PSE26 Questions

[tanteva]

This question will probably be the first of many ... jumping from PSE 11 to PSE 26 is quite a leap. Though much look and work the same, there are diffences, and I'm sure there are tons of new things I even haven't discovered yet.

However I have two questions to begin with:

1 - one thing is annoying, and I'm hoping there's a setting I haven't found. When working on a layout, and I want to add a new layer, the program always add the new layer as the bottom layer right on top of the background. Even if I have marked the top layer, cuz I want the new element there. OK, I get it, it's only to move the layer up to the top, but it's annoying. Is there some way to change this?

2 - one thing I do very often is to go to the Edit menu, then chose Add stroke (or what it might be called in English, I have my PSE set to Swedish) to make a white border to the photos. At first it didn't work, I couldn't use the stroke on a photo. But I realized I could if I first simplyfied the photo. Will I always have to do this from now on? In PSE 11 I didn't have to do this.

Thanks for any input!

 

[umyesh]

I don't have any input but I hope others chime in soon!

 

[elseepe]

I don't have PSE, but for number 2, I'm wondering if it is bringing them in as smart objects and that is why they need to be simplified? Maybe there is a setting about smart objects. And something it tickling my brain from many versions ago and dragging up from the bin, vs some other method of adding -- but I can't possible recall what that was and depending on which way you dragged it would be a smart object or not. Hoping someone better versed in PSE will be along. It's been way too many iterations ago for me to remember.

 

[fruitysuet]

@tanteva

Oh sorry, I use PSE but 2022. It was bringing things in as smart objects and I had to simplify each layer before being able to manipulate it much. I had a hunt around the different tabs and found how to disable smart objects:

Edit > Preferences > General > (select) Disable Smart Objects

I've not been able to figure out the layer order thing. New layers are brought in at seemingly random placement within the layer order and I have to constantly bring to front, drag to the right place on the page, then drag down the layer order again. It was really annoying to start with but I've got used to it over the years. Now you've reminded me though I am going to start being annoyed about it all over again!

 

[Karen]

Now you've reminded me though I am going to start being annoyed about it all over again!

This totally made me chuckle. But, also, totally would annoy me too! I can't believe the newly insert item/layer doesn't go where you are in the layer stack. I would revolt!

 

[tanteva]

My 7 day trial is over & I think I'm going to give Gimp a try before I decide whether to pay for PSE. TBH, I really don't feel like spending my money in the US right now.

 

[cinna]

I made the leap from PSE to PS a couple of years ago. That was a steep learning curve but I have never regretted it. Still have LOADS of stuff to learn - I am just scratching the surface.

Hope you can get some help @tanteva from someone around here!

 

[Meliora]

This question will probably be the first of many ... jumping from PSE 11 to PSE 26 is quite a leap. Though much look and work the same, there are diffences, and I'm sure there are tons of new things I even haven't discovered yet.

However I have two questions to begin with:

1 - one thing is annoying, and I'm hoping there's a setting I haven't found. When working on a layout, and I want to add a new layer, the program always add the new layer as the bottom layer right on top of the background. Even if I have marked the top layer, cuz I want the new element there. OK, I get it, it's only to move the layer up to the top, but it's annoying. Is there some way to change this?

2 - one thing I do very often is to go to the Edit menu, then chose Add stroke (or what it might be called in English, I have my PSE set to Swedish) to make a white border to the photos. At first it didn't work, I couldn't use the stroke on a photo. But I realized I could if I first simplyfied the photo. Will I always have to do this from now on? In PSE 11 I didn't have to do this.

Thanks for any input!

I don't use pse 26, but 22 or something. I didn't know you even could add stroke the way you do. Maybe try to add it in the same place you add drop shadows? That's what I do. See if that works?

 

[Aerobigirl]

I just upgraded from 21 to 26. It's running very awkwardly on my computer. I just got a new laptop but haven't hooked it up and started moving things over yet, but I'm hoping PSE will like the newest MAC operating system better.

When I want to add a layer, if I want it to be in a certain place, I use the pointer tool to select a layer over on the right side of the screen, then click on the "create a new layer" button that's at the top left of the layers panel

I'm pretty sure we've always had to simplify layers before adding a stroke. I tend to change my mind about strokes, so I make my strokes as a layer style rather than a permanent change. Layer, layer styles, style settings, stroke.

 

[KarenC]

I just switched from PS CC to PSE 26. I haven't figured out the layers placement yet. I'm getting adjusted to the change. I think some things are easier in Elements and a few things are not. Hope you get it figured out!

 

[keepscrappin]

@tanteva
Sorry I don't have PSE anymore. I always used file > place to add things to my layouts in PSE 2022. It will add them as a smart object if you don't change that in preferences.

When you're adding a new layer do you have a layer selected in the layers panel and you're clicking on the new layer icon there? I never had a problem with layers going to the wrong position when I did it that way. It always added the new layer above the layer I was on in the layers panel.

If you're looking for new scrapping software, @Angela Toucan posted that the new Affinity is free. She also posts lots of tutorials on how to do stuff in Affinity, so that might be an option for you to scrap with it.