Photoshop Resizing Short Cut - Suddenly doesn't work!?

Question

I know there must be a way to get it working again. In photoshop, I love my short cuts. I use [ and ] all the time to re-size my brushes. But sometimes, for no apparent reason, it stops working and I have to go up and use the stupid slider. It cuts way into my editing time. I've tried shift, ctrl, alt, etc... and nothing seems to toggle it back into use.

I'm sure there is a way, I'd like to know what I'm accidentally doing that shuts the function on and off. How do I get my short cuts back??

Answer 1

I tried recreating the problem but the only thing that comes close is if I have a cursor blinking in a text box in the options bar. So I doubt if that's the problem.

Someone left this answer from a different post when Photoshop wasn't behaving but I've never needed to use it myself so I have no idea if it will help you:

"Close down PS and then do this:

Re-open it. WHILE ITS STARTING UP, hold down ctrl+shift+alt keys. A window should pop up asking if you want to reset your settings, click yes or reset option....

That should work"

Actually hang on. I just tried this on CS3 and nothing happened. Okay hang on again. :-S

It does work but you need to be quick about hitting ctrl+shift+alt.

I'm not sure about older versions but in CS3 you can change shortcuts by going to Edit Menu>Keyboard Shortcuts at the bottom.

Then choose Shortcuts For: Tools in the drop down box in the window that appears.

Decrease and Increase Brush Size is listed at the bottom.

Hope I was of help...

Hmmm...

Maybe it's a problem with the keyboard itself? Try using the bracket keys in another app.

The last thing I would try is uninstalling and re-installing CS3. Sometimes some of the software I use starts acting weird over time.

I mean if you were accidentally selecting another non-brush type of tool you would know it by the cursor so I don't think you're activating any tools. All the menu shortcuts either bring up a dialog box or activates something that has no effect on the brush tool.

CapLocks just makes you have a precise cursor.

Nothing on the brush palette locks the size of your brush. Not even the padlock next to shape dynamics (which you think it would).

I've been using Photoshop since version 4.0 and I can honestly say I've never once encountered this problem. I find it hard to believe that you're accidentally hitting a key or that this is just user error on your part.

The only other thing I can suggest is asking here:

http://forums.creativecow.net/forum/adob...

Creative Cow's forums have been very helpful to me over the years.

Although now that I think about it, are you using a Mac? I use Windows. Perhaps this is some Mac related problem.

In any case, I really suggest asking this on Creative Cow.

I wish I was actually able to help. :-/