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P
P5E2E
Known Participant
October 22, 2022
Question

Photoshop 2023 Program Error using Brightness/Contrast

  • October 22, 2022
  • 14 replies
  • 3400 views

Unfortunately, the subject says it all.

 

If I try to access Brightness/Contrast for a layer, I get "Could not complete the Brightness/Contrast command because of a program error" and can go no further.

 

I can use Hue/Saturation, Exposure, Levels, Curves, Vibrance ... but not Brightness/Contrast, which I use about a thousand times every day.

 

I have replaced the installation with older versions of Photoshop, such as the one I used only yesterday, but with the same problem.

 

Can someone please help or advise? I am on MacOS (latest version) on a Macbook Air M1, and with the very latest version of Photoshop 2023 (not that it makes a difference: the update seems to have messed up all previous versions as well).

This topic has been closed for replies.

14 replies

P
P5E2EAuthor
Known Participant
October 30, 2022

I've posted the error log to https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/program-error-diagnostic-plugin-feedback/td-p/11793716/page/39.

 

Thanks everyone for your suggestions over the days.

P
P5E2EAuthor
Known Participant
February 19, 2023

The problem has not gone away.

 

I finally bit the bullet and uninstalled Photoshop completely, removing all settings, hoping it would solve it, but ... no.

P
P5E2EAuthor
Known Participant
February 19, 2023

Just to say that I have the same problem with Brightness and Contrast, and posted about it a few months back at https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/photoshop-2023-program-error-using-brightness-contrast/m-p/13292761#M697580.

 

I have uninstalled Photoshop and reinstalled it, with all settings cleared, and still the problem occurs with the same frequency as before. There have also been many updates to Photoshop since I posted, none of which have solved the issue. I'm working with the same files and the same workflow as for the past 5-6 years, and no changes to the environment apart from the one Photoshop update that triggered it.

P
P5E2EAuthor
Known Participant
October 24, 2022

I yet haven't tried Safe Mode. I'll try that next.

 

Cheers!

 

Quite why one particular feature gives PROGRAM ERROR is beyond me. Fine one day, then overnight upgrade, and then no good the next.

 

I've used Photoshop for 20-30 years and of course have had my fair share of bugs, but this takes the biscuit.

 

 

TheDigitalDog
TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
October 24, 2022

There are a couple of places you can go with this, but it appears to be a specific issue on your machine. 

First: Try logging into another account (you may need to make one); still not working? 
Try starting up in Safe mode (hold down Shift Key when booting); still not working? 
You might want to try running a free utility like Onyx; still not working? 
https://www.titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html
Also view:
https://www.macworld.com/article/352902/onyx-review-macos.html

You can roll back to the last version or so and try:

If you wish to roll back to an older version, use the Creative Cloud application, click on the three dots (...) and select “Other Versions”.

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
    P
    P5E2EAuthor
    Known Participant
    October 24, 2022

    I have tried the various suggestions, all again, sadly, to no avail.

     

    Thank you anyway.

     

    I wish there was more to the error than PROGRAM ERROR. It leaves me with no recourse to assistance aside from the kind and well-meaning suggestions on this forum.

     

    It's quite debilitating, as mentioned, as I use B/C on a daily basis. There are workarounds, of course, but still — annoying, to say the least.

    TheDigitalDog
    TheDigitalDog
    Inspiring
    October 24, 2022

    Back home, I can't replicate this issue on my Mac, the latest version of Photoshop. With or without Legacy, on a targeted layer, it works fine. 

     

    Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
    J
    J453
    Legend
    October 24, 2022

    One other thing to try: Go to Preferences > Technology Previews... and enable "Older GPU mode (pre 2016)" - Restart Photoshop. Does the problem persist?

    P
    P5E2EAuthor
    Known Participant
    October 23, 2022

    Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.


    I have tried everything to no avail.

     

    It is frustrating that the one feature I use so, so often is broken. I guess an update will fix it at some point. For now I will use Exposure and Curves or Hue/Saturated, but 20 years of muscle-memory make it quite tricky to adapt!

    J
    J453
    Legend
    October 23, 2022

    You can restore your preferences using this manual:
    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#Manually
    If that doesn't solve it, you can quit Photoshop and put the Settings folder back.

    Olaf Giermann
    Community Expert
    Olaf GiermannCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 23, 2022

    I am in the exact same hardware and don't have any problems with Brightness/Contrast as you describe.

    I recommend trying to reset the preferences. 

    ---------Adobe Community Expert: "Gewusst wie, spart Energie." 😉
      TheDigitalDog
      TheDigitalDog
      Inspiring
      October 23, 2022

      I'm on the road without access to a desktop but this sounds like a layer issue. Either how you target the layer or similar since it works with a flattened document. If you just duplicate the bkgnd layer and try on that, does it work after selected from Layers? 

      Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"
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