MS Digital Image Suite: Acting Slow/Locking Up?? Please Help

[GwendalinAivli]

Hello I am just wondering if anyone else out there is using MS Digital Image Suite Anniversary Edition? If so do you have any problems with slow response times? :confused:

I don't think it is my computer as I just got it updated. I have Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00 GHz, 3.01 GHz, 1.00 GB RAM. Not sure what that all means, but I am pretty sure it exceeds the software's system requirements.

It works really, and then all of a sudden it will start acting slow, take 3 minutes to save my work, etc. Also, when I try making a double page spread, and I have all the layers for a quick click open, and then I copy all those layers and flip them over so they are a mirror image for the opposite page, the proram sortof locks up. At least it won't let me move anything around anymore.

Is this some kind of glitch in the program? Does anyone know hoe to fix this? Thanks so much for any input...

[GwendalinAivli]

just trying to keep this at the top of the piles, so it doesn't get buuried before someone gets a chance to read it :)

[debbers]

Wendi: I don't use DIP, but I used to have trouble like that when I used PSP on my old computer that only had 1 gig of ram.

When I was going to work on lots of layers or do complex things, I would reboot, shut off anything extra, and very carefully pull just that one thing into PSP.

My new computer has lots more ... and I haven't had any trouble.

So, it could be a memory problem, I'll let the DIP experts weigh on on everything, though.

deb

[sandilyn]

I use DI 2006- I have this happen to me when I use a lot of layers, particularly if the resolution is set to 300 dpi (which is the default of the program I think). I have better luck if I change the resolution to 200 dpi. You can select the resolution when you make a new document by choosing "advanced options" at the bottom of the screen where you set the size of the new document. Or you can use 300 dpi but change the page size to 8 x 8 instead of 12 x 12. I also save often and if it starts to slow down, follow debbers' advice- save and reboot. HTH.

[happybeingamom]

I use DIP ver 9 and I have that problem at 300 dpi resolution. I now work at 200 dpi.

[GwendalinAivli]

Debbers, Sandi, and Happybeingamom,
Thank you soooo much for your input. I will give scrapping at 200dpi a try. One question though... do your pages still print out nice at 200dpi? Is there a noticeable drop in the quality of your prints, or do you printed pages still look the same? Thank you very, very much!!

[IowaGirl]

My computer is similar to yours...

I have found that what else is running in the background can be a huge factor. I try to keep my machine running pretty lean, and have shut down any unecessary programs.

Go to your Task Manger to see if you have a lot of extra stuff running in the background. Printers, other software, etc.

I removed a lot of things from my Start Up menu also.

One other thing that helped tremendously was getting rid of Norton Anti-Virus. I now use AVG Free - man did that make a world of difference in all my programs!

[debbers]

I print tons of stuff at 200 dpi. Especially for DIGITAL creations, you've got great digital quality to begin with.

Make a test. Get something and print it out on whatever you normally have it printed with, at 300 dpi in whatever is the normal size.

Then move that to 200 dpi, holding the same size, sharpen if needed, some software needs sharpening after a reduction in pixels, others don't seem to matter as much, and then print it out.

Compare the two.

That will be your answer. :)

deb

[sands_healy]

Hi Wendi. I used to use DIP9 and DIP10.... and also found that if I did a lot of memory intensive work, it would shut down on me. For instance when I did the selective colouring on THIS (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=136051&ppuser=66596) page, it shut down on me numerous times.
Also when I worked with Quick Clicks and wanted to move one of the layers it somehow changed the Dpi to 300 which it couldn't handle.... so make sure that the dpi is 200 as well.

[sands_healy]

Oh and I just saw you question on printing at 200dpi. I print some of my things and I've never had an issue with the quality at 200dpi.

[sandilyn]

I have been happy with the printed quality at 200ppi also, but you should try it yourself and see what you think.

[GwendalinAivli]

Iowagirl, Debbers, and Sands_Healy,

Thank you so very much for your help. I agree that Norton Anti-Virus is a pain in the neck! I have also tried scrapping at 200 and it DOES work a WHOLE lot better!! That is soooooooo good to know! I also did a little test with printing at 300 and 200 and I can't tell the difference! YAY!!

All of you who responded to my cry for help are angels! Thank you all so very much, I really and truly appreciate your help. I feel like I have a new enthusiasm for digi scrapping, now. Its fun again!

Now if there were only more hours in the day!

Also if anyone is interested, or someone with the same trouble comes across this thread searching for help, I found this article here at DSP, which also shed some light for me as well:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/articles/ppi.shtml

[poohbear]

OK this is what I posted on another thread. Maybe it will help (see below).

I also have a tip that I put here, but be aware that it will stop Norton from scanning these files automatically. What I found was that Norton would try to scan files all the time ("Waiting to scan *.*") I'm sure you've seen it.) I found out that it scans a couple of files that work only with DIP. So I went into the it's settings and told it not to scan piorg7.db and piorg.db Wow.. what a difference.... Now the other tips.

I'm using Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006 Editor. It is by far the best version that I've had (and I started at DOS). It handles the memory better and doesn't crash like the older versions do. If you are using an older version you will have to really turn things off to get it to work.

You will need to empty your temp directory often. This is where I find my at:
"C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temp" (You will need to figure out where yours is located.)

Most of the time there are some things that you can't delete, you just leave them and go on to the next file. ONLY DELETE WHAT IS LOCATED INSIDE THE TEMP DIRECTORY. DO NOT DELETE THE DIRECTORY ITSELF.

One of my biggest things with DIP is to save, save, save. Once I got the new version and all the ram I needed I don't have too much trouble, but I also clean temp files all the time. If you have Norton Antivirus (I do), it is a killer. I scan often and now turn it off while working inside DIP. This should only be done if you are not on an open line to the internet and only if you scan all files often.

I love DIP and use it for all my graphics. I just have figured out how to work with it. I'm sad that they aren't going to do anymore updates. Well.. this version works great for me.

ps.. I use 300psi always....:think: