Photoshop Help...splotchy textures

[Xandher]

I did a search in the forums, and couldnt find anything that related to what I need help with.  

I am a skinner for a Sims 2 fansite, and I create textures using Photoshop.  I recently got a new computer and had to do a fresh install of Photoshop 7.0 That is the version I used on my old computer, so I assumed that the settings would be the same, but they are not.  I have been noticing that the blended areas of my textures do not appear soft, as they did in my old version.  The transition from a light area to a shadowed one looks very pixellated and harsh, even when I use the smudge and blend tools.  In my old version,  I never changed the settings of the brushes or anything, so they should have been at default, as they are with this newly installed version.  This problem makes it impossible for anything to look softly blended which is an absolute must for the work that I do.  I have lost about a week of work due to this, and am very nervous that If I dont do something quickly, I could be in trouble.  I never fiddled with any of the settings, so I dont understand why everything looks different.  My monitor is the same as the one I was using before, and I can't think of anything that would be causing this other than some setting that needs to be changed. I have spent hours looking through the settings, and not findng anything that made any difference.    Just for reference, I am viewing the same texture any time I try new options. Then when I change the options, I use the smudge tool to see if the resuts are different.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that someone out there can help me with this. I would be grateful beyond words. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.  

[Dell4700]

Hmmm...

I use Photoshop 7.0.

When I have had to move it or reinstall it, I always transport several things to make sure I am running the same stuff I was previously.  After all, after months of use, who can remember what changes or additions have been made.

The folders I always save and move are these, on the C: drive (default locations):

Programs>Adobe>Photoshop 7.0>Presets

Programs>Adobe>Photoshop 7.0>Plug-Ins
and if applicable,
Programs>Adobe>Shared Plugins and Filters

Your files may have been in slightly different locations, but within the Adobe folder.

Simply copy the above files to the same location on your new PC.  You should now have all the key capabilities you formerly had.  You will be overwriting the default folders.

Hope this helps!  If not, let us know and we'll figure something out.

Dell

[Xandher]

Thank you very much for the tip. I will remember that next time. Unfortunately that does not help me in my current situation, because what I need to do right now, is identify the setting that has changed. I know its not a filter, or  anything downloaded because the settings are at teh default right now.

What I need to find out, is how to make the blending of each tool I use more gradual and soft.

Right now, each tool that I use, includeing the smudge tool, paint, blend, dodge and burn, and any of those similar tools, yeild a pixillated effect, not a smooth gradual one.

What settings could effect those tools?

[Fed]

Your screen resolution.
Right Click>Desktop>Properties>Settings

[dl65]

Xandher......Odd , I use photoshop 7 all the time .....and I have reinstalled it on several of my pcs...... The settings are always the same .....( unless I change one )
You say you have never changed any settings...........
this is just a shot in the dark , but is it possible that the vid card in your new pc is totaly differant than the one in your old pc ? .........and the display is slightly differant , despite the fact that your using the same monitor.
Did you use the same cd to do the install on both the old and the new pc ?
Could you post a sample of what your working on now so we can attempt to find a solution for you ?

dl65  

[Xandher]

Actually, the video card is one of the only things that we kept from the old computer.  It was only a month and a half old when we decided we needed a new PC.  So the monitor and video card remained, and pretty much every thing else was scrapped.  Although, this problem I am having is only noticeable in flat areas of color, ( not areas with patterens or textures) So there is a chance that I just didnt notice any changes that the new video card made.  That could be an option, but I have a feeling its not.  

As far as the cd is concerned, no, this is a totally different cd. The last time I installed photoshop, it was a few years ago, and it was my parents version that I used. Although this is still the same version, its a different disk entirely.  I wonder if that would make a difference.

I will post some screens to show you what I am talking about.  Just need to find out how to do it!    Thanks so much for the responses.  This means alot..I'm pretty desperate to get this resolved.  :-/

[Xandher]

Here is an example of what I am talking about. This area is of the pelvis, so you can see the shading around the stomach, and thighs, but it looks pixellated, and harsh.

[patio]

It looks like a dark black square to me...

[Xandher]

Ooh...you cant see anything?  It is a picture of a black dress texture, but on my monitor its pretty clear.

[dl65]

Xandher.....The image I'm seeing is a little dark ........however I cant see any pixelation ....I do see an area were you may have used the smudge tool ......( in the navel area)
Could you possibly post another image that is a little brighter ( lighter ) and possibly we came offer some resolve .

dl65  

[GX1_Man]

dl65 - I think it's like one of those inkblot tests, to assess your personality traits. Be careful and don't tell too much!!!  

[Xandher]

Hopefully this one is a little better.  Sorryabout that.  :-/

[Fed]

When you create a new texture in Photoshop, what do you set your rsolution at?
Mine defaults to 72 pixels/inch.
Have you tried increasing it?

[Xandher]

Mine is the same. I havent considered increasing it, because I didnt know it was an option.  I can't imagine that this is what is causing the problem, If I've never changed it before.

[Fed]

If you changed it to pixels/centimetre it would more than halve your problem I think.

[Xandher]

I went ahead and did that, but I am not noticing any change.  I'm still not understanding why this looks so different than it did on my old computer.  It just doesnt make any sense to me.  

[Fed]

What is your monitor resolution set at?

[Xandher]

1280x1024

[Fed]

OK, 1280 x 1024 with the default of 72 pixels/inch should be fine.... but it still appears 'blocky'.
I think you have a colour problem, or lack of colours.
Looking at the 'blue' one in normal size, it appears to be only made up of 8-10 colours?
I think what we are seeing in each 'block' is 4 pixels instead of 1.
Does that make sense to you?  

[Xandher]

I think I understand.  Are you talking about 8 bits vs 16 bit vs 32 bit, or would that have nothing to do with this?

[Fed]

Your screen is made up of pixels (little squares of colour).
You have 1280 horizontal pixels & 1024 vertical pixels.
Your picture starting resolution is 72 pixels/inch.
Do the sums it all works out right.
Open your blue picture to full size & count how many 'blocks' there are to the inch.
You will see it's about 18 blocks to the inch.
I suggest each 'block' is not one pixel, but four pixels.
With more shades or colours each block would show at one quarter of the current size.
The result would be far improved.

[Xandher]

I think I understand what you are saying.  But I dont know how I am supposed to fix it.
:-/

[Fed]

Try Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and play with the radius slider.
This is fun  

[Xandher]

Yeah, I have tried that, but the problem is, I loose alot of the detail that I need to have. That works in the more flatly colored areas, but not in the areas where definition is important, such as creases, and seams.

[Fed]

What are you trying to make/draw?
Tell us the steps you go through?
I'll try & recreate it on my end & see what happens.

[Xandher]

Well, its basically a dress.  Its a skin texture for The Sims 2, so it is a drawing of a dress flattened on to a 1024 x 1024 image.

[Xandher]

I'm bumping this in hopes that someone else will be able to help me.   I am in a pretty sticky situation with this, and I need to get this matter resolved before I lose my job.  Please, anyone who is familiar with photoshop, help if you can?  

[J0K3R]

Have you run the gamma adjustment utility for use with photoshop

[Xandher]

I think I have looked at just about every possible option within photoshop as far as settings are concerned. But I dont recall hearing about the gamma utility. How do I access it?