Lightroom preview is the wrong colour when GPU acceleration is on: the edit looks less red than the exported JPG
- October 4, 2026
- 1 reply
- 14 views
Edit preview shows less red than exported JPG when GPU acceleration is on (Lightroom desktop 9.6,macOS 27.0.1, M3 Max)
Summary
With "Use Graphics Processor" turned on, the Edit view shows warm tones as noticeably less red and less saturated than the exported file. The issue is intermittent but happens most of the time. Turning GPU acceleration off makes the preview match the export exactly.
Environment
- Lightroom (desktop) version: 9.6
- macOS version: 27.0.1
- Mac: MacBook Pro, Apple M3 Max (14-core CPU, 30-core GPU)
- Display: built-in Liquid Retina XDR, 3024 x 1964, colour profile "Apple_Display_25-11-27_NEW.icc"
- HDR editing: off
Steps to reproduce
1. Edit a raw file (Adobe Portrait profile, tone curve applied, Refine Saturation at 100).
2. Export as JPG in sRGB.
3. Re-import the JPG and compare it side by side with the edited original in Compare view.
Reproducibility
Intermittent, but happens most of the time with GPU acceleration on. Has not happened with GPU acceleration off.
Expected result
The edit preview and the exported JPG look the same.
Actual result
The exported JPG is visibly redder. Sampled from a screenshot of Compare view (converted to sRGB):
- Edit preview average RGB: 123 / 112 / 96
- Exported JPG average RGB: 133 / 113 / 100
The difference is almost entirely in the red channel and is strongest in the midtones (about +17 red in midtones, +11 in low midtones, +5 in shadows, +6 in highlights).
The exported JPG looks the same in other colour-managed apps (Preview, Chrome), so the export appears correct and the GPU preview is the part that is wrong.
Workaround
Preferences > Performance > untick "Use Graphics Processor" and restart. The preview then matches the export.
Impact
I'm a professional photographer. Edits made with GPU acceleration on are judged against an inaccurate preview, so client deliveries come out warmer than intended.
Attachments
Screenshot of Compare view and the exported JPG. Raw file available on request.
