Expand Selection

[roadroamer]

To make an outline around an object, I usually use the "expand selection" feature. This is usually with hand drawn objects, not small vector objects. When I use this function, usually around 50-100 pixels, the program takes 10, 20, 30 minutes to finish the action. As I type this, it's still running in the background. Is there another way to make an outline around an object that is less labor intensive and won't take as long?
Thanks for your help!

[Jean-Luc]

I tested Selections/Modify/Expand of 100 pixels and it takes a few seconds.
Is your image/selection big?

I suggest you do a factory reset:
https://forum.corel.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=67616

[roadroamer]

The image I usually use is around 4500x4500. The size of the object within the image is usually pretty large, half of the size of the image. Mine has taken a long time to process on two different computers with two different versions of Paint Shop Pro (I have 2020 right now). I just did a factory reset of the program a couple of months ago for another problem, but will try again later today after I close my files.

[hartpaul]

I can confirm that doing a Selection > Modify > Expand eg 70 pixels does take a very long time to do. It is a further problem that as you start to move the slider , PSP tries to do the expansion in real time so that to do the operation at 70 pixels , it stopped any slider movement as it operated at 20, pixels , then 30 pixels , then after that took so long to respond that I closed PSP via Task Manager. Needs an apply button for larger images.
Although the moral should be , don't try expanding a selection on a large image.

[ConalO]

I agree that there seems to be an issue with the expand selection command around a vector object in PSP 21 Ult. Below is at least one workaround if you need to do this prior to possibly Corel fixing this.

New image (I used 4500x4500)
I drew a vector symmetric shape about half the size of the image. This created a new vector layer above the background
I duplicated the vector layer and selected the shape on the duplicated layer
I selected Object>Convert to path (make sure show nodes is check marked)
I selected Object>Edit>Select All
I selected Object>Edit>Duplicate
I selected Object>Transform Selected Nodes>Expand (X and Y at 40 but this can be any value that works for you)
I selected Selections>From Vector Object
I hid the duplicated layer

This gives you a vector object as drawn with a selection at 40 pixels around the vector image. See attached screenshot

[LeviFiction]

Here are some options you might find useful.

1) Perform a smaller expand and repeat the command using Ctrl + Y. For example I took an image 4500x4500 and made a selection. Set to 70 pixels it took 90 seconds. But if I expanded by 10 pixels it only took 2 seconds per repeate making it a total of 16 seconds to expand by 70 pixels. Much faster.

or

2) Edit the selection using Selection -> Edit Selection. Then grab the pick tool and scale and move the selection where you want it.