Skip to main content
Curtis Larson
Curtis Larson
Participating Frequently
April 29, 2019
Question

CS5 Lighting Effects stopped working

  • April 29, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 1351 views

Hello, starting a new forum because the older one (2012- 2017?) yielded no solution.

Yes, I have an older iMac: 

Lighting Effects just stopped working / is greyed out. Not positive when last used this filter - maybe 6 most?, but I do use Photoshop almost daily, and everything else still works. Have a project I can't do without Lighting Effects, so am in a bind now. Yes, I tried everything in the prior forum on this and it did not work, and yes, I have the most current video card driver.

Would appreciate some help. Thanks.

Curt

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 29, 2019

    You need to run photoshop cs5 in 32 bit mode in order to use Filter>Render>Lighting Effects.

    Switching Photoshop CS5 64 bit to 32 bit on a Mac - YouTube

    Curtis Larson
    Curtis LarsonAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    May 1, 2019

    OK got it - simple. Wonder why this was so hard to find. Thank you very much.

    Are there any “side affects” to opening & running in 32 bit I might want to know?

    I am planning on getting a new iMac soon, which will be on Mojave. Hope to continue to run CS5 for awhile yet. I am told it will run on Mojave, do you know if that is true?

    Again, many thanks!

    Curt

    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 1, 2019

    The only major downside of running cs5 in 32 bit is the ram that photoshop is able to use is limited to around 3.2 gbs, where as in 64 bit mode cs5 can use virtually all the ram your mac has.

    As far as photoshop cs5 on Mojave, it doesn't work so well.

    Also, there doesn't seem to be an obvious way to run cs5 in 32 bit mode on Mojave.

    The Open in 32 bit mode is missing from the file info dialog.

    You can subscribe to creative cloud photography plan that includes photoshop cc and lightroom for $10 a month

    and runs much better on Mojave.

    melissapiccone
    Community Expert
    melissapicconeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 29, 2019

    There were a few years where the filter just didn't work at all and I'm thinking it was CS5. It was just broken so, that might be the problem. For what it's worth, has been working perfectly the last few years and is fine in CC 2019.

    Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
    Curtis Larson
    Curtis LarsonAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    April 30, 2019

    Well, thanks for the reply…. Unfortunately you may be right in that sometimes, things just break (for any number of reasons), and there is no fix. Don’t like that answer.

    So far, not found a solution, but still looking. I’ve got someone from Adobe attempting…..

    Akash Sharma
    Akash Sharma
    Legend
    April 29, 2019

    Hi Curt,

    Sorry that the Lightning effects filter is grayed out in Photoshop CS5.

    Check that in the Preferences > Performance > Advanced menu, the Drawing Mode is set to  Basic or Normal and then restart Photoshop.

    If your system has automatic GPU switching, you may want to disable that in Energy Saving under your Mac System Preferences.

    Also, see this similar discussion: lighting effects grayed out

    Let us know how it goes.

    Thanks,

    Akash

    Curtis Larson
    Curtis LarsonAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    April 29, 2019

    I reset to Normal and restarted. Actually, there is not Lighting Effect filter any longer displayed at all. I said greyed-out because that is what I’d recalled. Now there is nothing. Even more curious.

    Curt

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices