Gradient Control Handles

[Jim1587]

In tutorials using Photoshop 2023 the Gradient tool has some on-image control handles. My Lightroom Classic and Adobe Camera Raw show these controls. My Photoshop Gradient tool doesn’t. The tool is set to ‘Gradient’, not ‘Classic Gradient’. Is there a setting I’m missing? I’m using Photoshop v25.12.0 on a Windows 10 system. Thanks for any suggestions!

[Sameer K]

Hey, @Jim1587. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll move this post to discussions. I'll need more info to help you figure this out. Please share the system info from Photoshop Help > System info > Copy and paste into a text document > upload and attach here. 

Before anything else, please update Photoshop to the latest version via the Creative Cloud desktop app. 

In this case, you can begin by resetting the Brush tool itself. Right-click on the Brush Tool icon in the Toolbar menu and select Reset Tool.

If this does not help, ensure no stale preferences in your Photoshop. Go to the location of the preference folder below and rename it to backup.

• Windows 10/11: Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
• You can press Press the Windows key > Enter 'Run' > Enter %APPDATA%\Adobe
• Rename the Adobe Photoshop folder by adding a .old at the end. (Adobe Photoshop 2024 > Rename > Adobe Photoshop 2024. old), you can later restore these preferences if needed.(https://adobe.ly/4860qM9)
• Restart the computer.

These changes will give a fresh start to Photoshop as a fresh install. Let me know how it goes.

Thanks!

Sameer K

(Use '@mention' to tag me when you reply)

[Jim1587]

Sameer - Thanks for your response! The System Info file is attached.

[Jim1587]

I just noticed there was a new PS version. It's been installed. The old version has been removed. The new System Info file is attached.

[Conrad_C]

Is View > Extras enabled? Because if Extras is disabled, various controls such as gradient handles will be hidden on the canvas. This is similar to how, in Lightroom Classic and Camera Raw, gradient handles will show or hide depending on the setting for Tool Overlay (often taught as the H key shortcut).

[Jim1587]

View > Extras is (and has been) enabled.