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P: Photoshop 27.8 GPU Rendering Artifacts and Color Banding due to Precise color management for HDR display setting under technology previews

Forum|Forum|23 days ago
June 30, 2026
36 replies
244 views

Hello,

I have encountered what appears to be a GPU-related rendering bug when converting RGB images to CMYK in Photoshop.

System

Photoshop 27.8
macOS Tahoe 26.5.2
Mac Studio M2 Ultra
Apple Silicon GPU

Problem

Whenever GPU acceleration is enabled, converting an RGB image to CMYK produces severe black rendering artifacts across the image. The artifacts appear immediately after the color conversion and make the document unusable.

The issue occurs with multiple images and is fully reproducible on my system.

Steps to Reproduce

Open an RGB image.
Make sure Use Graphics Processor is enabled under Preferences > Performance.
Convert the document to CMYK (either Image > Mode > CMYK Color or Edit > Convert to Profile).
Large black artifacts appear throughout the image.

Expected Result

The RGB image should convert normally to CMYK without any visual corruption.

Actual Result

The converted image contains large black rendering artifacts that were not present in the original RGB document.

Workaround

Disabling Use Graphics Processor completely resolves the issue.

After restarting Photoshop with GPU acceleration disabled, the exact same RGB image converts to CMYK correctly with no artifacts.

Additional Information

The problem started recently. Earlier Photoshop versions on the same hardware did not show this behavior.
The issue does not appear to be related to a specific image.
Since disabling GPU acceleration immediately fixes the problem, this seems to be related to Photoshop's Metal GPU rendering pipeline rather than the color conversion itself.
I can provide the original RGB file, the corrupted CMYK result, screenshots, the GPU Compatibility Report, and the Photoshop System Information if needed.

Has anyone else experienced this issue on Apple Silicon Macs, particularly on an M2 Ultra?

Thank you.

Adobe PS Bug Report.txt

Pinned Reply By D Fosse

Known bug in the Mac Photoshop version. Uncheck “precise color management for HDR display” in Settings > Technology Previews and restart. If already unchecked, recycle.

Show previous replies

D

DanBusler

Participant

This issue was also happening in Beta 27.9 and it appears to me that Beta 27.10 has not resolved this issue.

Cmd+Y does fix the issue, but you’ll need to do it for every image as it is opened

T

Tilo Riolo

Participant

Same here on Mac M4, since the last Beta update (27.10.0) all images open way too bright. I already checked all color and display settings, everything seems to be as it should

J

JimmyClaghorn

Participant

Proof view (command Y) fixed my issue, but still does not expalin why this happened. While annoying, I found a temporary fix.

T

Tilo Riolo

Participant

Yes, thanks, proof view actually works, as does disabling “Use Graphics Processor” in preferences… hope this bug gets fixed fast...

J

JimmyClaghorn

Participant

After doing the most recent Photoshop Beta update, my saved files now appeared serveryly whitewashed and desaturated after opening them with the new update installled. I’ve even closed and restarted my computer multiple times in an attempt to fix the issue, and non of which worked.

A

andrew29056103hbuc

Participant

My photoshop does not have (Photoshop 2026>Settings>Technology Previews, and uncheck Precise color management for HDR display) checked and still has the issue. I have deadlines. All my designs are washed out. Can you please help me.

D

defaultms06gzrn4h4x

Participant

I am also experiencing this issue where images look washed out, but the solution to uncheck the Precise color management for HDR display box doesn’t apply as it was already unchecked.

I ended up going back to the older version of photoshop via the CC app and then uninstalled the newest version. Images look fine now.

To do this, while in the apps section of Creative Cloud, click the three dots on the Photoshop app and select “other versions,” then install an older version. I believe you can leave the newer version installed if desired, but make sure you open files in the older version.

Hope this helps for now!

C

contactzero

Inspiring

I updated to Mac release Ps 27.9.0 and have the same Washed out issues in Photoshop. I use a Eizo CG2700x monitor. All other programs are fine - the problem appears to be the pointer to the monitor profile. I simply when into View > Proof Set up > Custom > (Reselected my Profile) and the color came back. Not a big deal but fuggin scary because I have a shoot today. Thanks Adobe for keeping me on my toes.

Summary: Reselect your monitor profile in View > Proof Set up > Custom > (Reselected your Profile)

Courage to all!

S

Spirited_Rainbow5684

Participant

i have the same problem since yesterday update 😭☠️ gonna test this. but why is it happening!? never was a problem before.

J

jimbonorman

Participant

hmmm...so to make this more confusing, what worked for me was in Color Settings under Advanced Controls, I checked the box that says Desaturate Monitor Colors By: 20%. To be clear, this was initially unchecked and the colors appeared to be desaturated by 20%. Checking this box saturated the colors, but it didn’t seem to matter what percentage I entered (0%, 20%, 100%, etc.) as long as I checked that box the colors were fully saturated. It’s opposite from what the checkbox says, so I think this is a bug...

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

There is a bug in Photoshop. Go to Photoshop 2026>Settings>Technology Previews, and uncheck Precise color management for HDR display and then restart Photoshop.

-- Johan W. Elzenga

V

VolumePhotography2297

Participant

This worked! Thank you so much!!

V

VolumePhotography2297

Participant

After updating to the most recent version (v 27.9) image coloring appears incorrectly in the editing workspace. When opening a .jpg using photoshop, the photo appears in the workspace washed out and with no contrast. In the navigator window and Camera Raw, the photo appears with the correct coloring. I’ve included a photo for reference. The photo coloring returns to normal once saved and exported out of Photoshop.

Step 1- Open the .jpg by right clicking the image and selecting open with Photoshop

Step 2- The photo appears in the workspace with incorrect coloring.

In workspace- incorrect coloring
In navigator window- correct coloring

Jeff Arola

Community Expert

Yes there seems to be a bug on the Mac side in Photoshop 27.8 causing issues with colors and image artifacts that Adobe is looking into.

In the meantime users report that going to Photoshop 2026>Settings>Technology Previews, unchecking Precise color management for HDR display and restarting Photoshop clears up things for now.