P: Photoshop 26.2 adjustment layers grayed out on cmyk file.

[Jen5FFC]

As subject states there are several adjustment layers that no longer work on 26.2 and beta. 

Made a new file - CMYK 8bit filled a layer with color, attempted to apply adjustment layer and it is greyed out. Curves, hue saturation and maybe more. 

I went back to 25.12 and it works as it should with no issues. 

Windows 11. 

[G_Man]

Yup, still the same problem for me as well. Is this some kind f joke, Adobe?? Do I get a hefty discount? What are we paying you for?

[D Fosse]

@michaljanata 

The point is that all the adjustment layers do work, just not from the Layers panel.

You have to access them from the Adjustments panel, where all the adjustments still work. Or from the Layer menu: Layer > New > New Adjustment Layer. All the adjustments work here.

Yes, we all agree it's a bug that should be fixed, but you can still use these adjustment layers.

Note that some adjustments are not available in certain image modes. This is normal and unrelated to the bug.

[Stephan Widmer]

Today I wanted to apply the gradation curves to a layer. But I can no longer select it in the menu. The font is gray. This is in CMYK mode. If you switch to RGB then the function can be selected again. But it's pointless because the CMYK color values ​​are shifted. Other employees also noticed the problem this morning on their own machines. Please fix it as soon as possible. Many thanks, Stephan [Link removed]

Swiss/German

Photoshop 26.2.0

MacOS 15.2

Apple M1 max

[michaljanata]

i know they all work, but from different menus and that has big impact on workflow i'm used to...

and it is not first time that adobe breaks basic features...

especialy this bug is such that they could see while testing, so how they could release it?... or do they make us testers and making us paying for that?

i still wonder what's wrong with adobe last years

[D Fosse]

They have acknowledged it, they will fix it. Bugs happen in all complex software. It's not humanly possible to avoid completely.

[D Fosse]

Known and acknowledged bug, will be fixed. Lots of threads about this.

In the meantime, all adjustment layers still work from either the Adjustments panel, or the menu Layer > New Adjustment Layer.

BTW, we're not happy about links in posts. That's considered spam. It would be appreciated if you can remove it (or a moderator can).

[Stephan Widmer]

Thanks to you D. It is what we are doing now for the Preprint. If there are corrections to do afterwards we are working with screenshots of all the curves (few hundred images by now) a bit old school :-). By the way, how can I remove the link? Moderator please remove the link, thanks.

[davescm]

'Moderator please remove the link, thanks.'

Done

Dave

[cophook]

Hi,

After the update(26.2.0)

 

, the curves tool in cmyk format is not active in layers. I can only access layer/new adjustment layer/curves. Can you help me with this issue?

Best regards

[Ged_Traynor]

@cophook it's a known issue, you can use other methods until Adobe provide a fix

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-bugs/p-photoshop-26-2-adjustment-layers-grayed-ou...

[cophook]

thanks,We will continue with different methods.

[mackimi]

Why are the following settings in open CMYK images such as: Gradation curve/exposure/color saturation are no longer available? Photoshop version 26.2.0. iMac Pro 2017, Sequoia 15.2

 

[D Fosse]

Known bug, will get fixed.

Meanwhile, they still work when accessed from the Adjustments panel or the menu Layer > New Adjustment Layer. It's just the Layers panel.

[mackimi]

Thank you for your answer. Then I hope that the problem will be solved soon :-).

[edrift101]

Same problem on PC and Mac.  Let's get this fixed ASAP Adobe... I don't need 18 new AI functions in Acrobat...  I need a bug-free version of Photoshop.

[michaljanata]

Hi @BrettN, how long it will take to fix this bug?
Beacuse there is a BIG difference between these options you mentioned - in comfort of workflow.

[BigB_HH]

I’m using a MacBook Pro with Sonoma 14.5 and Photoshop 2025 (latest version). When working with 8-bit CMYK files on a normal layer—both in existing and new files—the functions Curves/Exposure/Hue & Saturation in Photoshop (Layers palette/Adjustment Layers) are suddenly grayed out… no idea why.

This had worked flawlessly for years until now. The only workaround is to access them via the menu command "Layer/New Adjustment Layer."

Is anyone else experiencing this issue?
@Adobe: Please fix this bug immediately.

[Ged_Traynor]

@BigB_HH the issue has been reported here

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-bugs/p-photoshop-26-2-adjustment-layers-grayed-ou...

[davescm]

'The only workaround is to access them via the menu command "Layer/New Adjustment Layer."'

Or access them via the Adjustments panel.

Dave

[Stephan Widmer]

Hello, we have just downgraded to version 26.1.0 and everything is working again. Since we edit a lot of images in the CMYK workflow, this was the quickest and easiest method. However, it overwrites the latest version 26.3