The color of the cursor…

Avery wrote:

I use Photoshop CS – but not very well.

Is there a way to change the color of the cursor? I find when I am using , say the clone tool, on a mid grey background, it can be hard to see.

No. This has been a nagging problem for a long time. Cursor does change color on Mac to contrast with the background.

—
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In article ,
Avery wrote:

Is there a way to change the color of the cursor? I find when I am using , say the clone tool, on a mid grey background, it can be hard to see.

Mac or PC?

On the Mac, yes. Make sure the "Direct Cursors" plugin is installed in the plugins folder on versions prior to Photoshop CS; its functionality is built into Photoshop in CS and later.

PC, no. The cursor behaves the way it does because of a technical limitation in Microsoft Windows.

—
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html

On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 12:06:43 GMT, edjh wrote:

Avery wrote:

I use Photoshop CS – but not very well.

Is there a way to change the color of the cursor? I find when I am using , say the clone tool, on a mid grey background, it can be hard to see.

No. This has been a nagging problem for a long time. Cursor does change color on Mac to contrast with the background.

Thanks for the bad news.

On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 16:30:16 GMT, tacit wrote:

In article ,
Avery wrote:

Is there a way to change the color of the cursor? I find when I am using , say the clone tool, on a mid grey background, it can be hard to see.

Mac or PC?

On the Mac, yes. Make sure the "Direct Cursors" plugin is installed in the plugins folder on versions prior to Photoshop CS; its functionality is built into Photoshop in CS and later.

PC, no. The cursor behaves the way it does because of a technical limitation in Microsoft Windows.

PC. Thanks for the bad news – I guess I’ll learn to cope.

PC. Thanks for the bad news – I guess I’ll learn to cope.

It is an annoying problem but you can press the space bar and the cursor changes to a hand which makes it easier to see.

cheers

nb

When I’m having trouble seeing the cursor while working on a photo I apply an adjustment layer and vary the brightness and contrast of the photo so that I can see the cursor. When I’m finished I just delete the adjustment layer.
—
Charley

"nb" wrote in message

PC. Thanks for the bad news – I guess I’ll learn to cope.

It is an annoying problem but you can press the space bar and the cursor changes to a hand which makes it easier to see.

cheers

nb

tacit wrote:

In article ,
Avery wrote:

Is there a way to change the color of the cursor? I find when I am using , say the clone tool, on a mid grey background, it can be hard to see.

Mac or PC?

On the Mac, yes. Make sure the "Direct Cursors" plugin is installed in the plugins folder on versions prior to Photoshop CS; its functionality is built into Photoshop in CS and later.

PC, no. The cursor behaves the way it does because of a technical limitation in Microsoft Windows.

I am sorry to say this, but that is not correct at all. The PC does in fact have the ability to dynamically change the cursor as it moves over an image, as does mine every time I use it. If I have to take some screen dumps to prove this point, I am happy to do so! I just hope I don’t have to go to that trouble over a simple issue.

Where this myth about technical limitations with Windows comes from, I have no idea, but it is incorrect.

Bria.

In article ,
Brian wrote:

I am sorry to say this, but that is not correct at all. The PC does in fact have the ability to dynamically change the cursor as it moves over an image, as does mine every time I use it. If I have to take some screen dumps to prove this point, I am happy to do so! I just hope I don’t have to go to that trouble over a simple issue.

The "technical limitation" in Windows has been explained in detail in comp.graphics.apps.photoshop by Chris Cox, one of the Adobe Photoshop engineers.

Windows lacks an "xover" cursor mode. A cursor can change dynamically…but not when it’s over a 50% gray image. Try it; create an image filled with 50% gray. Precise cursors will disappear.

—
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html

tacit wrote:

In article ,
Brian wrote:

I am sorry to say this, but that is not correct at all. The PC does in fact have the ability to dynamically change the cursor as it moves over an image, as does mine every time I use it. If I have to take some screen dumps to prove this point, I am happy to do so! I just hope I don’t have to go to that trouble over a simple issue.

The "technical limitation" in Windows has been explained in detail in comp.graphics.apps.photoshop by Chris Cox, one of the Adobe Photoshop engineers.

Windows lacks an "xover" cursor mode. A cursor can change dynamically…but not when it’s over a 50% gray image. Try it; create an image filled with 50% gray. Precise cursors will disappear.

Hi Tacit,

this really is weird. I don’t doubt that you check your facts before you post, I know you have a very strong knowledge. I am not kidding you, I just changed my cursors from standard to precise and I still get a cursor that changes depending on the colour it passes over. I filled a square with 50% grey and the cursor becomes white when I pass over that square. It is very clearly visible. In Corel Photopaint I suffer the limitation you describe, I can see the cursor at all times until I hit 50% grey. In Photoshop I have no such limitation at all. In fact, if I pass the cursor over a multi-coloured image, the cursor becomes multicoloured!

When I get a chance I will upload a couple of images to a webpage and post it in here for you to view. Does this issue have anything at all to do with the graphics card one uses? Funnily enough, I have a cheap basic graphics card.

All the best,
Brian.

"Brian" wrote in message

tacit wrote:

In article ,
Brian wrote:

I am sorry to say this, but that is not correct at all. The PC does in fact have the ability to dynamically change the cursor as it moves over an image, as does mine every time I use it. If I have to take some screen dumps to prove this point, I am happy to do so! I just hope I don’t have to go to that trouble over a simple issue.

The "technical limitation" in Windows has been explained in detail in comp.graphics.apps.photoshop by Chris Cox, one of the Adobe Photoshop engineers.

Windows lacks an "xover" cursor mode. A cursor can change dynamically…but not when it’s over a 50% gray image. Try it; create an image filled with 50% gray. Precise cursors will disappear.

Hi Tacit,

this really is weird. I don’t doubt that you check your facts before you post, I know you have a very strong knowledge. I am not kidding you, I just changed my cursors from standard to precise and I still get a cursor that changes depending on the colour it passes over. I filled a square with 50% grey and the cursor becomes white when I pass over that square. It is very clearly visible. In Corel Photopaint I suffer the limitation you describe, I can see the cursor at all times until I hit 50% grey. In Photoshop I have no such limitation at all. In fact, if I pass the cursor over a multi-coloured image, the cursor becomes multicoloured!
When I get a chance I will upload a couple of images to a webpage and post it in here for you to view. Does this issue have anything at all to do with the graphics card one uses? Funnily enough, I have a cheap basic graphics card.

Tacit is correct, and what he said does not conflict with what you’re seeing. The Windows OS does not support the equivalent of the xover cursor mode, but the Macintosh does. Beginning (I believe) with CS2, Windows Photoshop simulates this cursor mode at the application level, and this is what you are seeing. The result is sluggish performance, particularly with brushes.

Pre CS2 versions of Photoshop use an OS supported cursor that is a solid color that varies, depending on the color of the underlying image pixels. At 50% gray the cursor is invisible.
—

Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com

<snip>

Mike Russell wrote:

Tacit is correct, and what he said does not conflict with what you’re seeing. The Windows OS does not support the equivalent of the xover cursor mode, but the Macintosh does. Beginning (I believe) with CS2, Windows Photoshop simulates this cursor mode at the application level, and this is what you are seeing. The result is sluggish performance, particularly with brushes.

Pre CS2 versions of Photoshop use an OS supported cursor that is a solid color that varies, depending on the color of the underlying image pixels. At 50% gray the cursor is invisible.

Hi Mike,

thanks for the explanation there. So, what you are saying would suggest that it would be better to turn to that feature off for better performance, if there is a way to do so. Are you aware if that feature can be turned off? I rarely ever work with images that have any significant areas of 50% grey, so it would be no major loss to me.

Regards,
Brian.

"Brian" wrote in message

[re Photoshop cursor behaviour]

thanks for the explanation there. So, what you are saying would suggest that it would be better to turn to that feature off for better performance, if there is a way to do so. Are you aware if that feature can be turned off? I rarely ever work with images that have any significant areas of 50% grey, so it would be no major loss to me.

Unfortunately, I don’t think there is a way to turn it off completely, but you can improve things by turning off the "Precise Cursors" option. —
Mike Russell
www.curvemeister.com

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 16:13:37 GMT, "Charley"
wrote:

When I’m having trouble seeing the cursor while working on a photo I apply an adjustment layer and vary the brightness and contrast of the photo so that I can see the cursor. When I’m finished I just delete the adjustment layer.

Thank you Charley, I will try that.

On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 11:18:02 +1100, "nb" wrote:

PC. Thanks for the bad news – I guess I’ll learn to cope.

It is an annoying problem but you can press the space bar and the cursor changes to a hand which makes it easier to see.

cheers

nb

Thanks nb, I will use that where I can.

On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 10:09:10 GMT, Avery wrote:

I use Photoshop CS – but not very well.

Is there a way to change the color of the cursor? I find when I am using , say the clone tool, on a mid grey background, it can be hard to see.

Thanks for all the advice folks.

As I use CS and see little reason to go to CS2. I guess I will learn to cope with problem and try the workarounds that have been suggested.

I am new to this group. I think I will hang around and do a lot of reading.

Thanks again.

"Avery" wrote in message

On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 10:09:10 GMT, Avery wrote:

I use Photoshop CS – but not very well.

Is there a way to change the color of the cursor? I find when I am using , say the clone tool, on a mid grey background, it can be hard to see.

Thanks for all the advice folks.

As I use CS and see little reason to go to CS2. I guess I will learn to cope with problem and try the workarounds that have been suggested.
I am new to this group. I think I will hang around and do a lot of reading.

Thanks again.

I have CS from what I ‘ve been hearing I think I will not like CS2 and am not sure I need any of the newer features, hell I am not even sure I know all the features in CS yet.
I found a good work around to the disappearing cursor, I am making an adjustment layer above set to colorize on Hue/sat palette. Finish removing dust etc then dump the color layer.

That will work on a color photo but not on a B/W in greyscale format. For a B/W photo the best way that I have found is similar but make the adjustment layer a brightness/contrast layer and change them enough to make the cursor visible. Then dump the layer when you are finished. I do a lot of old photo restoration and prefer changing the brightness/contrast adjustment even when I’m working on a color photo, but do it the way that works best for you.

—
Charley

"KatWoman" wrote in message

"Avery" wrote in message

On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 10:09:10 GMT, Avery wrote:

I use Photoshop CS – but not very well.

Is there a way to change the color of the cursor? I find when I am using , say the clone tool, on a mid grey background, it can be hard to see.

Thanks for all the advice folks.

As I use CS and see little reason to go to CS2. I guess I will learn to cope with problem and try the workarounds that have been suggested.
I am new to this group. I think I will hang around and do a lot of reading.

Thanks again.

I have CS from what I ‘ve been hearing I think I will not like CS2 and am not sure I need any of the newer features, hell I am not even sure I know all the features in CS yet.
I found a good work around to the disappearing cursor, I am making an adjustment layer above set to colorize on Hue/sat palette. Finish removing dust etc then dump the color layer.

"Charley" wrote in message

That will work on a color photo but not on a B/W in greyscale format. For a
B/W photo the best way that I have found is similar but make the adjustment
layer a brightness/contrast layer and change them enough to make the cursor
visible. Then dump the layer when you are finished. I do a lot of old photo
restoration and prefer changing the brightness/contrast adjustment even when
I’m working on a color photo, but do it the way that works best for you.
—
Charley

I was using it on a grayscale image
used the colorize to make it appear reddish like a duotone gives good contrast to the gray cursor

"KatWoman" wrote in message

"Avery" wrote in message

On Tue, 01 Nov 2005 10:09:10 GMT, Avery wrote:

I use Photoshop CS – but not very well.

Is there a way to change the color of the cursor? I find when I am using , say the clone tool, on a mid grey background, it can be hard to see.

Thanks for all the advice folks.

As I use CS and see little reason to go to CS2. I guess I will learn to cope with problem and try the workarounds that have been suggested.
I am new to this group. I think I will hang around and do a lot of reading.

Thanks again.

I have CS from what I ‘ve been hearing I think I will not like CS2 and am not sure I need any of the newer features, hell I am not even sure I know all the features in CS yet.
I found a good work around to the disappearing cursor, I am making an adjustment layer above set to colorize on Hue/sat palette. Finish removing
dust etc then dump the color layer.