Erase tool not working ...

[ilgk48]

... yes, it's an old question.
Searching for it, I've found an old topic in which:

In the Preferences under the "Display/Caching" tab (I don't know how it's named in the English version) you can check/uncheck an option to use your "Workspace drive" or something.
If you uncheck it and restart PSP, the eraser stops working. If you check it again and restart, it works again.

Well, I tried what above but nothing happened.

But If I do "Promote background layer" the Eraser Tool works as in figure:

Immagine 2021-03-08 114811.png (98.36 KiB) Viewed 2829 times

To say the truth I was expecting a behaviour like the one of the old Paint Shop Pro 7 ... . Confused ...

Anyway, please, why do I have to set "Promote to layer" ? I'm curious.
Thank yoy

[migf1]

Hello,

I think you mean "Promote Background Layer".

You have to do it just once, it adds an alpha-channel to the image (so the eraser knows what to show beneath the erased parts, which in this case will be full transparency).

Actually the 1st time you try to erase on an image with no alpha channel, it seemingly does nothing. But if you try again, it works. After the 1st attempt to erase something, it performs a "Promote Background Layer" instead, so subsequent erasing actions work.

PS. If you start with an image that already has an alpha channel, like a PNG with something on a transparent background, the "Promote Background Layer" should not be available at all (cause there is an alpha channel already present in the image).

[ilgk48]

Yessss, thank you, I mean just Promote Background Layer (I wrote without checking the exact caption in the menu ... sorry).
A note: my image is a Jpeg.
... but even if I try and try starting the Eraser, in my case nothing happens unless I set ""Promote Background Layer" manually.

All the same occurs trying to use Background Erase Tool: Promote Background Layer must be forced manually.

Looking at Help of PSP2019 I do not find any mention for "Promote Background Layer" . Frustrating ...

Thank you.

[Forriner]

Have you checked that File/Preferences/General program preferences/Auto action/Promotes background layer to full layer is NOT set to Never? Always or Prompt should work correctly.

[ilgk48]

OK !!! Thank you.

This was the problem. But honestly, let me say, it is impossible to deduce such a thing from the Help of PSP,.
After your hint I think that the configuration of PSP is even more difficult than the use of PSP itself.
There is an italian expression that in this case explains very well my angry thought ... but never mind.
Anyway, Corel programmers should be damned to use their own the software that they all have designed.

[migf1]

Actually adding manually the alpha channel in images that don't come with one (like .jpg) is pretty common. Photoshop and Gimp for example work in a similar way (in Ps such images appear with a Lock icon next to their layer when loaded into the program). The only difference is that in those 2 programs, when you try to erase they use the color currently set as the background in the Color Picker. In Ps, you can add the alpha channel by clicking that lock icon next to the layer, while in Gimp there is a menu command.

I think very old versions of PSP were also using the background color, but I'm not sure. in any case, I was not aware of the special setting mentioned by Forriner (thanks for that!).

[ilgk48]

I think very old versions of PSP were also using the background color, but I'm not sure. in any case, I was not aware of the special setting mentioned by Forriner (thanks for that!).

Yes, you are right. I've just tried with my old Paint Shop Pro 7 and it is so: when erasing, it uses the background or the foreground color depending on the use of the left or right click.

[migf1]

Uh huh
My old memory still serves me well then (occasionally lol)

[PaulMoore+++]

I love my PaintShopPro but am demented that my ERASER TOOL has simply stopped working.

How is it possible that a crucial tool can simply (apparently randomly) give up?

And why is the solution like the Quest for The Holy Grail?

I am afraid to uninstall PSP as I am not sure how to reinstall it.

HELP!!!!

[Ken Berry]

Welcome to the forum.

I am wondering, though, whether your question relates to the main theme of this particular thread, or whether you used this thread simply because of its title. You don't say, for instance, that you have the problem only when you try to promote a background layer, or whether it happens more generally. I get the impression it is more likely the latter.

In that case, then, I wonder if you have tried resetting PSP. To do so, hold down the Shift key when you click on the desktop icon to open PSP. You will be asked if you want to reset the program. Click OK. Make sure, though, to first save any customizations you have made. Otherwise they will be lost in the reset but can be reopened after it.