Straighten tool wants to add a layer.

[Robert25720653e42v]

I use PSE mainly to restore old jpeg images in the guided section. No need for layers. For years I have been using the straightening tool to level them out. But now, all of a sudden, the tool wants to add a new layer to apply its rotation to. It works if I agree to make a new layer for it, but then it no longer treats the picture as a jpeg image, which complicates things enormously. I have to save it as a jpeg, close the program and reopen it with the jpeg again to continue. This is incredibly frustrating. Can anyone tell me what to do to make it work on jpeg images again? I cannot find anything in the settings that could cause this. I'm using PSE 2020, but I do not think this is a problem that would be related to a specific version.

[Greg_S.]

I don't recall ever seeing such a behavior before.  Where are you using the straighten tool - in Expert or Guided Edit Mode?  And which Guided Edit are you using?

All I can suggest is try resetting the preferences file. Go to Edit>Preferences>General tab and click the Reset Preferences on next launch button.  If that doesn't work, please give us a screenshot of your entire screen when the problem arises.

[Robert25720653e42v · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your reply. I've had this problem for about a week and I could not get rid of it. In the manual it is mentioned that the "rotate all layers" setting must be selected for it to work (or something along that line), but i never found that setting. So I made this post. And as I mentioned, I use it in Guided Edit Mode (Rotate and Straighten under Basics). Later that day it dawned on me that I have been playing around in Expert Mode too. (Mainly because I need to be in Expert Mode in able to use the ON1 Resize AI 2022 plugin.) So I searched there and changed something in the Layers section there (I don't even quite recall what it was , but I suppose i deselcted something, going back to "normal") and from then on it behaves normally again. 

So the problem is solved. I would have removed my post if that was possible, but that I could not. 

[Greg_S.]

I have tried to reproduce your problem (straighten tool adding layers).  I was only able to reproduce the issue if I started off with two layers.  Using the GE added another layer because it need to work on all layers and therefore stamped two existing layers into a third layer which was then straightened.

[Robert25720653e42v · Accepted solution]

The problem returned, so that allowed me to make a more precise description and solution.

I use Expert Mode mainly to activate ON1 Resize AI 2022 (via File/Automation Tools). ON1 creates a new layer to store the enlarged image in. But if something goes wrong with that process and ON1 does not write the enlarged image the layer remains, even if you close and reopen PSE or open a new image. And then the straightening tool wants to apply its rotation to that new layer.

The solution is simple (once you know it): Switch to Expert Mode and click layers. You then see your image as "Background layer" and a new blank layer. Delete the new layer and you're done.