Lightroom Classic running too slowly to use after creating masks

[coolguy8484]

Hello, I've seen this problem posted on several forums going back a few years with little resolve. After creating a mask on a photo and after so many edits to the mask, the program begins to lag and freeze so badly that it becomes unusable. 10-30 seconds for each mouse click to register. Click-and-drag functions, like using a mask brush, stop registering entirely. 

I’m running on Windows 11 PC. My primary catalog and photos are saved on an internal SSD. Backup is on an external SSD. My computer is about 1 year old (see SYSTEM INFO below.) The problem is with Lightroom Classic only, all other software and OS otherwise run perfectly. This problem occurs with all image types, RAW or JPG. Catalog is backed up/optimized/integrity tested multiple times per week.

Here’s what I’ve tried:

- Disable GPU acceleration in LRC (no difference.)

- Update NVidia drivers.

- Switch between Studio and Game Ready Nvidia drivers.

- Run chkdsk from cmd prompt on all drives.

- Lower desktop resolution.

- Delete Previews.lrdata folder.

- Delete Camera Raw GPU Config.txt in Users/AppData/Adobe/CameraRaw/GPU/Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic.

- Switch between the different image preview types (Smart, 1:1)

- Purge RAW cache.

- Check RAM usage - LRC is using under 10% of memory when idle and under 50% when the lag spikes occur while trying to edit masks. I never saw it surpass 50%.

- Check GPU/CPU heat monitors (nominal.)

- Uninstall LRC, wipe preferences, re-install and re-import the catalog.

None of these fixes made any noticeable difference. I might be forgetting something but I've tried everything I could find mentioned in forums. Seems like the only fix that has actually helped anyone with this issue is a few people realized they had faulty harddrives after running chkdsk. The only thing I haven't tried is fully wiping and resetting my system, because the problem is only with LRC. Wiping my entire system every time Lightroom breaks is not a viable solution. Thanks in advance for any help.

[KR Seals]

I have only seen that using lens blur. Others have reported that as well. Is that what you are doing? Otherwise no real slowdown.

[coolguy8484]

No, I never use lens blur. The problem only occurs when using masks, particularly after doing apparently too many adjustments to the mask. I can switch to a different photo in the same catalog that has no mask and the program runs fine.

[johnrellis]

"The problem only occurs when using masks, particularly after doing apparently too many adjustments to the mask."

Are these Brush masks?  Roughly how many separate brush strokes?  How many brush masks?

As you've observed, many have complained about degraded performance when you have "too many".

Try temporarily disabling the Tourbox plugin to see if that's the culprint (likely not, but best to rule it out).

Also, it looks like you've currently got the Game Ready driver installed. Adobe and Nvidia recommend the Studio driver for LR.  (Again, likely not the culprit.)

[coolguy8484]

Thanks for your reply. I disabled all plugins and relaunched LRC, but it didn't make a difference.

I'm only just now on the Game Ready driver, I'm normally using Studio but I switched today to see if that would help (it didn't.)

As for mask types, it's a mix of a few object detection masks and mostly brush masks. I would say the number of strokes is too many to count. If I actually have to count my brush strokes or the program will seize up, then it's time to find a different program. 

[johnrellis]

@coolguy8484: "As for mask types, it's a mix of a few object detection masks and mostly brush masks. I would say the number of strokes is too many to count. ... Dozens."

There are many reports here over the past many years of LR slowing down significantly as the brush strokes add up, and I'm not aware of any solutions.

If you're willing to share one of your problem photos, we can verify that you're tripping over the general problem and not something specific to your installation. Select the photo and do Metadata > Save Metadata To File. Then upload the file (and it's .xmp sidecar, if it's raw) to Wetransfer, Dropbox, Google Drive or similar free service and post the sharing link here.

[coolguy8484 · Accepted solution]

I counted up all the masks/edits. It's 9 separate mask layers, most of which are quite small and have few strokes, but a couple are pretty involved. All total it includes 10 object detection masks and 98 brush masks. As for each individual stroke logged in the history, it's easily hundreds. Those are just the rough masks, too. I haven't even started refining the edges yet because, well, I can't.

As I read more about this issue it sounds like LRC isn't the right program for my editing style. I know it's meant for "quick" adjustments but I didn't think masks of all things would be such a resource hog. I wish there were a way to compress a mask layer down so all the brush strokes compile into a single mask. I don't know what use it is to have each brush stroke logged in the history like that anyway, though I guess if you're only doing a couple strokes per mask then it's practical to select individual strokes. I use a stylus and edit like I'm painting, so I think it's fair to say I need to migrate to a different program. Fair enough.

[GoldingD]

and after so many edits to the mask

Are you referring to, say a dozen, or dozens, or hundreds of edits?

[coolguy8484]

Dozens. It doesn't take too long before everything starts lagging.

[GoldingD]

Your system info excluded the library path. Does it include perhaps OneDrive?

[coolguy8484]

No, I uninstalled OneDrive a long time ago. 

[Ganji12]

Adobe now the problem since more than 4 years.

They dont care, dont waste your time to find a solution or contacting support.

The only way is to re open lrc every time there is lag.