Issues with auto-aligning layers: locked layer is nowhere near aligned

[juliaf18265832]

Using photoshop 24.7.0 on a Mac OS 12.6.8:

I have done this many times before and always with great success (photoshop >> machine learning in this respect):

1. load ~50 images or so, all taken from the same spot at different times with different cameras

2. included in this 50 images is a reference image. I lock this layer and do auto-align.

3. Normally everything comes out swimmingly (or I find some images that are totally bogus, in which case I throw them out/crop and try again)

For the past 3 days I have been unable to complete this task, because all the images except for the locked layer auto-align, and the locked layer stays, well, locked. I need to be able to crop the images to the dimensions of the locked layer. Having to manually move or nudge the locked layer (or all the other layers) defeats the purpose here.

I have tried auto-aligning with 10 layers, I have tried auto-aligning with 3. In each case the result is the same. The unlocked layers align to themselves, leaving the reference layer in the dust.

I have never encountered this issue before. What's going on? Did I forget I step?

[D Fosse]

Don't lock it. Put it at the bottom of the stack. That's the reference frame that all the others align to.

[juliaf18265832]

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately this method warps/skews the bottom layer, and I need to keep the dimensions of the reference layer. I am following the method presented in this link: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/aligning-layers.html#:~:text=Automatically%20align%20image%2...

[D Fosse]

Unfortunately this method warps/skews the bottom layer

By @juliaf18265832

Huh, that's odd. I have never, ever, seen that, and I do this a lot. The bottom layer always remains absolutely unchanged. I have never needed to lock it.

Turn it into a background layer just to rule out all possible variables.

[juliaf18265832]

Turned it into a background layer. Same result! Going to try some more troubleshooting on my end.

Starting to wonder now if my reference image is corrupted somehow? Grasping at straws...

[juliaf18265832]

Update: I will re-submit the issue as a bug. It does not occur on my windows machine - just the mac.