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When my drawing tools don't work it is usually because I am trying to work in a non selected area of the image.In Photoshop sometimes I can't find my paint brush usually this is because the "Caps Lock" on the keyboard is set for capitals. The fix turn the "Caps Lock" off. At other times there is an area or portion of the drawing that is SELECTED and I am not aware of the selected area.
The Fix


In Photoshop click SELECT and click DESELECT also click on LAYERS and click on MERGE LAYERS until MERGE LAYERS is no longer on the menu- It is also necessary to rasterize the type after printing something on your image click on LAYERS, click on RASTERIZE, click on TYPE I don't know if it is okay but after typing on the image I usually just MERGE LAYERS and do not RASTERIZE--- TYPE.

In Corel Photo-Paint Click on OBJECTS, click on COMBINE, click on COMBINE ALL OBJECT there will be three choices, 1- combine objects together, 2- combine objects with background, and 3- combine all objects with background. In Corel Photo-Paint you have to COMBINE OBJECTS after you type on the image, before you continue drawing. To DESELECT In Corel Photo Paint Click on RECTANGLE MASK tool, this is the square box that you select different parts of the drawing, click on the second item on the tool bar, click on the square box, place the cursor on the image and click on the image. Sometimes I click on Object and click on SELECT ALL and my tools work okay.

What follows is basically the same instructions as above.


Sometimes you will try to use a paint brush or some other tool and nothing happens, you draw it across the canvas but no paint, Or you COPY and PASTE and when you PASTE the image it is not complete. Usually when this happens to me I am not working in the selected area. Sometimes there seems to be a problem with layers, masks, and objects. I really don't care about these things and I think there should be a "Just Paint" button. However Layers, masks, objects, and selected areas are very handy and fun to play with, but sometimes they are a problem . If you are using "Adobe's Photoshop" they call them layers and if you are using "Corel's Photo - Paint" the call them masks and objects.

If the problem is caused by layers or the selected area the following suggestions might helpful.

1- MERGE Or COMBINE - See - How to merge or combine. (See below)

2- DESELECT -See- How to Deselect. (See below)

3- MINIMIZE the program - GO TO another program. (See below)

4- SHUT OFF your Computer and go watch the news. (See below)

WHY THESE FOUR STEPS MIGHT HELP



MERGE- "In some drawing programs" you unknowingly create layers, objects, and masks, sometimes you create more than one layer, object, or mask. The layers are created because of the tools you have used. If the paint brush or some other tool does not work it might be because you are trying to work in an area that is outside the selected area and/or because you need to MERGE the layers OR COMBINE the objects.

IF YOU NEED TO MERGE THE LAYERS TOGETHER

1- How to MERGE the layers in PhotoShop

(a)- click on LAYER

(b)- click on MERGE LAYER (bottom of menu)

Do the above two steps until all the layers are merged. You will know that all the layers are merged when MERGE LAYER is no longer on the menu.

1b- How to COMBINE OBJECTS with the background in Corel Photo-Paint

(a)- click on Object

(b)- click on Combine

(c)- click on Combine all objects with background

I did not have this problem with Paint Shop Pro or Neo Paint.

DESELECT - "In some drawing programs" if a part of your drawing has been SELECTED with the a square box, Rectangular Marquee tool, Lasso tool, Magic Wand, Rectangle Mask, or other tool you can only work within the area that you have selected. In order to work in other areas of the drawing you have to DESELECT. If your tools are not working on your image it might be because you need to DESELECT.

2- How to DESELECT-in Photoshop

(a)- click on SELECT

(b)- click on DESELECT OR use (c)

(c)- click on the Marquee tool, the square box in the top left hand corner of the tool bar, and then click on the image without moving the mouse and you must be outside of the selected area when you click on the mouse to DESELECT the selected area.

2b-How to DESELECT in Corel Photo - Paint

(a)- click on RECTANGLE MASK tool

(b)- Move cursor on to image and click cursor on the image without moving the cursor and you will DESELECT. Sometimes when there is a problem I click on OBJECT and then click on SELECT ALL.

I did not have this problem with Paint Shop Pro or Neo Paint. I do not believe that either of these programs create an area of the image that is treated as a different part of the image or a different layer. I don't know if different layers or masks can be disabled in Photoshop or PhotoPaint and sometimes it is to your advantage to be able to select a small portion of the drawing to work on.

3- Minimize the drawing program - Open another drawing program .

(a) OR- go to step 4.

4- Shut your Computer off and go watch the news-

(a) Watch the news for five minutes - after two minutes of watching the news you will realize that you do not really have a problem with your drawing program, continue watching the news for three more minutes Restart your computer and open your drawing program and start enjoying life.

I am sure that there are many other things that could be wrong, besides what I have mentioned here. I have used many different drawing programs in the last 12 years, I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination . What I am trying to do with these Classes is to show you how much fun drawing can be, and to share with you some hints , programs, and plugins that I have found to be enjoyable.