Jagged elements in PSCS

[andyapc]

I wish I could attach a screen shot to show you my problem but, in another thread (DSP site info, I think), I've posted another question about how to obtain and then attach a good, clear screenshot!

Anyway, here's my problem. I'm working on a 10x8 canvas with a black background at 300 resolution. I'm trying to add a round alpha towards the bottom of my layout. Each round alpha I place on the layout appears slightly pixelated and "jagged" for lack of a better term. Instead of being smooth around the edges, they appear jagged, smudged & distorted. I tried 3 different alphas from 3 respected designers (including Lauren!) and each one has this problem.

I opened the same type of canvas at the same resolution in DIP9 and all the alphas look great.

What should I be doing differently in PSCS?

[Emma]

it's probably just your zoom. PS makes things look jagged at certain magnification factors, especially if that zoom isn't a preset in the cache. Try looking at it 100% and see if it's really a problem. If it's not, then it'll print lovely no matter what it looks like at 33.33% or 66.45%!

If that's not it, then we'll have to think a little harder :)

[andyapc]

Couldn't figure out how to work my zoom so I cheated and went into the Help file - WOW - learned that if I double click the zoom tool, my view is increased to 100% and if I double-click the hand tool, my view goes right back to fit-on-screen. I'm sure this is somewhere in the hundreds of pages of my DSP lessons but I just couldn't find it fast enough!

2 out of the 3 alphas look fine so I guess I'll work with one of those.

Thank you!

[Lauren]

Couldn't figure out how to work my zoom so I cheated and went into the Help file - WOW - learned that if I double click the zoom tool, my view is increased to 100% and if I double-click the hand tool, my view goes right back to fit-on-screen. I'm sure this is somewhere in the hundreds of pages of my DSP lessons but I just couldn't find it fast enough!

2 out of the 3 alphas look fine so I guess I'll work with one of those.

Thank you!
If you click once on the zoom tool and go to the tool bar up top you have an option to view at "actual pixels" "fit to screen" or "print size"
Your screen can often not display a correct view of items that are high resolution - if you are ever in doubt how things look then check the actual pixels view .
Merging layers will often give the impression that you are loosing texture and bevel when viewed at "fit to screen"- but zoom way in to actual pixels and you will find you havent actually lost that texture its just how the screen displays it when zoomed out -

[andyapc]

Thanks Lauren!

[Meryl]

Couldn't figure out how to work my zoom so I cheated and went into the Help file - WOW - learned that if I double click the zoom tool, my view is increased to 100% and if I double-click the hand tool, my view goes right back to fit-on-screen. I'm sure this is somewhere in the hundreds of pages of my DSP lessons but I just couldn't find it fast enough!

2 out of the 3 alphas look fine so I guess I'll work with one of those.

Thank you!
Why do you think its "cheating" to look at the help files :0) that's what they are there for and really are such a help :0) - its amazing how much you can learn from them - I LOVE them!

[Meryl]

Until a few weeks back this was one I'd totally ignore - though it was one of theose "another way to do the same thing" tools - I'l always used the up & down arrows in the Navigator :) but wow! once I did find it I found how different it really is!
In addition to what Lauren has said, if you Alt-click it take you a step back to get a broader view of what you're working on.

[Emma]

When I wrote my classes, I had the Help file open on one monitor behind Dreamweaver, and my program open on my other monitor. I have never learned so much as writing those classes. I actually felt a little strange explaining something that was right there in Help, and trying hard not to plagiarize, but their explanations and vocabulary was often so perfect, I wanted to just quote it, LOL!

The PSCS help is great, the PS7 and below was really horrible. PSE Help is fantastic, and PSP, while riddled with typos, is also really good.

When you first enter help, look at the Keyboard Shortcut heading and you'll be amazed how many thing syou can do without even touching your mouse.