Strange brush tool setting?

[LadyJemima]

I just installed CS5 on my laptop and the brush tool seems to be on a strange setting. I can't figure out what it is. In CS2, my brush (say, a circle) will apply color to the exact outline of the brush. For instance, if I selected a 9px brush, I would see a 9px circle brush on my document, and when I click, it would apply a 9px dot of color.



In CS5, however, I see a much larger brush outline. If I select a 9px brush, I will see (guessing) a 20px circle which will apply a 9px dot of color. At least, this is my impression of what is happening.



And it's driving me CRAZY! I have no precision when I work! Before resetting my preferences I thought I would ask if anyone knows how to fix this. Even my professor has no idea. I did mess around with some general settings when I first installed but certainly don't remember doing anything with this.

[hawkeye]

Have you updated your video drivers?

[iDad]

I had that happen on one of my Macs .... Damn if I can remember what it was either an update from adobe or all tools reset.

[LadyJemima]

@Hawkeye -- it's brand spanking new Macbook Pro so I doubt I need to update video drivers?

@iDad -- I'll wait and see if anyone else can help out, but if not, the next thing I'll do is try a tool reset and then an adobe update (again--brand new, just installed four weeks ago so probably not an update issue).

[iDad]

Attachment 1921is a direct download from adobe or a disc install?.if disc, you probably need the up date you can check by looking at the top menue and click Help(see attachment)

[TerryC]

It has to be a basic setting . I had something similar, but this is exaggerated. And it took me a while to get it to stop doing the problem. Checking and unchecking enough boxes fixed the problem. Which ones ?????? I DON'T KNOW

[iDad]

Try going into brush presets "reset tool presets".just a thought I had looking this thread over again

[LadyJemima]

No luck with anything. Tried resetting tool presets, updating (yes, the initial install was from a disc) and also resetting all my preferences. So...wow. I hope Adobe has good customer service. >_<

[LadyJemima]

Ha HA!! My cursor was set to "medium" in my Mac's system prefs. WOW! Two weeks of agony solved!

[Steve]

I'm glad you figured it out.

I was going to mention that but when I tried it myself I saw no difference.
After you posted the solution I tried again.

This happens with the soft brushes not the hard brushes.

I initially tried it with the hard brush.