Brush Lag

Report · May 17, 2019

Hi friends,

Experiencing brush lag in Photoshop CC 2019. I primarily use Kyle's Wet Gouache and Kyle's Ultimate inking thick n' thin. Lag is reduced for the gouache when I remove scattering and for the ink when I stick to a smaller brush size. But these aren't solutions. Important to note I'm not a computer wiz and I have a very old computer: Macbook Pro 2010; Graphics processor is NVIDIA GeForce 320M 256 MB; and I have than less 512MB of vRAM, so this could be the issue but not sure.

Solutions I've tried that do not fix the Lag/Delay:

-Turning off smoothing

-Lowering/Increasing the spacing of a brush

-Changing drawing to basic mode

-Increasing/Decreasing Memory usage

-Lowering Cache Levels, Cache Tile Size, or History States

-Turning off rulers

-Deselecting 'Use Graphics Processor'

And finally here's the giant list of my system info that could be helpful to someone who know how to interpret it, because I sure don't:

Adobe Photoshop Version: 19.1.6 20180808.r.398 2018/08/08: 1185588 x64

Number of Launches: 85

Operating System: Mac OS 10.12.6

System architecture: Intel CPU Family:6, Model:23, Stepping:10 with MMX, SSE Integer, SSE FP, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4.1

Physical processor count: 2

Processor speed: 2400 MHz

Built-in memory: 4096 MB

Free memory: 1446 MB

Memory available to Photoshop: 3200 MB

Memory used by Photoshop: 69 %

Alias Layers: Disabled.

Modifier Palette: Disabled.

Highbeam: Enabled.

Touch Bar Property Feedback: Enabled.

Image tile size: 128K

Image cache levels: 4

Font Preview: Medium

TextComposer: Latin

The GPU Sniffer crashed on 5/14/19 at 4:02:33 PM

Display: 1

Main Display

Display Bounds: top=0, left=0, bottom=800, right=1280

OpenGL Drawing: Enabled.

OpenGL Allow Old GPUs: Not Detected.

OpenGL Drawing Mode: Basic

OpenGL Allow Normal Mode: True.

OpenGL Allow Advanced Mode: True.

AIFCoreInitialized=1

AIFOGLInitialized=1

OGLContextCreated=1

NumGLGPUs=1

NumCLGPUs=1

glgpu[0].GLVersion="2.1"

glgpu[0].IsIntegratedGLGPU=0

glgpu[0].GLMemoryMB=256

glgpu[0].GLName="NVIDIA GeForce 320M OpenGL Engine"

glgpu[0].GLVendor="NVIDIA Corporation"

glgpu[0].GLVendorID=4318

glgpu[0].GLRectTextureSize=8192

glgpu[0].GLRenderer="NVIDIA GeForce 320M OpenGL Engine"

glgpu[0].GLRendererID=16918042

glgpu[0].HasGLNPOTSupport=1

glgpu[0].CanCompileProgramGLSL=1

glgpu[0].GLFrameBufferOK=1

glgpu[0].glGetString[GL_SHADING_LANGUAGE_VERSION]="1.20"

glgpu[0].glGetProgramivARB[GL_FRAGMENT_PROGRAM_ARB][GL_MAX_PROGRAM_INSTRUCTIONS_ARB]=[16384]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_TEXTURE_UNITS]=[8]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_COMBINED_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS]=[16]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VERTEX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS]=[16]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_TEXTURE_IMAGE_UNITS]=[16]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_DRAW_BUFFERS]=[8]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VERTEX_UNIFORM_COMPONENTS]=[4096]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_FRAGMENT_UNIFORM_COMPONENTS]=[2048]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VARYING_FLOATS]=[60]

glgpu[0].glGetIntegerv[GL_MAX_VERTEX_ATTRIBS]=[16]

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_VERTEX_PROGRAM]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_FRAGMENT_PROGRAM]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_VERTEX_SHADER]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_FRAGMENT_SHADER]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_EXT_FRAMEBUFFER_OBJECT]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_TEXTURE_RECTANGLE]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_TEXTURE_FLOAT]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_OCCLUSION_QUERY]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_VERTEX_BUFFER_OBJECT]=1

glgpu[0].extension[AIF::OGL::GL_ARB_SHADER_TEXTURE_LOD]=1

clgpu[0].CLPlatformVersion="1.2 (May 26 2017 12:59:48)"

clgpu[0].CLDeviceVersion="1.0 "

clgpu[0].IsIntegratedCLGPU=0

clgpu[0].CLMemoryMB=256

clgpu[0].CLName="GeForce 320M"

clgpu[0].CLVendor="NVIDIA"

clgpu[0].CLVendorID=16918016

clgpu[0].CLDriverVersion="10.2.37 310.90.10.05b54"

clgpu[0].CLBandwidth=3.42581e+09

License Type: Subscription

Serial number: 90970662008828687046

GUIDBucket:

Application folder: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2018/

Photoshop scratch has async I/O enabled

Scratch volume(s):

Startup, 232.1G, 101.8G free

Required Plug-ins folder: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2018/Adobe Photoshop CC 2018.app/Contents/Required/Plug-ins/

Primary Plug-ins folder: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2018/Plug-ins/

Installed components:

AdbePM.framework AdbePM 2.5.00.377243 1.578146

adobe_caps.framework adobe_caps 10.0.0.6 1.584361

AdobeACE.framework AdobeACE 2.20.02.39705 79.589342

AdobeAGM.framework AdobeAGM 4.30.87.39705 79.589342

AdobeAXE8SharedExpat.framework AdobeAXE8SharedExpat 3.8.0.34320 79.562390

AdobeAXEDOMCore.framework AdobeAXEDOMCore 3.8.0.34320 79.562390

AdobeBIB.framework AdobeBIB 1.2.03.39705 79.589342

AdobeBIBUtils.framework AdobeBIBUtils 1.1.39705 79.589342

AdobeCoolType.framework AdobeCoolType 5.17.00.39705 79.589342

AdobeCrashReporter.framework AdobeCrashReporter 7.6.0

AdobeExtendScript.framework AdobeExtendScript 4.5.8.1 81.1150526

AdobeJP2K.framework AdobeJP2K 1.2.2.38423 79.266298

AdobeLinguistic.framework 22175

AdobeMPS.framework AdobeMPS 5.8.1.38423 79.582572

AdobeOwl.framework AdobeOwl 5.2.11

AdobePDFL.framework AdobePDFL 15.0.0.38423 79.226411

AdobePDFSettings.framework AdobePDFSettings 1.4

AdobePIP.framework AdobePIP 7.4.1.109.46827

AdobeScCore.framework AdobeScCore 4.5.8.1 81.1150526

AdobeSVGAGM.framework AdobeSVGAGM 1.0.0.38473 79.582907

AdobeSVGRE.framework AdobeSVGRE 6.0 79.588619

AdobeUpdater.framework AdobeUpdater 6.0.0.1452 "52.338651"

AdobeXMP.framework AdobeXMPCore 79.160451 79.160451

AdobeXMPFiles.framework AdobeXMPFiles 79.160451 79.160451

AdobeXMPScript.framework AdobeXMPScript 79.160451 79.160451

ahclient.framework ahclient 3.0.0.6

AIDE.framework AIDE 1.5.0.36540 79.574279

aif.framework aif 6.0.00.1 1.

amtlib.framework amtlib 10.0.0.221

boost_date_time.framework boost_date_time 11.1.0.0

boost_filesystem.framework boost_filesystem 11.1.0.0

boost_signals.framework boost_signals 11.1.0.0

boost_system.framework boost_system 11.1.0.0

boost_threads.framework boost_threads 11.1.0.0

Cg.framework NVIDIA Cg

CITThreading.framework

dvaaudiodevice.framework dvaaudiodevice 11.1.0.0

dvacore.framework dvacore 11.1.0.0

dvamarshal.framework dvamarshal 11.1.0.0

dvamediatypes.framework dvamediatypes 11.1.0.0

dvametadata.framework dvametadata 11.1.0.0

dvametadataapi.framework dvametadataapi 11.1.0.0

dvametadataUI.framework dvametadataUI 11.1.0.0

dvaplayer.framework dvaplayer 11.1.0.0

dvatransport.framework dvatransport 11.1.0.0

dvaui.framework dvaui 11.1.0.0

dvaunittesting.framework dvaunittesting 11.1.0.0

dynamiclink.framework dynamiclink 11.1.0.0

ICUConverter.framework ICUConverter 3.61 "gtlib_6.0" "." "21287"

ICUData.framework ICUData 3.61 "gtlib_6.0" "." "21287"

ICUUnicode.framework ICUUnicode 3.61 "gtlib_6.0" "." "21287"

k2.framework k2 1

LogSession.framework LogSession 7.4.1.109.46827

manta.framework manta 2.0.00.1 1.

mediacoreif.framework mediacoreif 11.1.0.0

PlugPlugExternalObject.framework 8.5.0.87

PlugPlugOwl.framework PlugPlugOwl 8.5.0.87

UpdaterNotifications.framework UpdaterNotifications 10.0.0.1 "10.0.0.1"

WRServices.framework

Required plug-ins:

Optional and third party plug-ins: NONE

Duplicate and Disabled plug-ins: NONE

Plug-ins that failed to load: NONE

Extensions:

com.adobe.inapp.purchase 1.0.0 - from the file “/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/CC_LIBRARIES_PANEL_EXTENSION_3_2_108/purchaseStock.html”

com.adobe.Butler.backend 2.0.0 - from the file “/Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2018/Adobe Photoshop CC 2018.app/Contents/Required/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.Butler.backend/index.html”

New Document 2.2.1 - from the file “/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.ccx.fnft-2.2.1/fnft.html?v=2.2.1.30”

Libraries 1.0.0 - from the file “/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/CC_LIBRARIES_PANEL_EXTENSION_3_2_108/index.html”

com.adobe.inapp.typekit.purchase 1.0.0 - from the file “/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/CC_LIBRARIES_PANEL_EXTENSION_3_2_108/purchaseTypekit.html”

Home 2.4.0 - from the file “/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.ccx.start-2.4.0/index.html?v=2.4.0.11”

Adobe Color Themes 6.1.0 - from the file “/Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2018/Adobe Photoshop CC 2018.app/Contents/Required/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.KulerPanel.html/index.html”

Export As 3.1.2 - from the file “/Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2018/Adobe Photoshop CC 2018.app/Contents/Required/CEP/extensions/com.adobe.photoshop.crema/PSPanel/dialog.html”

Installed TWAIN devices: NONE

Report · May 17, 2019

Some people are experiencing some lag with brushes, but not the majority nor is it too bad from what it seems. My guess is your computer is rather old and isn't really to the level that the newest version of photoshop needs.

Report · May 19, 2019

Thanks for the quick reply Daniel! Do you have an idea of a specific part of my computer that not up to snuff for Photoshop to perform well? I just want to know what to look for when I shop for a new machine.

Report · May 19, 2019

Your video card for sure is pretty old. I also have a Mac Book Pro 2010, and the processor isn't up to snuff either. not sure how much RAM you have, but my guess is it could use more of that as well. If it has only the basic 4 gig those came with, its definitely not enough. 16 is the minimum I would want in a computer for the new software, preferably 32.

Report · Jun 01, 2019

Hey Daniel, apologies for late reply. Very helpful stuff, thank you!

Report · Jun 01, 2019

this is age old question. not a day passes without question as "why does my brush stroke lag"

myself has same problems, more with mixer brush when sample all layers is turned ON

i am come to believe that photoshop brush lag is due to engineering, and that is just way it is.

fastest video card never fixes this problem, all kinds of users come in and complain of brush lag even though they have fastest video card of 2019.

much RAM also fixes problem not, users have 64 GB and more and still problem persists. Fastest processor and problem is still there, SSD drives and problem is still there and so on.

yet we have other softwares like Krita etc. that do not have brush lags like photoshop, and many of these great programs are free.

year is 2019 and still brush lag is close to #1 major problem i am see on daily basis in our forums. Not acceptable.

do not fall into same trap that others have done so, like forking out thousands of dollars on hardware that you think may solve photshop performance problems, because most of the time the high-end hardware does no difference. Photoshop seems to "max out" at certain thresholds and any hardware improvements above acceptable level do not make difference. modest hardwares like 32GB of ram, a simple SSD drive and yes even an older 2GB video ard will suffice if you are using photoshop simply. More advanced users who demand more out of photoshop will see improvements with upgraded hardware but by no means does this mean you need to spend outrageous sums of money for top of line things, as simply photoshop will not take advantage of it past a certain threshold as mentioned above and you will waste your dollars.

I am honestly believing problem is due to programming and the way Adobe is engineering this product.

Report · Aug 28, 2020

i found turning 'smoothing' off helped the lag

Report · Feb 22, 2021

I am not seeing smoothing on Photoshop 2021

Report · May 17, 2022

If you have your brush or erasure selected, the smoothing is on the top: 'Opacity - flow - smoothing'

using less 'smoothing' makes your brush more natural but never perfect.

Report · Jun 03, 2022

i learned from a friendly guy on youtuve that hiding your rulers works (command R) and yes, with me it's the same! Suddenly much less lag and les skipping lines while arching!

Adobe Support Community

Brush Lag

1 Correct answer