@rteestman, I'm sorry for your loss.   Try downloading and installing the Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 package on your laptop.  Install both the x86 and x64 versions of the file. ... View more

I have made Adobe aware of this discussion and have requested that Elements has the ability to handle non-compliant jpeg files (in the same way that Microsoft Paint or the Photos app can). ... View more

I believe we have seen another recent report of this happening.  If I recall correctly, the solution was to uninstall and reinstall the program. ... View more

You are probably not doing anything wrong.  This is a fairly common issue and I have been unable to get a straight answer from Adobe as to how to fix it.   I have a couple of suggestions.  First, download and install the Microsoft Video Studio 2013 Redistributable package.  Download both the X86 and X64 files. The only other possible suggestion I have is to remove your computer entirely from the internet and activate the license offline using the instructions found here.  A few users have been successful with this method, but others have not.  I don't have sufficient data to figure out why that is the case. ... View more

I'm not sure whether you are saying there was a change in behavior with the same file or whether you mean that files from the same source had a change in behavior.  I suspect that it is the latter and would be surprised if it was the former.  I have no expertise in programming of files.  But what I can tell you is that every time a jpeg file is opened and saved, it may be changed, even if no edits have been made.  Not all programs that can save the file will save it in exactly the same way.  Similarly, if you upload or download a file to or from social media like Facebook for example, the file may be changed.  The changes may also depend on the device or browser that is being used to upload or download the file.  As I understand it, the non-compatible jpeg files that we are discussing here have a very small piece of code that does not comply with the standard, yet makes the file unreadable by Elements and other programs that conform to the standard.   However, having said all of that, you raise an interesting issue and I will request that Adobe consider increasing the compatibility of the files that it can handle.  There may be a perfectly good reason why Adobe will not open these files and will not allow them to be used in Elements without first making them coform to the jpeg standard.  That is beyond my pay grade to answer. ... View more

IMO, the problem is not with Adobe.  The problem is with your source of files which is giving you files that are not compliant with jpeg standards.  The reason people will pay to use Elements is because the simple programs, like Paint and Photos, also have very simple editing functions.   ... View more

You might want to give the Painterly Effect Guided Edit a try.  It provides a fully customizable painterly effect to an image. ... View more

OK.  The only thing you are doing wrong is using the Impressionist brush rather than the regular brush.  Glenn and I both misled you by telling you to paint on a new layer.  That will not work with the Impressionist brush.  On the few occassions when I have used it by mistake, the brush has never worked for me either.  I now (partially) understand the reason why.  The Impressionist brush is in essence blurring the color pixels to which the brush is applied.  I have not fully explored how it does this, but my guess is that it is changing the luminosity (light) of the underlying color pixels.  That is why when you apply the brush to its own layer, it will only paint in white.    Changing the tolerance of the brush in the Advanced settings also changes how the brush operates.  But I'm not sure how.  When I pressed down constantly on a single area, the pixels that were affected cycled through the changes repeatedly.     I believe Glenn works with brushes far more than I do, and he may be able to explain it better than I can.  The bottom line is that if you want to paint your own desired colors on an image, you should use the regular brush.  And if you want an artistic effect, you should use one of the filters that are available. ... View more

I can open the saved-as-jpeg file in Elements 2020 too.  I used the Photos app in Windows 11, but I see no reason why it shouldn't also work in Win 10.  Any photo app that can open a non-compliant jpeg image should save it in a compliant format.   ... View more

I agree with @Peru Bob.  Many jpeg files that you download from the internet are non-compliant with jpeg standards.  I just opened your file in Windows Photos and saved it without making any changes.  The Photos app will save it as a compliant jpeg file which can be opened in any version of Elements. ... View more

What is the size and resolution of your monitor? Have you tried changing the UI Scale in Windows Settings? ... View more

Why are the many artistic filters, frames and options available in Elements not good enough for you?  And I don't understand what you mean by making Art Deco from your photos.  Are you talking about frames or other graphics?  Can you show us an example.  Elements 2026, which I believe you have, has introduced many new frames and graphics.  Have you looked at them? ... View more

It is possible to use a soft brush with the Selection Tool.  But what exactly are you trying to do with it?   You can reduce the hardness of the selection brush by reducing the Hardness slider.   In the following screenshot, I am using the Selection Brush and have chosen a 9 px hard brush from the brush picker.  I then increased the size of the brush to 57 px using the Size slider.  I then made 3 selections, changing the Hardness slider to settings of 100%, 50% and 9%.   As you can see, all that changes is the number of pixels that are selected.  (The thumbnail of the brush in the picker also changes to match the hardness/softness settings.)     ... View more

Try dragging the top right-hand corner of the Brush Preset Picker to extend the panel.  Are you then able to see the soft brushes? If that doesn't work, try resetting the brush tool by clicking on the 3 dots at the right side of the tool options panel.  This will open a dropdown menu.     ... View more

What is the latest version you are using? Do you use the Organizer?  If so, how many media files do you have in your catalog? How have you transferred the catalog to your new computer?   Are your media on an internal or external drive?  Are you using a NAS? When you say that the program hangs, what exactly do you mean? What are you doing at the time of the hang?  Are you using a lot of layers in the Editor?  How large are the files you are working on? Have you examined Task Manager to see what activity is taking place and what processes are in use? What are the specs of your brand spanking new computer?  What graphics card does it have and how much VRAM? ... View more

A similar dialog appears when adding media from the Organizer in the Slideshow dialog:   ... View more

You can find a download link to the program from the Products page of your Adobe account.  However, I am not sure whether Elements 2020 will run on your OS.  I will ping @Jeff Arola, another Community Expert who should be able to help you better than I can. ... View more

In Elements 2020, there are a number of art effects that can be applied using the Filter>Artistic menu items.  If you only want the artistic effect to be applied to a portion of the image, you can use a mask, as I have done in the following example:   ... View more

I know nothing about Macs, but here is an AI response to the error on a Mac:     Adobe Error 11 on Mac usually means  a problem with the Adobe Genuine Service (AGS) failing to update or delete old files , often fixed by manually removing the AdobeGCClient folder from /Library/Application Support/Adobe/ and restarting, or by running the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool. Other causes could be corrupted installers, permission issues, or conflicts with other Adobe processes, requiring deeper cleaning of Adobe folders in Application Support or trying alternative installer methods.  ... View more

Try downloading and installing the Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 package.  Include both the x86 and x64 versions.   ... View more

Can you post the photo you are trying to edit.  Also, try the open closed eye feature in the Perfect Portrait Guided Edit.  You may have more success. ... View more

@kr236 it looks like something has been painted.  What happens if you use the regular Brush tool?  (You have the Impressionist Brush selected.)  If you are still having problems, try resetting the tool, using the 3-dot button at the right side of the tool panel:   ... View more

Sounds like it will take you until after New Year to get it fully up and running.  😁 Happy Christmas, Glenn! ... View more

Never seen this issue before.  Try resetting the preferences file. Go to the Edit>Preferences>General tab and click the Reset Preferences on next launch button. ... View more

Sorry Bob, I know nothing about Macs.  Let's try @Jeff Arola. ... View more

@DP* said:  I am using PSE2026 (20251112.EO.64802456) on Windows 11   You do not have the latest update to the program which may have fixed some problems with the Save As dialog.  Can you please post a screenshot of your Organizer's Edit>Preferences>Updates dialog.  Like you, my computer is not downloading the update automatically.  Adobe will be looking at my computer on Monday night to see what that problem is.  If you don't want to wait, you can uninstall the current build and install the program afresh either from the Adobe trial download page or from the Products page of your Adobe account.  I think I know the cause of the update failure and I will send you a PM about it. ... View more