Bug with COLRv1 color variable fonts

[CJ Dunn]

When using COLRv1 color variable fonts, if I select the text with the text tool and change variable axes, after more than one change the font style will change back to the default. (see video attached)

If I select the text object using the move tool it seems I can generally make more that one change. (see video attached) But other times the behavior is similar to when using the text tool.

I would expect that changing the axes shouldn't change the style.

Thanks!

[CJ Dunn]

Bug was found using Photoshop 2025, version 26.0.0, on Mac OS 14.5

[SG...]

hi CJ,

Can you try updating to the latest Ps, 26.8.1? You may be hitting a bug that has been fixed.

regards,

steve

[ktaki · Accepted solution]

@CJ Dunn Thank you for reporting the issue. It, however, is as designed at this point. With variable fonts, styles contain axes values. By selecting a style, you are applying the axes values defined by the font vendor. If you set the axes values by moving sliders, the value they are shown in the name of the style in the style menu, e.g., weight-<value>. I hope this helps.

[frankreebig]

Yeah, I've noticed this too. It seems like a glitch with how the app handles variable axes on COLRv1 fonts specifically. When you're using the text tool, it resets the style after a couple of changes, which shouldn't happen. Switching to the move tool helps a bit, but it's not consistent either.

Not sure if it's a caching issue or something with how the axes are applied, but it definitely feels buggy. Hopefully they patch this in an update soon. You're not the only one seeing it.