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Participant
January 26, 2026
Question

Cross-Version: Pattern Overlay Layer Style: Linear Light Blending Mode set in 27.2 Reverts to Normal

  • January 26, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 56 views

When a Pattern Overlay layer style is configured with "Linear Light" blending mode in Photoshop 27.2 and the file is saved, the blending mode is not preserved when opening the file in older Photoshop versions or the current Beta version. The blending mode automatically reverts to "Normal" instead.

We're working on macOS Sequoia 15.7.3 on Apple Silicon. PS Version 27.2 is affected.

Steps to Reproduce:

  1. Open Photoshop 27.2
  2. Create a new document with a layer
  3. Apply a Pattern Overlay layer style to the layer (Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay)
  4. Set the Blending Mode of the Pattern Overlay to "Linear Light"
  5. Save the file as .PSD
  6. Open the same file in either:
    • An older version of Photoshop (pre-27.2)
    • The current Photoshop Beta version

 

Expected Behavior:
The Pattern Overlay layer style should maintain its "Linear Light" blending mode setting when opening the file in different Photoshop versions.

Actual Behavior:
The Pattern Overlay blending mode automatically changes from "Linear Light" to "Normal" when the file is opened in versions other than 27.2.

Impact:
This breaks cross-version compatibility and workflow consistency for teams working with different Photoshop versions or users testing Beta releases. Layer style appearance changes unexpectedly, requiring manual corrections.

Additional Notes:
This doesnt happen to other blending modes as far as we see. 

 

2 replies

davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 26, 2026

I can replicate this in 27.2 on Windows 11 (same steps as in the first post) 
Dave

Sameer K
Community Manager
Community Manager
January 26, 2026

Hey, @Armin Hempel | Berlin. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. While this behavior does not recreate on Windows on two of our machines, I've shared it with the team to verify this on macOS. I've temporarily moved it to discussions to gather more input from our Experts. 

 

For now, please share the system info from Photoshop Help > System info > Copy and paste into a text document > Upload and attach here.

 

Please ensure there are no stale preferences in your Photoshop. You can go to the location of the preference folder below and rename it to back it up. (https://adobe.ly/3u7u84j)

This method is more effective compared to the in-app Reset Preferences at quit method. 

 

macOS: Hold down the Option key in the Finder when using the Go menu. The library will appear below the current user's home directory.

Library > Preferences > Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings

Rename the Adobe Photoshop folder by adding a .old at the end. (Adobe Photoshop 2026/beta > Rename > Adobe Photoshop 2026/beta.old)

 

This will give Photoshop a fresh start as a new installation.

 

Let me know if it helps. Thanks!
Sameer K

(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

Participant
January 26, 2026

Hello and thanks for the fast reply! We have several machines with Photoshop and so far can reproduce this behaviour on all of them (all of them are macs). 

attached my sysinfo