Here you will find the answers to our most frequently asked questions about Artisan 5 software. If you have specific questions about a particular problem you are having, these are best asked in our Artisan 5 Good2Know Facebook Group, or send an email to info@pixels2pages.net. If your question is of a technical nature, these should be addressed to Forever tech support. We will continue to update this list as questions arise!
About Artisan 5
Q. How do I know what my current Artisan version number is?
A. You can check under the Help button (the small blue circle with a question mark at the top right of the Artisan screen). The Help Menu often pops up outside the Artisan main window. If you can’t see it, move Artisan to the left of your screen and the menu should be visible.
Click Help > About and your version number will be displayed.
Click HERE to find the current version of Artisan 4 And 5.
To download the latest version please visit forever.com/downloads
Posted in: About Artisan 4, About Artisan 5
Q. I’m having trouble with Artisan 5 since I updated.
A. If you are having trouble with Artisan 5 following an update, it may be that the update has not downloaded or installed correctly. Before contacting Forever support, we suggest you try the following steps:
- Reboot your computer. Shut it down, wait for 60 seconds and then start it up again (i.e. don’t just click Restart)
- Delete the Artisan5Setup.exe file from your Downloads folder (or wherever you chose to save it).
- Reboot again.
- Download a fresh copy of the update. You’ll find the latest version at www.forever.com/downloads. Run the update, and when asked to choose between modify, repair or remove , choose Repair.
- Reboot again.
- If you are still having trouble, contact Forever Support on support@forever.com or 1-888-FOREVER.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. Where do I find the most recent Artisan 5 update?
Click HERE to find the version number of the most recent version of Artisan 5, and to download updates if available.
Please note: In the earliest version of Artisan 5 there was known bug that prevented the software from checking for updates automatically. Check your version number if you are unsure whether you are using the latest version.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. Why can’t I see the two page spread option?
To see the two-page spread option in Artisan, you need to be in a photo book, not page prints. We recommend creating your project as a book, even if you plan to order your pages as page prints, to take advantage of the new live two page spreads.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. Where is the elements panel? or the operations panel?
The elements panel is on the left hand side as it was in Artisan 4. However, it is possible to minimise it to increase the work space. If yours has been minimised, you’ll find a little triangle at the top of where the elements panel usually is. Click that & the elements panel will reappear. The same function is available on the operations panel on the right side of the screen.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. Can I run Artisan 5 on a 32-bit computer?
Artisan requires a 64-bit computer to run. The vast majority of users will already have a 64-bit computer.
If you have a 32-bit computer you can continue to use Artisan 4. Artisan 4 will continue to be available to purchase.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. I don’t have the Quick Access Toolbar I keep hearing about?
If you are running Artisan 5 in Basic Mode, you won’t be able to see the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT), and a number of tools and buttons will not be available to you.
We recommend using Advanced mode even if you are a beginner.
To switch between Basic and Advanced mode look for the toggle in the top right corner of the screen.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. My content didn’t transfer across to Artisan 5?
If you are running Artisan 4 or StoryBook Creator 4 on your computer, Artisan 5 will give you the option of transferring your digital art kits, tags, categories and more when you are installing. If you skip this step, or it doesn’t appear, you can run it manually.
1. Go to C:\Program Files\Forever\Artisan 5
2. Find a file called MigrationAssistant.exe. Double-click this file to run the Migration Assistant.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. How do I get photos from Historian to Artisan 5?
A. Until there’s an update for Historian, it doesn’t know Artisan 5 exists. However, if you choose to share to Artisan 4 (or SBC4, if that’s what you have), and then choose to add to an open project, Historian will recognize your Artisan 5 projects. You do need to have your project open for this to work.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. Can I have Artisan 4 and Artisan 5 on my computer at the same time?
A. Yes you can. Artisan 4 and 5 are totally separate programs and can be run simultaneously. We recommend keeping Artisan 4 and using it to complete current projects until you are totally comfortable with Artisan 5.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. Why didn’t Artisan also copy my projects across?
A. At the bottom of the Welcome Screen in Artisan 4 and 5, you can see icons representing your most recent projects. Your projects are not stored inside Artian, but are in Windows folders on your computer. The welcome screen icons are just links, and are not the projects themselves.
When you first open Artisan 5, because it is a new program, and you haven’t opened any projects in that program, so there won’t be any icons there. Your projects are still safely tucked away in the same location as they were before.
Remember that once you open a project in Artisan 5, it will not be able to be opened in Artisan 4, so we suggest you don’t bring across a project you are in the middle of until you feel comfortable with Artisan 5.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. Why is there a yellow warning triangle on so many of my text boxes?
A. One of the new features in Artisan 5 is a warning which shows if you have spelling errors in your text. These might be actual errors, or names and foreign words that are not listed in the dictionary. The warning will show you what the problem is, if you hover over the yellow triangle. To get rid of a spelling warning, you can correct the spelling, add the word to your user dictionary, or turn off or modify the warnings if you really want to. Regardless of what you do, the warnings are there to help you, and they DO NOT print on your pages.
For more information:
- Pixie Power Minute: Managing Warning Levels
- Pixie Power Minute: Check Your Spelling
- Tip: Adding words to your User Dictionary
- Tip: Turning off the warning symbol
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. How do I find my activation code for Artisan 4 if I bought the Artisan 5 upgrade version?
To use the upgrade version of Artisan 5 you will need to enter your activation code (also known as Product Key) from Artisan 4. To find it, open Artisan 4, and click on the Help button (top right corner of the screen), and choose About.
You will see your code listed. Copy and paste it into the relevant box in the Artisan 5 activation process.
Posted in: About Artisan 5
Q. Help! I have lost a whole heap of pages after duplicating my project!
Posted in: About Artisan 4, About Artisan 5, Tech Talk
Q. How do I know if I have a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows?
To find out if your computer is running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows in Windows 10, do the following:
Click on Settings > System > About. Under System Type you will see either “32-bit operating system” or “64-bit operating system”.
To find out if your computer is running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, do the following:
- Open the Windows 8 Control Panel.
- Touch or click on System and Security within Control Panel.
Note: You won’t see a System and Security link in Control Panel if your view is set to either Large icons or Small icons. If so, find System and touch or click on it, then skip to Step 4. - With the System and Security window now open, click or touch System.
- With the System applet now open, titled View basic information about your computer, find the System area, located under the large Windows 8 logo. The System type will say either 64-bit Operating System or 32-bit Operating System.
To find out if your computer is running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, do the following:
- Open System by clicking the Start button, right-clicking Computer, and then clicking Properties.
- Under System, you can view the system type.
If your computer is running Windows XP, do the following:
- Click Start.
- Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
- If you don’t see “x64 Edition” listed, then you’re running the 32-bit version of Windows XP.
- If “x64 Edition” is listed under System, you’re running the 64-bit version of Windows XP.
Posted in: About Artisan 4, About Artisan 5
I recently moved my content to an EHD. My Commerical Art Kits show up when I go to Manage Content, but when I try to use them in a project, they are not there. When I try to open them on my EHD, I get an error message. I know I am missing a step, I just can’t figure out what. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Julie,
Can you see the art kits listed in Content Manager? You wouldn’t “open” the kits from your EHD. The kits need to be linked to the software. Here is a tip that might help you: https://www.pixels2pages.net/2017/02/07/artisan-5-tip-moving-art-kits-to-an-ehd/
I am working on a 12×18 calendar with the templates package. Am I able to replace a page with a blueprint or book page?
Try THIS LINK Jennifer
I recently upgraded my Panstoria Historian to Forever Historian. However, now whenever I’m in my Panstoria Artisan 4 program and want to “Add Page” template “Using a page file from my computer” I can only see the Artisan Icon instead of what the template looks like. Is this a software compatibility issue or a Windows 10 issue?
It’s neither, I believe. It’s just a file association issue. The easiest solution is to reinstall Artisan 5.
Thanks for getting back to me! I really appreciate it!
However, I do not have Artisan 5. I am using Artisan 4 and Forever Historian. I started having the issue when I changed my Historian from Panstoria to Forever. Should I reinstall Artisan 4?
Yes, reinstalling should fix this issue.
Thanks so much for your help!