta]

*******UPDATE*******
I am happy that I am not alone in this since I had huge trouble finding anything about it online.
I have been having a long discussion with corel support (based in india) and even had one of their representatives remote control my PC in an attempt to fix the issue. To my great displeasure, even though the tool is clearly broken the support representative kept saying that the tool was working fine, despite me showing him several examples of it not functioning properly. The representative then proceeded to basically click around the application, he used the brush tool a few times, then the change to target tool without actually doing anything. I do not have much confidence that Corel will help us fix this error.

Here is a full transcript of the chat I had with the support representative during the remote session if you want to read it: https://pastebin.com/w42x9ikg

[JoeB]

Exactly what I was implying would happen with my first reply to the OP in this thread!

[Botta]

Exactly what I was implying would happen with my first reply to the OP in this thread!

Yes you were totally correct. I have given up on corel support helping me solve this issue since they still insist the tool works as it should. It simply seems like they don't know how their own program is supposed to function. It's all very disappointing.

I get the same result with the tool in the latest version.
I don't know when it started because I normally wouldn't use the Lighten/Darken brush to dodge and burn.

As a workaround perhaps you could try the method I use for dodge and burn.
I make a new layer above the working image and fill with 50% grey and set to Overlay Mode.
Setting to Overlay makes the grey invisible.
I then use a black or white or grey brush with lowered opacity to paint on the dodge and burn in those areas where I want lightness and darkness.
I find this a better method as it is non destructive and easy to change by painting over with 50% grey.

I tried this and I think the results are really good, thank you very much for the suggestion. Even if this is a workaround it's still a more valid solution than the actual support offered me.