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brendan_0504
Participant
July 9, 2025
Question

High pitched sound when drawing with brush tool

  • July 9, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 305 views

This is such a weird bug, I don't even know if this occurs with other people.  

I have exceptionally good hearing when it comes to high pitched noises. Like I can hear a dog whistle good. So anyone who tries to test this might not even hear the sound I'm talking about.

 

I've noticed yesterday that while painting in photoshop that a high pitched sound would come out of my speakers on my laptop which is muted. This only occurs while painting. I can click and drag somewhere off the canvas and the sound won't happen.  The sound won't happen when using a different tool like hand tool or something else.  I have a Wacom tablet connected, but the sound occurs with the tablet and with the mouse.  I've also noticed the sound is louder with higher pressure on the tablet.

 

The sound also won't occur until photoshop has been running for a little bit, I can restart my computer and the sound would disappear momentarily but then come back later. 

 

I'm running photoshop 26.8.1

Working on Lenovo thinkpad with Ryzen CPU/GPU, Windows 11

2 replies

davescm
Community Expert
davescmCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 9, 2025

A question - are you sure it is coming from the speakers? The motherboard power sections that control the voltages to the PSU and GPU in a PC, sometimes lead to an effect called magnetostriction. That means that some ferrous components vibrate slightly at the frequency they are using. This can lead to a slight high pitched audible sound that some people can hear and some, particularly as they get older, cannot. It is a common effect (Google magnetostriction) and may be responsible for the noise you are hearing. It is not a fault and whilst it can be designed out, it is not uncommon.

Dave

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    brendan_0504Author
    Participant
    July 9, 2025

    I believe it is the speakers, there is nothing that would create interference as the problem occurs with wired and wireless peripherals.  And the problem only occurs when using the brush tool in photoshop and only when drawing on the canvas. 

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 10, 2025

    Do you have ear buds you could use to cross check?  That eliminate the speakers, and mute sound coming directly from the motherboard.

     

    BTW, how old are you?  Have you ever tried one of those online hearing tests< and if yes, what was the highest frequency you could hear?   I am 75 and worked in engineering all my life, and while I am by no means deaf, I have to turn the volume way up to hear 8Khz, and can't hear 10Khz at any volume.

    A
    Community Manager
    AlekeCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    July 9, 2025

    Hi @brendan_0504! Welcome to the community!

    If you’re able to share a recording of the sound, that would really help us get a better sense of what might be going on.

    Thanks a bunch!
    Alek

    *(If you mention me with an @, like @Aleke, I’ll get a notification and can respond faster.)*
    B
    brendan_0504Author
    Participant
    July 9, 2025

    I've tried taking a recording but my phone is not able to pick it up

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