Skip to main content
A
AppleAddict001
Known Participant
July 12, 2025
Question

Shadows/Hightlights sliders in Photoshop 2025 very erratic

  • July 12, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 410 views
  • Photoshop 26.8.1,
  • Mac OS 15.5 Sequoria
  • iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch 2020
  • 3.6 GHz 10-Core Intel Core i9
  • 64 GB 2667 MHz DDR4

When using (or rather, "attempting to use") the Shadows/Hightlights adjustment behaves very erraticly when slider adjustments are moved. Happens when sliders are moved slightly or significently - lighting jumps all over the place - from extremely bright to extreemely dark. Very difficult, if not impossible to dial in a perfect balance between light and dark, despite where tolerance is set. This is all extremely frustrating.......... I would think this is a "bug", rather than inability to user's adjustment. I have been using Photoshop for 27 years and never encountered this problem with any previous version of PS.

 

    1 reply

    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 12, 2025

    in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

    p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.



    <"moved from using the community bugs">
    Sameer K
    Community Manager
    Sameer KCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    July 15, 2025

    Hey, @AppleAddict001. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll help you figure this out. Please share the system info from Photoshop Help > System info > Copy and paste into a text document > Upload and attach here.

     

    I'll move this to discussions for now. Are you using a stylus input or a regular mouse for input?

    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 2025 > Rename > Adobe Photoshop 2025.old)

     

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

    Let me know if it helps. Thanks!
    Sameer K

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

      A
      AppleAddict001Author
      Known Participant
      July 19, 2025

      Hi, @Sameer K . Well I managed to copy the Photoshop "System Info" and pasted same into a Text Edit doc that I am attaching to this message. I would think you can open this doc.

       

      I am using a mouse - not a stylus.

       

      As far as the rest of your message, I frankly don't know what you are talking about. I am a graphic artist - I don't know much about technical issues. I have no idea what you are talking about when you say;

      "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 2025 > Rename > Adobe Photoshop 2025.old)"

       

      Appreciate your offer to help resolve this problem with the erratic behavior involving the Shadows/Highlights adjustment. I will say that, for some unknown reason, it does seem to be working smoother these last few days but still not as smoothly as this same adjustment works in PS CS6 (which I still use on my older 2015 iMac).

       

      If you are inclined to explain what you referred to in your initial response, that would be appreciated. Thanks.

      Roger 

      √
      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices