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Chris Gilcher
Chris Gilcher
Participating Frequently
June 30, 2026

P: Photoshop 27.8 & later Rendering Artifacts, Exposed Previews and Color Banding

  • June 30, 2026
  • 172 replies
  • 1135 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

  1. Open an RGB image.
  2. Make sure Use Graphics Processor is enabled under Preferences > Performance.
  3. Convert the document to CMYK (either Image > Mode > CMYK Color or Edit > Convert to Profile).
  4. 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.

      Pinned Reply By Erin26

      An update on the two bugs mentioned in this thread:

      • Washed-out colors: The fix is included in the latest Photoshop release, PS 27.9.1.
      • Banding during RGB → CMYK conversion: The fix is available in the latest Photoshop Beta build 27.11.

      172 replies

      Show previous replies
      rowly23
      rowly23
      Participating Frequently
      July 31, 2026

      I ran into something very similar after an Adobe update. In my case, the NEF files themselves weren't the problem—it turned out that Camera Raw was applying different default processing than before.

      A few things I'd check:

      • Open one of the affected NEF files in Camera Raw and click Reset to make sure an old preset or profile isn't being applied automatically.

      • Compare the Profile (Adobe Color, Camera Standard, etc.). After one update, mine had switched profiles and the images immediately looked flatter and hazier.

      • Disable any automatic presets in Camera Raw Preferences to see if the issue disappears.

      • If the files look correct in Nikon software (NX Studio) but not in Camera Raw, that points more toward an Adobe rendering issue than a problem with the Z9 files.

      Since the problem started immediately after the update, I'd also report it to Adobe with one of the original NEF files. If multiple Z9 users are seeing the same behavior, it's likely something Adobe can reproduce and fix in a Camera Raw update.

      zachk
      zachk
      Participant
      July 31, 2026

      Photoshop 2026 displays PNGs with incorrect/desaturated colors when “Use Graphics Processor” is enabled (macOS)

      After updating from Adobe Photoshop 2025 to Adobe Photoshop 2026 on macOS, I noticed that PNG files appear significantly less saturated in Photoshop 2026 than they do in Finder, Preview, and Photoshop 2025.

      What I verified

      • Same PNG file
      • Same ASUS ProArt monitor
      • Same Mac
      • Same Photoshop Color Settings in both versions:

         

         

        • North America General Purpose 2
        • sRGB IEC61966-2.1 working RGB
      • Preview and Finder match Photoshop 2025 exactly.

      Issue

      Only Photoshop 2026 displays the image with noticeably reduced saturation.

      Troubleshooting performed

      Disabling Preferences → Performance → Use Graphics Processor and restarting Photoshop completely resolves the issue.

      After GPU acceleration is disabled:

      • Photoshop 2026 matches Finder
      • Photoshop 2026 matches Preview
      • Photoshop 2026 matches Photoshop 2025

      Expected behavior

      Photoshop 2026 should display the same colors as Preview, Finder, and Photoshop 2025 when GPU acceleration is enabled.

      Actual behavior

      With Use Graphics Processor enabled, Photoshop 2026 displays PNG images with visibly reduced saturation. Disabling GPU acceleration immediately corrects the display.

      This appears to be a GPU rendering or display color management regression introduced in Photoshop 2026.

      System information

      • macOS: [your version]
      • Mac: [your Mac model]
      • GPU: [your GPU]
      • Monitor: ASUS ProArt
      TexMax
      Participant
      July 30, 2026

      Until I read this post, I kept the Use Graphics Processor unchecked, which did not seem to hurt my performance on individual images in Photoshop. I then tried the Mr+Hahn solution and -- after a few restarts -- i now have Settings/Performance/Use Graphics Processor on. It worked for me. Thanks.

      perlfoto1
      perlfoto1
      Participating Frequently
      July 30, 2026

      Images that display accurately in Bridge, Camera RAW, LRC Library & Develop Modules, Preview, etc., are rendered completely washed out in PS regardless of whether or not edits have been applied. This occurs in both PS Beta (v27.10) and PS (v27.9). Finally narrowed it down to use of the GPU. When Use GPU is UNchecked in Settings>Performance, the problem disappears. I’ve had that option turned on essentially since it became available, so something has changed (or failed). There are advantages to having the GPU use turned on that I would like to retain. Any insight as to why this is happening and what might be done about it will be sincerely appreciated. Thanks.

      Details: Mac Mini M1/OS Tahoe 26.5.2/ PS Beta v27.10/PS v27.9

      Jeff Arola
      Community Expert
      Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 30, 2026

      The most successful workaround so far, until Adobe fixes the issue, is to go Photoshop 2026 or Photoshop Beta>Settings>Technology Previews, uncheck Precise color management for HDR display and restart Photoshop.

       

      With the above setting disabled you can turn Use Graphics Processor back on.

      larryb52z
      larryb52z
      Known Participant
      July 30, 2026

      I have checked the "Precise color management for HDR display" setting, and it was already turned off.

      I also discovered that the issue is not limited to HDR or TIFF files. The problem occurs with JPEG, TIFF, PSD, and DNG files. All of these image types display noticeably lighter in Photoshop when Use Graphics Processor is enabled.

      The same files display correctly in Adobe Bridge, Camera Raw, and in Photoshop when Use Graphics Processor is disabled.

      This appears to be a Photoshop GPU display issue rather than a file-format-specific issue.

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 31, 2026

      ​@larryb52z 

      Correct, it has nothing to do with file format. It is broken display color management, somewhere in the interface between Photoshop GPU code and the MacOS GPU driver component (it’s only been reported on Mac, not Windows).

       

      The fix - well, not really a fix, but a workaround for now - seems to be to activate the “precise color management for HDR display” checkbox, regardless of how it was previously set. If checked, uncheck it; if unchecked, check it. Whatever the cause, that seems to kickstart GPU color management back into correct operation.

       

      The conversion from document profile into the monitor profile is normally executed in the GPU. When the GPU is disabled, it shifts back to the traditional CPU pipeline. 

      larryb52z
      larryb52z
      Known Participant
      July 30, 2026

      i am having a similar problem, i was able to restore my colors by turning the graphic card off however this hammers use of the crop and transform tools   here is my configuration 

       

      "Photoshop 27.9 on macOS Sequoia 15.7.7 displays HDR/TIFF images noticeably lighter when Use Graphics Processor is enabled. The same image displays correctly in Camera Raw, Bridge, and Photoshop with GPU disabled."

      nickm26355192
      nickm26355192
      Participant
      July 29, 2026

      I am also experiencing the same issue, both on the latest stable version and the beta.

      You can work around it by turning going to View > Proof Colors. Hopefully this is fixed soon because it’s really annoying.

       

      Edit: Rolling back to PS 27.8 fixed the issue.

        macheath48
        macheath48
        Participant
        July 31, 2026

        Thank you. 

        ToastyKen
        Participant
        July 29, 2026

        I just upgraded to 27.9.0, and every image is washed out unless I disable “Use Graphics Processor”. Looks like this was reported in Beta here: 

         but somehow made it to production anyway.

        macheath48
        macheath48
        Participant
        July 29, 2026

        I upload my PHOTOS from my Nikon Z9 to my MacBook Pro.  ALL MY SYSTEMS are updated to the latest versions of operating systems, apps, etc.

         

        Since ADOBE updated all three of these (Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Beta and Camera Raw) my photos are taken by ADOBE PHOTOSHOP and look OK but when CAMERA RAW coverts them to JPEG files, they are murky and cloudy.  Even if I skip the first step, the photos are no longer delivered to Photoshop as vibrant although they are much better looking in the viewfinder and using the PREVIEW function.

          cruhland
          cruhland
          Participant
          July 29, 2026

          Came here to find out this exact issue. It must be a bug. Thanks Dave for the help! The washed out images were driving me mad!

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