P: Gradient Map Adjustment Layer PS 23 is not backward compatible even in Classic Method

[Da7]

I try again with a new post since the previous one has not been understood.

Using in Photoshop 23.0 the "Gradient Map" adjustment layer even with the "Classic" Method is not backward compatible. Does not work as expected.

I need to specify, since the previous post received a wrong reply regarding the "Gradient Fill", that I'm talking about the "Gradient Map" (not the Gradient Fill!) adjustment layer correctly setted with "Classic" method.

Even with classic method the Gradient Map will be not read in the previous version of Photoshop.

The only way to make it readable in previous versions is convert the image layer in a smart layer and apply the Gradient Map as a smart filter (from menu "image" -> adjustments -> gradient map), always in Classic Method. In this way the gradient map will be read even in the previous version.

So, please, there is a bug with the Gradient Map adjustment layer in Classic method since should be backward compatible.

Please, make a test and kindly reply.

Thank you.

[Max Asabin]

I join you in your question. This problem ruins my workflow completely....

[Da7]

Just a reminder to this eavy bug since today Adobe released a first update with v. 23.0.1 but, even is reported some kind of fix to gradient map, is not unfortunatelly the case of this bug. Please, I hope that someone is working on it, it's really a pain!

[J453]

@Da7 This works for me. A classic gradient layer created in 23.0.1 opens in the prior version without error and looks the same.

[Da7]

Not in my Photoshop and, as said by other users, I'm not the only one. I leave you two screenshots just in case may help. My App versions are in italian.

[Da7]

In this one you can see that the gradient map is in classic method

[J453]

Please post the PSD you've created in 23.0.1 so I can debug.

[J453]

I figured it out. I see what the problem is. The fix only applied to Gradient Fill layers, not Gradient Maps. I'll have Engineering take care or this.

[Da7]

Hi Jeffrey I don't know how to post a psd file here

[J453]

No problem. 

[Mathias17]

Jeff, thanks for working on the issue.

At the time of posting this, 23.0.1 still causes the Gradient Map Adjustment Layer problem for me.

Layer style gradients and Gradient Fill Layers appear to be properly backwards compatible, though.

[Егор5E43]

gradient maps created in Photoshop 2022 are transformed into rasterized layers. How to fix it?
This problem prevents working with people on older versions of Photoshop.

[D Fosse]

Generally, with any software, you can always work with old files in a new version - but not necessarily the other way round!

I'm sure that when you think about it, you understand that this is the whole point of software development: adding and improving functions that didn't exist in the old versions.

This sounds like it might be a GPU driven function, and all GPU functions are now extensively rewritten from OpenGL (no longer OS-supported) to DirectX/Metal.

[Егор5E43]

Yes, but other software allows you to export to earlier versions. Also, previous versions of Photoshop didn't have this conflict with even older versions.
Even Illustrator has the ability to export files for Illustrator older versions.
I was hoping that using classic (in the gradient setting) gradients would help, but it makes no difference.
Has Adobe really not made provision for working in Photoshop 2022 and earlier Photoshop versions?

[D Fosse]

Yes, but if this is GPU resident, it's a somewhat special case. All the GPU code, every last bit of it, is being migrated from the old OpenGL framework which is no longer supported by Microsoft and Apple, and completely rewritten for the OS-native DirectX and Metal frameworks.

In other applications where you can export to previous versions, like e.g. InDesign export to idml - the same principle applies: The main thing is to be able to open the file (which you can!), but several elements may be missing or different. That's always implicit.

Photoshop's standard fallback for backwards compatibility is to open a flattened composite image.

[Егор5E43]

it's sad
thanks for your reply

[PECourtejoie]

Hi, does this gradient maps use the new algorithms? if you select the classic option, does it do the same conversion? (I see that the issue is there also with classic, Merging to the main thread on the topic)

[Da7]

Today Photoshop has been updated to v. 23.0.2 and the bug is still there...

[Da7]

We are talking about an adjustment layer (gradient map) setted with the old "Classic" method! This adjustment layer must be supported by the the old versions since should be the same adjustment layer... We are not talking about the new methods! This is a bug and must be fixed.

[DanielBornholdt]

I'm opening a older version PSD in my 23.0.1 photoshop and making some modifications (no new adjustments layers) and saving. Then trying to open on a 22.5.1 photoshop version and getting de "unknown data" message. 

Again in the 23.0.1 photoshop I merged the layer with gradient map color adjustment and saved. Opened again in the 22.5.1 photoshop whithout any warning message.

Anyone have the same issue?

I've tried to instal the 23.0.2 to see if this problem wold be solved, but wont even open.

[Da7]

D Fosse, what you say should be correct if the new gradient map adjustment layer is not totally supported by previous versions.

But there is a work around that indicates is just a bug: if I convert an image layer in a smart object layer, I can apply the gradient map adjustment layer from the menu "image" > adjustments > gradient map, setted in classic method. In this way the gradient map will be a smart adjustment layer and, once saved, the psd can be opened in the older versions keeping the smart adjustment layer with the correct settings.

So, the problem is in the normal gradient map adjustment layer and is a bug, nothing else as you've supposed.

You can verify by replicating the steps described above.

[Mathias17]

Current patch 23.0.2 doesn't solve the problem.

Awesome.

[selondon]

For a few reasons in my workplace we cannot upgrade past 10.14 yet and thus this issue is affecting us, causing irregular colour changes. Even is the issue is fixed, I guess existing files won't open correctly in Photoshop 2021 (currently 22.5.3)?

[Da7]

Finally with the new Photoshop release 23.1.0 the bug has been fixed and the gradient map adjustment layer set in classic method is correctly recognized in previous versions. Thank you!

[Mathias17]

No, that's incorrect - the problem is not solved. Not on Windows 10 anyway. Nor is the issue mentioned in the latest Fixed Issues page update. The issue remains same as it was. 

New Photoshop version 23.1 on Windows 10 does NOT solve the problem.PSDs with Gradient Map Adjustment layers (set to Classic mode) edited in 23.1 then opened in an earlier version of Photoshop cannot open with the Gradient Map Adjustment layers intact.

[Da7]

@Mathias17 I made a video clip to show you that, at least to me, the bug has been fixed on Windows 10. The previous version is 2021 with the latest release. 

https://streamable.com/wvph6r