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oscillatory
New Participant
November 13, 2013
Answered

Photoshop Elements UI font too small on high-resolution display

  • November 13, 2013
  • 28 replies
  • 84086 views

Hi,

I have recently purchased a Dell XPS15 laptop with a QHD+ (3200x1800) display. The PC is running Windows 8.1. I have also purchased Photoshop Elements 12 to run on it.

With the display at the native resolution, it is necessary to have the "Change the size of all items" option in the display settings of Windows 8.1 set to "Larger", in order for the native Windows fonts and UI elements to be at a reasonable size. The laptop came with this option enabled by default.

However, disappointingly the UI font size in Photoshop Elements is way too small when the display is at the native resolution. The application is basically unusable.

I have tried setting the "Use system font" option in the General preferences, but this doesn't seem to help.

The only way I can get the Photoshop Elements UI font to a reasonable size, is by dropping the screen resolution (to say 1920x1080).

This seems like a terrible waste of a beautiful screen, particularly when my main reason for using the PC is for editing photos, and my photo management and editing software is preventing me exploiting the full resolution of the display.

I'd appreciate any help or suggestions.

Thanks.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer kaare1234567890

    I have this on my Lenovo Yoga Pro 2. In the store, the high resolution seemed so obviously great, but in practice, there is so much software that runs with serious GUI problems.

    Has anyone yet tried PSE 13?? Supposed to cure this problem. (Picture editing software | Adobe Photoshop Elements 13 - Features search for DPI)

    -kc

    28 replies

    S
    Selenadew
    New Participant
    February 18, 2019

    I have Photoshop Elements 11 running on my (4K display) HP Spectre x360. A kind employee at Best Buy was able to fix the issue for me. Hopefully this can help others!

    On your desktop, right-click the Photoshop Elements 11 icon. Select Properties, then click the Compatibility tab. (I can't remember exactly what the employee did, so I've attached a photo of what my settings look like.) This brought all UI back to its original size. Once you've changed all the settings, be sure to click Apply in the bottom right corner of the main properties menu. This saves the settings.

    If you're still having issues, I highly suggest visiting Best Buy or any tech-savvy store. They fixed this issue for free and were very kind.

      sherryr69377870
      sherryr69377870
      New Participant
      June 4, 2019

      This worked for me on my Dell HD computer.  I have been looking for a year for a solution.  The fonts were either too small or too large, making the program unusable.  Thank you so much for the advice.  Now I can use PSE 13 again. 

      C
      cymi2
      New Participant
      December 21, 2019

      Thank you - Worked on my Dell Inspiron  14 , 2 in 1 , Windows 10. Photoshop fonts still smaller than I would like, but at least readable.

      S
      sewwyo
      New Participant
      December 19, 2017

      I too just have purchased a Dell Laptop with 4k screen and purchased a subscription to Adobe Photoshop CC and Lightroom. The Photoshop is so small I can barely read it, so I can't even use it. I hate to pay for something every month that I cannot even use.

      Has anyone come up with a fix to this?

      G
      G Woods
      New Participant
      April 15, 2018

      In Windows 10, change the properties on the Photoshop Elements program by right-clicking the link and going to More, Open file location.  Right-click on the program.  Select Properties.  Click on the Compatibility tab.  Select Override high DPI scaling behavior.  Select System (enhanced).  Click Apply.  This should help with visibility.

      In addition, you may need to run the Windows compatibility troubleshooter for the program.

      I hope this helps.

      D
      donb99447775
      New Participant
      April 17, 2018

      Thanks but this didn't work for me. I know buying an updated version is the solution but I only use Elements for very basic editing.  it's just note worth it to me to purchase the subscription.  I'll deal with it or look for another app.  Thanks again, Don

      M
      mjs253
      New Participant
      May 19, 2017

      Hi all,

      Too bad I didn't know this before buying a Photoshop CS6 for my HP Envy with +QHD 3200x1800. The seller gave me a link that seemed to fix the problem in PS but I couldn't get it to work when I'd "Browse in Bridge". Anyway, for those who want to try it, here's the link: http://www.danantonielli.com/adobe-app-scaling-on-high-dpi-displays-fix/

      Again, this worked for me in Photoshop (although you lose the great screen resolution) and I tried making a manifest file for Bridge but that didn't work.

      I'm not clear, however, does the problem still exist if one uses (begrudgingly) Creative Cloud?

      KKasworm123
      KKasworm123
      New Participant
      May 14, 2015

      I have installed PE 13.1 and the photo editor is great.  Unfortunately they don't seem to have done anything for the organizer.  On my 2560x1440 monitor the organizer is still awfully small (and that's putting it mildly)).  Hopefully they will fix the organizer before I have to find something else.

      MichelBParis
      Community Expert
      MichelBParisCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 14, 2015

      Which is your OS ?

      The Organizer supports setting a bigger font size from Windows (I have set mine to 125%).

      Right click in an empty space of your desktop and select the customize options.

      Of course, choosing bigger fonts will also apply to other softwares, which is generally a good thing.

      KKasworm123
      KKasworm123
      New Participant
      May 14, 2015

      Hey this is great!! I was about to give up on PE.  Thanks a lot.

      anella3
      anella3
      New Participant
      February 23, 2015

      Same problem with Surface Pro and Windows 8.1.

      How hard can it be to fix this problem???  I can barely see the Menus and Tools... and I have 20/20 vision.

      MichelBParis
      Community Expert
      MichelBParisCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 24, 2015

      anella3 a écrit:

      How hard can it be to fix this problem???

      Extremely hard. You would not believe the amount of code to re-write and the number of programmers involved in the change, both at Microsoft and Adobe and other software editors. Those are dependent on Microsoft APIs, so that means lots of delays; it's likely that everyone will have to jump to a  Win 10 version to see a suitably 'scalable' interface.

      I can barely see the Menus and Tools... and I have 20/20 vision.

      Yes...

      That's your problem. You have 20/20 vision (like me with my glasses ) and you can't read letters. And like all other users who jumped to hdpi display, you believe you can see more details in the pictures than with standard displays. How many pixels are needed to shape a small font? You'll even find people who tell they can distinguish individual pixels when seeing small fonts in their normal viewing conditions. Just compare normal and hdpi displays side by side in normal working situations (either on laptops or desktops). While you can perceive some difference in quality, can you really see more details in your picture displayed full screen? The truth is in the font size. The needed resolution in pixels to draw the smallest character on normal viewing conditions is what is needed. Higher resolutions are illusions for viewing the image. They can't help with text because even if the very small character is correctly drawn, you need a magnifying glass to see it.

      People who have chosen hpdi displays for photo editing have been misled. Even when the interface scaling problem has been solved, you get only drawbacks for editing.

      - more expensive displays and computers

      - slower softwares

      - still more zooming in when 'pixel peeping' (working at the pixel level)

      - akward interface to enable viewing both on small displays (tablets or phones) and large screens. Just see how much text and icons you can display in one line on a 27" editing display and on your Surface pro? If you are able to 'zoom in' that line, you'll see only a part, same for the bottom lines of the screen.

      It's much more important to spend money on quality displays with calibrating software than using hdpi.

      There are two reasons for hdpi displays use:

      - use on small devices like phones or tablets

      - manufacturers are able to do it now at a reasonable price. It's easy for marketing people to sell 'more is better'.

      danr7668932
      danr7668932
      New Participant
      February 21, 2015
      THIS WORKS 99.99%
       
      I have been experiencing the same problem and after playing around in the settings, I came to a conclusion…
       
      So here are the steps I would recommend to follow if you wish to solve your problem
      1. Right-click on your home screen and click “screen resolution”
      2. Then choose the resolution somewhere half your recommended settings
            Ex: If you have 3200x1800 (recommended), try choosing 1600x900
      3. Click “Apply” and you’ll get a pup-up asking if you want to keep the changes
            Click “Keep changes”
           Everything will be big but don’t worry
      4. You then would want to right click on your home-screen again and this time choose “Personalize”
      5. Click on “Display” located at the lower left side of your screen
      6. Click the check box “Let me choose one scaling level for all my displays”
            And keep the option for “Medium- 125%” and click “Apply”
      7. You’ll get a pop-up window asking if you want to “Sign out now” or “Sign out later”
           Choose “Sign out later”
           And RESTART your computer/ laptop

      8. Try running your program and you should see some positive changes

        
      These steps should work with other programs with similar problems
      Hope this helps…Good Luck
        andreab53162873
        andreab53162873
        New Participant
        March 14, 2015

        Thank you very much!!

        It works perfectly for my HP spectre.

        I don't understand why Adobe doesn't fix this issue with an update of its software..is it so complicated?

        Thanks agains danr

        S
        Smpiders
        Participating Frequently
        October 9, 2014

        Running Photoshop Elements 13 on a Surface Pro 3, and I am struggling with the tiny font and UI.  Adobe advertises that the program scales automatically based on the resolution of the display.  In my experience thus far, this does not work.  I did download Photoshop CC 2014, and the experimental scaling works wonderfully.  I don't understand why they can't implement the same fix in Elements.

        ssprengel
        ssprengel
        Inspiring
        October 22, 2014

        I'd suggest starting a new thread with a screenshot over on the feedback site:  http://feedback.photoshopcom/ that Adobe supposedly reads every initial post of and evaluates whether there is an issue.

        The screenshot should be of Elements 13 maximized on your screen, and the Help / About Photoshop Elements visible to verify the version number.  If that screenshot isn't accepted for embedding in the message, itself, because it's too big, upload it to www.dropbox.com and post a public download link to it in the message.

        Also do a Help / System Information, and post that to a message in the same feedback thread you've started over there.  Make sure you've removed your serial number from the PSE13 system information listing if it's shown.

        maixo
        maixo
        New Participant
        October 8, 2014

        can anybody recommend an alternative to photoshop elements 12 ? is it too much to ask for photo editing software (which adobe are still selling) which works with modern high res displays ?

        I am looking for a non-adobe alternative because their customer service is a disgrace ! I have emailed them and got no reply and when I finally got through to their chat "support" I was told to go to these forums.all I am getting here  are people like me asking the same questions with no answers.

          J
          Jackez-ly6Yx8
          New Participant
          October 8, 2014

          Yes DxO is very good and Capture ONE too.

          http://www.dxo.com/fr

          Capture One Pro 8

          N
          Nirak_Nesneros
          Participating Frequently
          November 4, 2015

          I recently bought PE 14 and also windows 10.  My yoga 2 plus finally works great.  The screen resolution is no longer a problem and I don't have to change anything.  As thrilled as I am, I am very disappointed in both Microsoft and Adobe that it took so long to fix the issue.  Also, it cost me a lot of money in software expense.  PE 12 or 13 never worked and I paid for both of them.

          C
          coyote101
          New Participant
          October 6, 2014

          Thanks ssprengel,  my error.  I have two versions of PS CC on my computer, and I opened the wrong one after update. Indeed, the experimental 200% option is still available and works pretty well on Yoga Pro 2.

          Apologies to all for the incorrect post.

          C
          coyote101
          New Participant
          October 6, 2014

          Note for PS CC, the "experimental" fix identified above has been removed from the latest release, so PS CC is now back on par with PS Elements - tiny icons.

          So, some users with the previous release may not to "upgrade" to the latest. Too late for me. 

          ssprengel
          ssprengel
          Inspiring
          October 6, 2014

          I am running the latest PS CC 2014.2.0 r236 and still have Experimental Features in Preferences and there is a UI 200% option, still.

          jim116
          jim116
          Participating Frequently
          November 28, 2015

          so what is the fix

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