magic extractor and photomerge panorama missing!

[Ceilityme]

Please help me, I'm new to Macs and PSE 6, but I'm pretty sure these keys/buttons/tools didn't load or something, what I don't know, but...

I have checked every site, manual, book I can think of. But when I look under the image key, the Magic Extractor option is not there. I know it's supposed to be there, at least thats what every book, blog and tutorial says, but it's not, nothing, just the end of the options menu. Any ideas?

When I have tried to do a panorama shot, the option is greyed out. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be on the guided page or not, but I have not been able to access this feature either.

Did I buy a lemon? :confused: Is my computer possessed? Is there a way to add these features to my computer? Are they hidden? Did they download but I've inadvertently downloaded something which has corrupted these tools?
Help, I beg of you.

I've spent days trying to work my way around the program and trying to figure out Macs and organizing pictures on this very stupid, unfriendly adobe/iphoto system....

So, it is entirely possible I missed some crucial step when I downloaded the program, but I'd appreciate any help or ideas you may be able to send my way.
Thank-you

[pacfam]

Hi Ceilityme! I am certainly no expert on this, but I do have an iMac and use PSE6. The Panorama option is available under Full Edit, but not under Quick Edit or Guided Edit.
The Magic Extractor should be available under all three Edit types. Do you have a photo open when you try to choose the Magic Extractor? Are you opening your photos in Bridge? iPhoto and PSE don't seem to like each other very much. I save iPhoto jpgs to the Desktop if I think I am going to need them in PSE. Others have suggested (a great idea!) to keep a folder on the Desktop for photos from iPhoto that you might want to work on in PSE. This way you don't have to open iPhoto while working in PSE. Problems can arise when both programs are opened together, it seems. I am on my first Mac and it has taken me months to get even fairly comfortable with it, but I do love it. Let us know how you are doing . . .

[Ceilityme]

I don't have iphoto open but I do slide about 10 pictures at a time from iphoto into PSE, then I close I Iphoto. I save all the PSE files to somewhere??? Bridge, I think, I'll figure that out later.
Then I save the jpegs to my desktop. I transfer the picture to Iphoto later.
When in Full Edit mode, when I click the new> button the panorama option is greyed out, doesn't matter if I have pictures loaded in project bin or the work space. I can't access it.

As for magic extrator, it just doesn't exist. It's not even listed in the option menu. It is listed in the manual, but when i hit help, it has nothing...
Is this a download problem with mac/adobe?
I bought my copy of Elements 6 from a reputable computer store, the package wasn't tampered with. I have every reason to believe this is a legitimate copy of the program, but I'm missing these key features?

As I've said, I'm a newbie on Macs and years ago I used photoshop, it's been awhile....
None the less, If anyone has any ideas, should I reload the program, if so, a particular file i should pay attention to, or a file I should open, a plug in I'm missing?
Thanks

[pacfam]

I hope someone else will chime in here. You may just have a faulty program. . . it does happen. You might try reinstalling. . . anyone else out there have an idea? It does sound like you are doing all the right things, Ceilityme.

[ljameso1]

Another thing to check is that you have the photo in 8 bit rather than 26 bit as many options in pse don't work in 16bit. Go to image>mode. If 8 bits/channel is grayed out it already is in that mode. If it's not grayed out will need to select it.

[Ceilityme]

8 bit is greyed out. No worries there.

[ljameso1]

Before doing an uninstall/reinstall from the disc, could try resetting preferences. Close PSE then reopen while holding down the shift control and option keys until a window pops up asking if you want to delete preferences. Tell it yes. PSE will take a long time to reload, but that might fix your problem. I'm using PSE 6 on my mac at home and the items are where they should be on mine.

[Ceilityme]

I tried doing this, nothing. I held them down and nothing popped up.
I tried opening the program as a guest on my own computer and I can't.
I'm stumped.

[Zeria]

Hi
To delete the preferences on a Mac, hold down Command, Option and Shift keys.

Hope that works for you:)

[Ceilityme]

OK, I've tried this again... But I'm nothing called prefrences pops up. But a "Delete the Adobe Photoshop Elements Settings File."
I clicked yes. But nothing has changed.
Could you please give me step by step instructions. Maybe I'm doing this wrong. I asking adobe for help, but apparently, they don't give any help for PSE6.
If I uninstall and then reinstall, are there steps I can take to stop this from happening again.

Thanks

[Meta4]

Does Option+Shift+Command+V work? That, according to the menu item (PSE6 + iMac), is the keyboard shortcut for the Magic Extractor.

[Ceilityme]

No, that didn't work either.

[Meta4]

Just wondering if you have ever had any other Adobe software installed (particularly Photoshop)? I know when I had CS3 and Elements installed I got some very strange things occurring...

[ljameso1]

You may have to resort to doing an uninstall/reinstall. Don't drag program to trash like usually do with macs-adobe screwed that up. Wendy should be back from vacation soon. She is really good at solving odd problems. One last thing I can think of is to be sure you are opening PSE as the account authorized to make changes/install program as it won't work otherwise.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

... and welcome to the Village :)

OK lets see what we can do ..

First thing is make sure that you are in Full Edit .. to do that just click on full over on the top right of the screen.

Then open up your image and click on Image >Magic Extractor (you need to have an image open or it is grayed out)

To do an Pano ... do File>New ... then choose one of the Panorama options.

Let me know if you have any problems :)

Wendy

[lwc]

It doesn't show up in the menu at all??
4693

[Meta4]

In your screenshot, the Magic Extractor menu item seems to be there OK...

[Wendy]

lwc isn't the one with the problem ... the image is just to show Ceilityme where it should be :)

Sadly Ceilityme hasn't been back since the last post ...

Wendy

[Meta4]

Oh, how silly of me! If "lwc" was anything like "Ceilityme" I'd have an excuse, but I don't.

/me heads off to write: "Check who posted what before replying" 200 times.

[Wendy]

OK ... now I admit it :o

I did the same thing but noticed when I posted it so I then deleted it ...

Wendy

[doozer]

I am also having trouble on my new mac opening the PSE6 Photomerge Panorama. When I go under file<new, I see black options for Photomerge Faces and Photomerge GroupShot, but the Photomerge Panorama is grey and I can't select it. I've tried erasing my preferences, and re-installing the program, but it still doesn't work.

Any other ideas besides the ones mentioned?

Thanks!

[Wendy]

Hi ...

... and welcome to the Village :)

Did you have an image open when you did it ?

Wendy

[doozer]

I've tried to open it with no image, 1 image, and multiple images. I've tried to do it with .jpg and with .dng.

I'm stumped.
Thanks for your time!

[Meta4]

Found on another forum, so cut and paste follows:

"Got in touch with a lady called Barbara Brundage through the Adobe forums.
She told me to go to Library->Preferences and delete com.adobe.Photoshop.Elements , AdobePhotoshop Elements 6 settings and Adobe Photoshop 6 paths. I then wiped everything Adobe from my Preferences folder and reinstalled PE6.
Everything now works perfectly. All the things that were missing i.e. Panorama , Contact Sheet II and Picture Package are now alive and kicking.
I thought I'd post this just in case anyone else on here gets the same problem."

Worth a try, methinks...

Edit: Just found the original advice from said lady:

"Quit PSE, then go to your username>library>preferences and delete:

com.adobe.Photoshop.Element.plist
Adobe PSE 6.0 Paths
Adobe PSE 6.0 Settings

Repair permissions and try again. If they still aren't there, see if you can run a repair install (Install disk but choose Repair Components)"

[DesertScrapper]

Is it your PERMISSIONS? Maybe they are set to "read only" in your PSE?? Mine were and last night I had to fix it. Sadly I don't have the time to help with it right now as Im on my way out to the hospital for my son to have an endoscopy done. Maybe later tonight I can help if someone else hasnt already done so for ya.

After I fixed my permissions, it appears all my stuff is back in working order like it was when I was using PSE for Windows.

[doozer]

Meta4, I tried your method, but still no luck. DesertScrapper, I don't know if it's my permissions because I can do other editing and Photomerge effects, just not panorama. But just to be sure, I'd love to hear how I can check this.
Hope today goes smoothly with your son!

Do I need to use .jpg or can I use .dng? Right now I'm trying it with both to no avail.


Thanks!

[Ceilityme]

Hi, Sorry... I've been away at a family camping trip.

Regardless of what I do, How many pictures I have on my screen, or none at all, the magic extractor option does not exist. I've read, watched all the tutorials, I know where it is supposed to be, but it isn't.

As for panorama, regardless of whether or not I have picture up, in full edit, or guided, the option is greyed out. It will not work.

I have tried accessing these features in every way I can possibly think of. I would love to try and delete the preferences et al, but I'm having trouble following the path you have suggested.

How does one find the username on the computer, much less the library. I can't find those either, but I'm pretty sure it's because I'm missing the first step.
Please help me, this is getting very frustrating. I'm a little scared to delete the program, unless I absolutely have to.
Thanks again.
Ceili

[Ceilityme]

Ok, found the library. Duh!
None the less, I haven't the foggiest idea how to repair the permissions. I can't find them.

[Zeria]

To repair permissions:
1. Open disk utility --- located at /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility
2. Select your startup disk on the left of the Disk Utility window
3. Select First Aid from the tabs
4. Click the "Repair Disk Permissions" button

[Ceilityme]

Ok, I'm in the Disk Utilities, but I don't see a start up disk, or a first aid tab..

[Wendy]

Hi ...

It wonlt be called start up disk ...

Its the disk that you start up from so it you only have one hard disk in your computer it will be that one. Once you click on that (over in the left panel) then you will some tabs at the top on the right the first one is First Aid.

Jusy a thought what version of the OS are you using ... (mine is Leopard 10.5.7)

Wendy :)

[doozer]

I repaired my permissions, but that didn't work, either. Other things that I just discovered that I can't do are to correct camera distortions.

These are great ideas, but perhaps I have a damaged PSE6?

I don't know about Leopard, but I'm using 10.5.7 (are all Mac's leopard?)

[Ceilityme]

I just finished repairing the permissions and the panorama option is still greyed out and the magic extractor is no where to be seen.

I think it's time to reinstall and cross my fingers. Any words of wisdom before I pull the plug.
Thank you all for your help...

[Ceilityme]

I'm running the same system. Maybe it's the same problem, who knows. It sure is annoying.

[doozer]

:) only that I've reinstalled it 2x so far and it hasn't helped. Let me know if it helps for you!

Good luck

[Wendy]

Hi ...

No there are different ones ... but if you are using 10.5.7 then it is indeed Leopard.

Do remember to use the uninstall that is within Elements ... donlt just drag it into the trash.

Also when you do the fresh install make sure that you are running Elements under the Admin Account ...

Wendy

[DesertScrapper]

Im back from the hospital..... phew what a day.

Okay, Im really new to MAC but when trying to figure out how to fix my missing effects, panorama etc.. I came across a place that had a post from a few months ago and it stated that you have to manually go into your permissions for PSE6 and change the permissions... you can't just do a general 'repair permissions' apparently. So I tried it, after figure out how to get to that point, and bingo....

So lets see if I can explain what I did.. or at least get you close to it (Im not a good teacher.... )

I went to the desktop and double clicked on the hard disk icon in the upper right corner, a box came up and I clicked on LIBRARY, then APPLICATION SUPPORT, then ADOBE, then PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS, then 6.0, then LOCALE, then EN_US, then ummm... lets see.... on the icon called MEDIADATABASE, I left clicked on it then right clicked and clicked GET INFO.... when that box came up I had to see if at the bottom who had permissions..... and mine only had "read only" but for EVERYONE it should say "read/write". Then, on the other two folders.. .creative something or another? same thing, left click on them and then right click.... check for the permissions. Mine didn't work when I fixed all that until after I went back and checked the little box that says "SHARED FOLDER", at that point everything started working again.

I am sure there is any easier way, but like I said I am not a good teacher and Im veryyyy new to MAC and a beginner on PSE.

Hope it helps.

[DesertScrapper]

Wendy, I think that is how the permissions get all mixed up.. when it's installed under something other than ADMIN. However, HOW do you set up under ADMIN? I thought I was working/installing under ADMIN as Im the only person who has ever used this computor... but apparently Im not ADMIN? I couldn't figure this part out last night....

[Ceilityme]

Hi, I've taken all the steps and repaired the read and write as instructed, I've done yet another repair on the permissions and nothing. I am the admin, so I don't understand why things were read only but, c'est la vie, I guess something's hooched.

I'm going to try a reinstall, this sucks...
Thanks again for all your help.

[doozer]

YEAH!

I finally have it working! What ended up working for me is uninstalling the CORRECT way (Thank you, Wendy) by using the uninstall program on the disk. Also, and I don't know if this is what did it or not, but I also uninstalled the programs that came with my Canon like digital professional and all their other programs. Restarted the computer, and bingo, everything worked.

Thanks guys!
Beth

[Ceilityme]

Please tell me how to do this. I cant find the uninstall within Elements.

Thank you

[doozer]

I inserted the startup disk and followed the steps that you took to install the program until the option came up that I think said something about "remove components". Clicked on that and removed everything. Then restarted the computer, reinstalled PSE6 and restarted the computer again just in case.

Hope that helps! Sorry, I don't have the disk with me right now, so I can't tel you the exact wording. It was pretty clear, though. (hopefully)