Is this a Photoshop issue or an iMac issue?

[DigitalChickster]

Hi all! Over the last few days, I've noticed a problem when I use Photoshop. When I'm working on an image. Periodically, the image just turns gray. I have to click around the image or on the tools or on the layers... to make the image show up again. I can make the image go gray by clicking out of Photoshop... on an email or on my web browser. Other than that, I can't predict when it will happen. 

I am running Photoshop 21.1.3 on my iMac... which is running OS 10.15.4. I don't know if this is a Photoshop issue... or an issue with my graphics card? I'm not sure where to start. I made sure I had scratch discs set up (I do), so I don't think it's a memory issue. My hard drive is not even 50% full. 

I'm attaching a screenshot of what it looks like when the image is just gray. You can see all the layers on the right... 

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

Does turning off »Use Graphics Processor« in the Performance Preferences (Photoshop > Preferences > Performance > Graphic Processor Settings) and restarting Photoshop have any bearing on the issue? 

[DigitalChickster]

I will give it a try! I didn't know about that setting! 

[DigitalChickster]

So far, that seems to have solved the problem! Thanks so much! 

[D Fosse]

Actually it doesn't solve the problem, but it shows there's a problem in the iMac's video driver. That's a bit tricky on Mac because the driver is integrated into the operating system, so it means you have to wait for an OS update to fix the problem.

On Windows the driver is a separate component that you can update or roll back at any time.

Unchecking GPU in preferences means that some functions will be unavailable.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Like D_Fosse already mentioned it is no proper solution as it invalidates GPU dependent features (like the Rotate View Tool, some Filter acceleration, 3D features, … for example) but it indicates problems with the GPU driver or the OS. 

[DigitalChickster]

OK. I will keep an eye on it to see if I have issues. I appreciate the info. Hopefully the next OS update will make the issue disappear! As I mentioned, the problem started just a few days ago. I can't remember if I updated just before then or not.