This just started a couple of days ago and is driving me bats.
I cannot open any psp images in either2019 or 2022
Suggestions, please?
I already closed the programs and re-booted my computer to no avail.
I get the message that psp is "unable to open the file, Please verify that the file is valid".
They are pspimage files, so I am confused as to what is going on.
pspimage files created with PSP 2023 are not compatible with previous versions. Same behavior with pspimage files created with PSP 2022: they are not compatible with previous PSP versions. Those files must be saved with lower compatibility.
You need to open the pspimage file in the version that created it. Then, save it again (Save as) by activating the Options and choosing a lower version, for example, X8-2021. If you have received the file from someone, ask him to save it in a compatible version.
Compatible version.png
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The same problem exists in Corel Draw. It is extremely unlikely that for either of these programs the essential differences in the file are important enough to make the inconvenience for the user worthwhile (perhaps excepting the most sophisticated user with the most complex images/drawings).
With PSP I would not save in psp format unless absolutely necessary, and if it is - for tracking the idiosyncratic level-specific changes step by step - I would automatically save in the oldest format possible. Unfortunately that isn't really very easy as it adds several steps to the process.
At the very least, for both PSP and Draw Corel should provide a translator. But that won't happen as the user isn't that important to the company.
It is technically true that PSP does not follow it's own file format recommendations. It's supposed to be able to ignore any unknown blocks/sub-fields. The format documentation for third-party developers specifically mentions how to handle unknown items. And it's technically true that only settings (layer types and variables, grids, guides, textures, shapes, text, etc.) that can change ever actually do change between versions. Basic data like image data doesn't. But every version of PSP they give a new version # to. And this, on average, is where the failure to import comes from. Many times you can change this one value in the file and it'll open just fine in older versions. PSP 2022-2023 did introduce the frame layer type with special settings. So it technically makes sense that those aren't as backwards compatible as others and you would need to choose an older compatibility. But at the same time if they properly ignored anything they didn't recognize (as they are supposed to) and just gave a warning "This image was made in a newer version of PSP, so some things may not look correct" that would be sufficient and you could avoid the warning altogether with the format choice.
Then again, how often do people make an image in an older version of PSP and open it in an older version?
You say "Then again, how often do people make an image in an older version of PSP and open it in an older version?" but I think you mean 'make an image in a newer version and open in older'...
And in fact I do this a lot in both PSP and CorelDraw as I have two computers (stationary and portable) and I use both quite regularly. Corel used to allow installation of the programs on 2 computers but they do not now - and I don't buy multiple copies of these programs just for that purpose....
You can still install PSP on more than one computer. They didn't take that away. Not sure where you got that idea. Here's the line taken directly from the EULA
Subject to the restrictions set out under this EULA, a Subscription or Perpetual License for the above-mentioned Software allows You to download, install and/or use one original copy of the Software on up to two computing devices or electronic equipment ("Devices") which are under Your control and in Your possession.
You can't use the same software on two computers at the exact same time, so you need to close PSP on your desktop before opening it on your laptop but it can be installed on both at the same time.
Ok - thought I'd tried that but perhaps I will again. Not that I have much need as the older versions are quite adequate on my portable setup...
However what I said for Corel Draw remains true I believe. I am very sure I've tried to install on a second computer and I get an error that the license has already been activated, or some such wording. However, again, it's not too problematic for me as using an older version is quite adequate. (I'm just a player, not a serious user, and rarely actually get any satisfaction from the newer versions. Probably I should go back to 2007 or something!)
I just wanted to mention that versions of PSP files predate Corel. For example, PSP 9 (Jasc) can/could save PSP files that were compatible with versions 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. (Each a different option while saving.) That beats some software, where once you touch it with a new version, no old version recognizes it. (And other software which reads the file but introduces differences.)
Interestingly even PDF (Portable Document Format) has file versions and old versions of Adobe Acrobat can not read newer files. So, it’s not quite as “portable” as it sounds.
