Essentials Cafe

I am trying to using an iMac Lepoard OSX.5.4 w/ Essentials 4 and having MANY problems. For now, let's talk about the Restore Detail function. It is not working sometimes for me. Can anyone explain to me if it is supposed to work after I close a file I have autopainted and reopened? Or is E4 designed to completely finish the painting before closing the file? I have spent so many hours trying to understand how this is supposed to work so I will know if I am doing something wrong or if the software is not working correctly. I certainly will appreciate any help I can get here to lessen my frustration! Thank you, Ali

Hi Ali,

The auto paint feature will stop if you click in the picture.  There should be no problem saving it and later re-opening it to work on it more.  I use it on a PC, not a Mac so maybe someone else uses a Mac and can offer advice.  Jenifer might help on a specific question but you should provide more detail like are you saving in the RIFF format.

The restore detail brush (soft and hard) clones image detail from the original to the painting.  If you save in a format that does not keep layers, that will go away when you re-open.  I usually save in RIFF and Jpeg.  If I'm happy with the final result, I keep the Jpeg and delete the Riff knowing I'm finished with that one.  Others may keep Riff format.  Welcome to the group.

One more thing, did you download and update your E4?  http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1153321224268?pid=1207834989043

It also sounds like your OS is out of date , is the latest 10.5 ?

Ron, thank you so much for the info! I am saving in the RIFF format. I'm so glad to know that the restore image is supposed to work after closing and reopening the file. I have reinstalled my E4 and Shift open it each time. I'll check for updates to it on the website you gave me. The MAC OSX.5.4 that I am using is, I think, the newest one they have, but I will check Apple's website also, to see if I am missing something. Thanks for the Welcome. I'm glad to be here! Ali

Wow! Ron, thank you for directing me to this website. There was a big update for Mac OSX Lepoard. I'm thrilled. Maybe this will solve the other issues I've been having. You made my day! Thank you so much! Ali

Hi Ali:

You definitely should be able to restore detail after saving your painting as a Riff file.  What happens when you try to Restore Detail and it doesn't work?  Are any paint strokes applied?  Does it seem to do nothing?  Can you give us a few steps so that we can try and duplicate the issue you're having?

Thanks!

Wendy

Wendy, The wonderful news is that since I downloaded the Corel update for Mac OSX.5 that Ron directed me to on your website, I am now able to restore detail in files that I had closed. Per your request (and just to prove to myself that I wasn't imagining things) I went back to some files that I had auto painted on Aug. 1 and 7 (before I knew about the update) and tried to restore detail. When I opened the file the auto painted picture appeared on the screen. I clicked the Restore Detail button and moved the curser to the painting. When I touched the pen to the painting, the screen went blank. As I moved my pen over my tablet, the image of the picture began to appear where I was making strokes (like cloning). I do believe that this was occurring sometimes before I got the update. Also, what would happen is that I would stroke my pen on my tablet and the auto painted image would stay on the screen, but I would get no detail restored. I hope this information is helpful to you. Thank you so much for trying to make Essentials 4 and Mac OSX.5.4 compatible. I was really getting frustrated trying to use them before I got the update. I was also having trouble printing. I'll let you know if that reoccurs. Ali

I'm happy to hear the update solved this issue for you!  It sounds like it was very frustrating.