Have a question about PSP? Perhaps your PSP is running slow and you wonder why, or
perhaps you need to just know what settings to use for your GIF optimizer.
Well, we have compiled a list of some helpful answers here and hopefully you will find yours!



Question - My PSP is running slow. What can I do to speed things up?

Answer - Every time you use your 'Browse' feature in PSP, it builds a cache. If you
move files, or delete files, these files are not deleted in your cache. It just keeps building
Over time, this can become a very large file, slowing down your PSP program.
To clear out your cache simply do this:
1. Open PSP and click on File
2. Go to Preferences
3. Select Reset Preferences
4. A window opens, check the box 'Delete all cache files'.

That's it...all done!


Question - Why do I have those little icons in my PSP files?

Answer - Those are browser icons. Every time you browse a file in PSP it puts one of those into your folder
PSP uses them to load the images or information quicker when you browse that file again. However, they can
take up quite a bit of space over time. So, to keep your PSP from making and storing them in your folders,
you can do this:
1. Open PSP and click on File
2. Go to Preferences
3. Select 'General Program Preferences'
4. Select 'Browser Palette' on the left
5. Uncheck the box 'Save Browser files to disk'.

All done!


Question - What should my GIF Optimizer settings be?

Answer - Below are the general settings you should use for your GIF Optimizer
Under the Transparency tab: Check Existing Image or Layer Transparency
Under the Partial Transparency tab: Check Use full transparency for pixels below: 25 - 50, this number will
change depending on your image...so you will have to check this each time
Check 'Yes, blend with the background color - choose white
Leave the other tabs at the default settings


Question - In Animation Shop, what should my Optimization Wizard settings be?:

Answer - Animation Shop can be a little booger sometimes when you save, as they are notorious
for messing up certain colors. You will get a sort of 'pixelated' distortion on your image
To avoid this (and some colors just can't be avoided unfortunately), these are the best settings generally:
Optimized Output - Check Animated GIF file and Replace the current animation w/the optimized version
Animation Quality - Click on the 'Customize' button and use these settings:
Colors - 255 colors, Optimized Median Cut or Optimized Octree, Error diffusion
(Some images work better with Optimized Median Cut and some with Optimized Octree,
You will have to work on a case by case basis here)
Optimizations - Check all but the top box


Question - Is there a good, free program out there for storing and organizing my fonts?

Answer - YES!! It's called 'The Font Thing' and you can get it here:
Sue Fisher, The Font Thing

This is a great little program..I love it!!
Simply download it, and it makes an icon on your desktop. Now, if you have been doing this right, and
downloading all your fonts into a folder you have made under My documents, then all you will need to do
is simply open up The Font Thing (it's a small window), then open your 'fonts' folder and drag your fonts
into The Font Thing. It's so simple, even this blonde could do it..lol. I have almost 2,000 fonts in mine!
And the neat thing about this is, every font you drag into The Font Thing automatically shows up in your
PSP font drop down list!...That's right!...no more searching for fonts and opening them up on your desktop!
They are always there in your PSP..all of them! They will also be in other windows programs too :)

It's totally awesome and you will love it!

You will continue to download any new fonts into your fonts folder under My documents, then just
drag them into The Font Thing, as you don't want to download them directly into this program


Question - Is there a program for viewing brushes that makes them easier to see?

Answer - Yes! It's called 'XnView Brush Viewer' and it's free! You can get it here:
XnView Brush Viewer at Rapid Share

It allows you to view your brushes a bit bigger so that you can see them better, such as your text
brushes and anything small that is difficult to see in the PSP drop down window.
It will also make an icon on your desktop as it is a stand alone program like The Font Thing
But for some reason that escapes me (mostly because I am blonde, lol) you don't have to
drag your brushes in here..it just magically has them I think..lmao

Question - What do I do when my brush tool rotates on it's own?

Answer - *Go to: View tab, then to Palettes, then Brush Variance (or press F11)
then, click on the 'Reset to Default' button ( the arrow in the bottom right corner).





Informational tutorial written for PSP Paradise Group by
Graphics by Pam 2008, All Rights Reserved