My PE5.5 freezes up

[annawhocropsalot]

I downloaded a free PE5.5 tryout version a while ago.* Works fine until I want to open an element or a brush.* Then everything freezes up so I have to just exit everything, losing all the work I did up to that point. Might there be a problem with the software? I can open paper just fine.Maybe this next problem is related: When I have "marching ants" around an area, I should be able to resize it using the arrows that appear when the cursor is on the line, right?* I can only move the entire area. This is after I deselected it. (I think that's what I did-or is it selected.)A previous thread explained how to load the elements and brushes. I figured this is maybe my problem.* But in order to do this, I need to go to Edit>Preset Manager. I don't even have that option on the menu bar! (I think that's the right name for it)* What am I missing here? (not the sharpest pencil in the box, me)Very new at this, have yet to complete my first LO.

[shhbabymine]

i have had lots of problems with PSE 5 but the first issue was my computers memory. so once that was taken care of, it only shuts down on me every 3rd or 4th layout - its a pain but I learned to constantly save this way! I will search for Cassie's thread about resetting pse - and link it in a minute - but when mine shuts down all by itself, I always open it and select create new and then hold down ctrl + alt + delete and i keep it held down (it asks if you want to reset presets and i say yes) i dont let go until the whole thing is up and running. this does get rid of any brushes you have already loaded, but i dont usually keep than many loaded because i know it causes my computer fits.
i dont use the 'select' (marching ants) to resize anything. i just click on it and then hold shift and select a corner arrow to increase the size (esp a photo since it keeps it from getting out of proportion).
loading brushes - you are right about the edit>preset manager>load...but if you dont have that in the scroll down menu from edit - maybe thats not an option with the trial version. it is at the bottom of my drop down menu when i select edit.
I know its frustrating esp when you are trying to learn the software and there are glitches - make sure to check out cassie's tutorial(s) in the store - its a great help when getting going with digital. http://www.designerdigitals.com/digi...oducts_id/3944

[annawhocropsalot]

I've tried to save but I don't even have that option! It's greyed out!
Resizing image-there are no arrows in corners of the bounding box!
Maybe I should uninstall this program and find me another one.

[shhbabymine]

make sure you do not have anything selected (select>deselect)or have the text option selected as sometimes that prevents my ability to save.
it sure sounds like maybe your trial version has problems, though.
even though i have a few problems with it - it has really been worth the occasional hastle...

[KellieMize]

I haven't used PSE5, so I can't speak to that, but if you want to resize and can't get the mouse over the corner to get the little arrows, try hitting Ctrl + T which should bring up the resizing menu bar.

[esther_a]

Quite often I go to do something (I use PSE5) and it's grayed out or won't respond because I've just resized something and haven't clicked the tick to commit the change or because I've just been typing something and haven't got out of the text area.
I have upgraded my computer because my LOs often got too big for it to handle. And whenever I work with text on a path it crashes - photoshop just disappears in a puff of smoke! Save Often is the message!
Esther

[annawhocropsalot]

Clicked the tick, where do I do that-Esther a? Thankyou all for your help!

[KellieMize]

To commit any change such as resizing just hit the Enter key (twice for good measure, lol). Also, the brush, eraser, etc. only work on non-vector layers, i.e. not a text or shape layer. If you want to use a tool on one of those layers you have to rasterize them first (also called "simplify" in elements). To do this, just go to your layers palette and right click the layer and choose rasterize.