Sudden changes in Photoshop 5.5

AS
Posted By
Ami_Sky
Apr 22, 2004
Views
388
Replies
7
Status
Closed
I am running PS 5.5 on WIN98. Suddenly many menu items are grayed out(unavailable) including print, all the filters, all the layers items and more. Also "Save as" and "save as copy" both have only psd, raw and tif formats (used to have many including jpg).

What is happening? what to do?

I would appreciate any insights.

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DM
dave_milbut
Apr 22, 2004
check your image mode. make sure it’s 8 bit rgb. not all options (layers, indexed colors, etc) are compatable with all file formats.
MM
Mac_McDougald
Apr 22, 2004
No help to prob, but I have 5.5 on an old machine; used Shift+Ctrl+Alt to see if prefs get deleted same way as later versions. No, but found an Easter Egg – get the Strange Cargo logo on startup!

Then just get Scratch Prefs though, not delete prefs.

Mac
AS
Ami_Sky
Apr 22, 2004
Dave and Mac – thank you both for the prompt response.

Dave – indeed, I discovered that the image mode was 16 bits. When changed it to 8 bit most of the command options came back to life and all the file extensions are back in the save command. This is a big relief. The images were scanned – but this is the first time that I experience such a problem.

Can you shed some more light on this phenomenon: How does the image "become" 16 bits? obviously this format is a liability for working in PS, is there any time when it is useful?

Thanks again, Ami
DM
dave_milbut
Apr 22, 2004
you may have scanned it at 16 bit… ? or maybe you changed the mode by accident?
MM
Mac_McDougald
Apr 22, 2004
As Dave said, most scanning interfaces allow scanning at different bit depths, and some allow SAVING at higher bit depths. Or you might have accidently converted to 16 within PS (a less useful way).

Many folks tout working as much as possible in 16 bit. There’s not doubt that the math (and histograms) prove its usefullness.

Most folks find that the difference for their workflow is negligible at best and not worth the extra file size.

This is one of the digital jihads, 8 vs 16, when, how, for what functions, at all?, etc.

Mac
AS
Ami_Sky
Apr 23, 2004
Now I know to pay attention to this and experiment to see what works best. Thank you again. Ami
DM
dave_milbut
Apr 23, 2004
if you CAN scan in 16 bit, it’s probably best to do so. you get more info that way, and better detail when doing things like color corrections and curve adjustments, etc.. save your original as psd. only save an output version to another format.

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