Recompose tool draws crazy lines

Question

Wonky PhotoshopCrazy lines!  Right now I am using the Recomprose tool in  Photoshop 24. If I click on my photo, I get a line, as you would expect; however, the line doesn’t quit.  The line shoots all over the photo I am editing.  Then, the screen freezes and I can’t continue editing.  I can’t get to the main screen to use the computer. In order for me to return to my edit, I have to turn off the laptop.  I can use Ctrl Alt Delete.  Then there are options:  Lock, Task Manager, Shut Down.  The Lock choice is selected.  If I select Shut Down, I lose any editing I have made on the photo.  But Shut down it is.  Start all over again only to be foiled by Photoshop misbehaving. I have battled this problem for the better part of a year.  It’s holding up my project.  The machine has been checked out by several sources.  No one has an explanation. I  uninstalled/reinstalled Photoshop. That didn’t help. In desperation, I bought Photoshop Elements 25. To my horror, it does the same thing!  was marking an area for protection using the Recompose tool.  This is the result.  The screen is frozen.

Greg_S. · Answer

Since the same problem occurs in both 2024 and 2025, I doubt whether resetting the tool will have any effect. Here are a few other suggestions:

Have you tried increasing the size of the selection cursor? (What part of the image are you trying to protect?)
Although it is probably not a factor, another thing I would try is to have the Layers panel open in the workspace rather than the Styles panel which is currently open.
In Edit>Preferences>Performance, change the current setting of the Use Graphic Processor for improved performance box
Under Preferences>Display and Cursor, adjust the cursor
Under Windows>Settings, make changes to the mouse pointer speed etc.
Also, make sure that your graphics card drive is up to date.

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