Certain brushes freeze my photoshop, help!

[FalyneVarger]

Edit- So I guess I've figured it out. I need to make really slow strokes to keep my photoshop from freezing. It's tedious enough I'll still end up avoiding the brushes and am sticking with the ones I've always used. Thank you guys for the help!

Hi,

I've been having this problem with a lot of the "cooler" brushes with photoshop. You know, the ones that create special effects, turn with your pen, or imitate traditional media? I love these brushes, but they make my photoshop freeze and I have to either close it from the task bar or crtl+alt+del it. When it freezes I can't touch anything on any of the tool bars or tabs, I can't save and loose my work! The only thing that I can do is move my brush cursor around the canvas area, but I can't make any strokes. After I close it it takes awhile for my computer to get back up to speed and I get sent an error report saying the program malfunctioned. When I open PS back up everything is back to the way it was from the last time I closed it (without a malfunction)
It only usually happens when I use these brushes or if I have them set to the smudge tool.

Does anyone know why this is happening? Or what I can do to stop it besides avoiding these brushes?
I have Photoshop Elements 5.0 and 4GBs of RAM on Windows XP. I typically work around 2000 to 6000 pixels. Also, I know that my graphics card is fine.

I'd REALLY appreciate any advice.

[Huey Yeng]

If you can provide/link said brushes that causes the problem it is hard for others to figure out the problem.

Remember using complex custom brushes as smudge tool will kill Photoshop. Period. Wait maybe it will takes a reallllly long time to finish up the task. D:

[FalyneVarger]

If you can provide/link said brushes that causes the problem it is hard for others to figure out the problem.

Remember using complex custom brushes as smudge tool will kill Photoshop. Period. Wait maybe it will takes a reallllly long time to finish up the task. D:

It does it with a lot of brushes, not just downloads. Specifically the default special effect brushes that come with this version of photoshop.
I've let it sit before for HOURS just to see if it would fix itself. It stayed dead. :(

[Huey Yeng]

Weird since I've never try Photoshop Elements before, I got no idea how the brush engine works.

I'm currently using CS4 and it never freeze be it simple round brush or uber complex 2000px photo brush. Have you try working on a document with less than 1000px for both dimension? If the symptoms persists then I only can suggest to uninstall and reinstall PS Elements.

[FalyneVarger]

Weird since I've never try Photoshop Elements before, I got no idea how the brush engine works.

I'm currently using CS4 and it never freeze be it simple round brush or uber complex 2000px photo brush. Have you try working on a document with less than 1000px for both dimension? If the symptoms persists then I only can suggest to uninstall and reinstall PS Elements.

Well, I've had different Elements before and they have all had this problem. It's just that now I have a real need for these brushes and this slowed me to almost a stop. I also have PS 6, but that is so old it doesn't even support E. brushes. :(
It's been awhile since I've worked below 1000 pixels, but I think that it froze then as well.
I'm going to try exporting my layer and painting in a separate file so that I don't stress it too much. I doubt it will work..but it's worth a try.

Also, I don't know if it helps, but sometimes I get a message that there is a problem with my tablet driver and to reboot my computer whenever I open PS.

[Huey Yeng]

The beauty of troubleshooting stuff like this is having so many variables-- :)

Try working on separate file and see if its help in your work. Something click my mind is you already mentioned only certain brushes cause PSE to freeze. Maybe it has something to do with your computer overall performance?

[bumskee]

I remember cs2 having issues with many brushes which was fixed with an update from adobe.. it's possible that the version of your PS element having similar issues.. is it upto date?

[vardoburrito]

In the brush settings>Brush Tip Shape>Spacing
try and increase it, so it'll decrease the stress it has on the CPU.

[Basically all the settings that are active within the brush will require CPU power, not RAM, but CPU cycles. Experiment with settings, but most times, brush size and spacing helps in my end.]

There's a lot of digital artists that block in with just a flat round brush. Nothing more. :)