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Joanna5FE6
Inspiring
September 30, 2022
Answered

Lighting effects: can't see controls

  • September 30, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 3530 views

I've followed the suggestions in this old post but nothing works. I cannot see the controls to move or adjust the lighting effects under Filters/Render: https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/can-t-control-lighting-effects-in-ps-cc/td-p/5273329/page/2

 

Adobe CC 23.5.1.

Images are RGB 8 bit.

Nothing works. 

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Michael Bullo

    Adobe has discontinued 3D within Photoshop and Lighting Effects rely on this capability to work.

     

    The Adobe Creative Cloud app allows for multiple versions of Photoshop to be simultaneously installed. Using an earlier version of Photoshop may allow you to do what you want to do (for now). However, I would strongly recommend finding an alternative method to achieve what you want.

     

    The following page from Adobe should hopefully answer any questions you might have on this...

    Photoshop 3D | Common questions on discontinued 3D features
    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/3d-faq.html

    2 replies

    Bojan Živković11378569
    Community Expert
    Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
    Community Expert
    September 30, 2022

    Please see this thread, scroll down for explanation (22.2 version install) Solved: Re: Lighting effects not showing handles so cant m... - Adobe Support Community - 12170541

      J
      Joanna5FE6Author
      Inspiring
      September 30, 2022

      It has not worked. As mentioned, I followed all the steps before posting. Please unmark this as solved because it's not.

      rayek.elfin
      rayek.elfin
      Legend
      September 30, 2022

      In past versions of Photoshop a 3d graphics API called OpenGL was used for 3D options, certain effects (lighting filter, for example) and to speed up some operations. OpenGL depends on the graphics card to work, and since Apple dropped support for OpenGL in favour of its own Metal API Adobe decided to drop OpenGL from Photoshop's core as well.

       

      Photoshop's graphics API rewrite is still a work in progress. @Joanna5FE6 You do bring up a valid point though: why is the lighting filter still included in the render filters menu?

      I have no clue. Or at least, I assume it is more work removing these filters rather than transition over to a new graphics API and allow these filters to hook into the new API.

      Could also be sheer laziness, and just hoping for the best: if it still works for a couple of users, that's better than removing it completely. At least now Photoshop can pretend it still has a (disfunctional) lighting filter! 😉

       

      I also tested the lighting filter on my modern 3080ti video card, and similarly to you it just doesn't work properly. On-screen widgets are not displayed, so lights cannot be repositioned. Nor do I expect it to work: as I said, Photoshop's current state is sort-of comparable to a building that is in the midst of a restoration/modernization. It is akin to a construction site in parts. Performance is also somewhat down the drain compared to releases from 5 years and longer ago.

       

      For now and until the PS devs finish this work-in-progress, the solution to accessing a lighting effect is to open your image in an alternative image editor, apply the effect, and then re-import into Photoshop. Affinity Photo features a very nice lighting effect filter, and is inexpensive.

      Not ideal, but it is what it is.

        Michael Bullo
        Community Expert
        Michael BulloCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
        Community Expert
        September 30, 2022

        Adobe has discontinued 3D within Photoshop and Lighting Effects rely on this capability to work.

         

        The Adobe Creative Cloud app allows for multiple versions of Photoshop to be simultaneously installed. Using an earlier version of Photoshop may allow you to do what you want to do (for now). However, I would strongly recommend finding an alternative method to achieve what you want.

         

        The following page from Adobe should hopefully answer any questions you might have on this...

        Photoshop 3D | Common questions on discontinued 3D features
        https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/3d-faq.html

          J
          Joanna5FE6Author
          Inspiring
          September 30, 2022

          CC Desktop only allows updates. How do you back date an installion?

          Michael Bullo
          Community Expert
          Michael BulloCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          September 30, 2022

          Within the Creative Cloud app, get out of the Updates section by clicking on All apps in the upper left corner. Then, for a particular program, click on the triple dot icon next to the Open button and choose Other versions.

           

          The following page from Adobe provides more info if you need...
          Install previous versions of your Creative Cloud apps
          https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/using/install-previous-version.html

           

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