Eyedropper and Color Sampler tool not working correctly for 32bit greyscale images

[Jer371516307ce7]

1. Version of the App:

Photoshop 25.00 

2. Platform and OS version:

Windows 11 pro x64 Version 10.0.22631 Build 22631

3. Basic steps to reproduce the problem (version 25.00)

The problem is to do with the Eyedropper sample tools using 32bit greyscale images. It occurs when using either the eyedropper or colour sampler tools. 

When one opens a 32 bit greyscale image in photoshop, levels, curves, and exposure adjustment layers are often required to see the work which is being carried out due to the enormous DR of 32bit. 

3.1 The image above shows the 32bit greyscale image without adjustment layers

3.2 The 32bit image is now viewable with the adjustment layers and has nice contrast.

4. Expected result and actual result (version 25.00)

When sampling the 32bit greyscale values for a point or average sample, I want to be able to only sample the original true values WITHOUT the adjustment layer values. Currently, there is a bug where it still samples the adjustment layer values even when the settings are 'current and below no adjustments'.

4.1 The image above shows four sample points on the base image without the adjustments turned on. The eyedropper tool has been set to 'current and below no adjustments'; the base layer has nothing below it.

4.2 Note that with the adjusmtent layers on so I can see what is happening, the sample values have completely changed even with eyedropper set to 'current and below no adjustments'.

5 Conclusion

I believe that there is a bug relating to how Photoshop reads 32bit greyscale images and samples their values using the eyedropper or colour sampler tool. I need to be able to see what I'm doing (image 4.2), whilst knowing the sampled 32 bit values (image 4.1).

Cheers,
Jeremy

[davescm · Accepted solution]

Hi,

A couple of things.

1. The info panel displays the results of sampling 'all layers' regardless of bit depth and colour mode or the setting for the eyedropper. The exception is that if you have an adjustment layer selected you will see both before and after values displayed for that adjustment. I just went back and checked in v24 and it was the same there.
The 'current and below' sample setting is honoured when using Alt and the eyedropper (or brush) to pick a colour.

2. There is no need to add adjustment layers to see the 32 bit image. If you go to the bottom left of the document window and set the info displayed in document status to '32 bit Exposure', you will see a slider. That slider only adjusts the displayed preview and not the image itself and is designed so that you can select the range of the HDR bit depth currently displayed on your screen.

Dave

[Jer371516307ce7]

Hi Dave, thanks for your response. 

1. thanks for your explanation of how the panel works. Is it possible to have an option to display the sample value for the selected layer without sampling any adjustment layers above? I also tried this on 26.3, and 26.5 which have the same effect.

2. thank you for reminding me about the 32bit exposure preview which I use in conjunction with the adjustment layers. However, for my particular needs, I often need to increase the contrast significantly to observe and adjust values in a very small way. For this, I use one or more sweep curves to enhance the contrast significantly (below). However, whilst I'm observing minute adjustments, I would most greatly benefit from being able to see the 32bit 'raw' value in the colour sample info panel.

If this cannot be done for PS, do you know of any plugins which might be able to do this? I don't know how to code or make plugins unfortunatley. 

-Jeremy

[davescm]

It may be worth raising this as an idea, outlining the benefit, that way Adobe's developers will see it.

In the meantime by clicking on an adjustment layer you should see the before and after values for the adjustment.

I don't know of a plug in that does that for the info panel.

Dave

[jer_3493]

Thanks Dave, I have posted the request in the Ideas part of the community. I don't know if it will be seen or recognised. https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/eyedropper-and-color-sampler-improvements/i...

Kind regards, Jeremy