Raise your hand if you like it when your computer thinks...and thinks...and thinks. Anyone?

 

Mac users lovingly refer to this stalled thinking as “the twirling rainbow of death.” Windows users have adopted the term “the blue spinning circle of death.” Either way, it’s something we all try to avoid like the plague.

 

 

One of the places you’d commonly see a death spin is in the Filter Gallery of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. That’s because filters require a lot of memory. They have to remember where you’ve been, where you are going, and everything in between.

 

It’s also common sense that the larger your image (in pixels and color data), the longer you’ll be waiting for the filter adjustment to render your image.

 

 

When trying different filters on an image, first create a selection outline around a small portion of the image. Now when trying different filters, your computer will only have to render that small section of the image.

 

When you find the filter and settings that you like, back out of the filter dialog box, deselect, then apply the filter to the entire image.

 

Voila! No more conceding to the Filter Gallery death spin.

 

Speaking of filters, make sure to check out the FREE tutorial below. It’s all about the Distort filter and it’s fun!

 

 

P.S. Here’s a geeky bit of information. The following filters are deemed “memory-intensive” by Adobe: Cutout, Stained Glass, Chrome, Ripple, Spatter, Sprayed Strokes, and Glass.

 

 

Celebrate February, the love month, by honoring those you care about. Join Jenifer Juris and the 2017 Creative Team in a challenge to tell a story about someone you love.

 

This month’s challenge is being sponsored by The Lilypad. Enter the challenge for a chance to win $25 credit on account at The-Lilypad.com.

 

 

Using a common element along with the Distort Filter, add a swirl to your document that will give the illusion of movement.

 

=> Includes a free download.

 

Skills practiced:

 

(This popular 2012 tutorial by Barb Brookbank has been reformatted for current software versions.)