Inspiring

Answered

Photoshop 23.5 - Graphics hardware acceleration, Scrubby Zoom, Flick Panning NOT working

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
August 29, 2022
3 replies
3480 views

I updated Photoshop to 23.5 on Windows 10 and scrubby zoom and all hardware acceleration features (like smooth flick panning) are not working, even though "Use graphics processor" is checked under Preferences > Performance and the graphics adapter is detected as AMD Radeon R9 200 Series.

I tried all recommended fixes, like:

enabling/disabling graphics processor and restarting PS
resetting preferences files
loading PS without optional plugins.

Nothing worked.

In the end, I just reverted back to 23.4.2 and scrubby zoom is back! So the problem is for sure with the 23.5 update that breaks the feature, possibly by no longer recognizing my graphics card as "capable" for graphics acceleration, all while not actually disabling graphics acceleration in Preferences.

My graphics card, although old, is still capable of playing recent games, even though AMD no longer provides driver updates for it. I don't want to spend $1k on a new card only to get scrubby zoom to work in PS. Adobe please fix it.

Here's a screenshot of the Help > GPU Compatibility check in 23.4.2., with scrubby zoom working:

I reinstalled 23.5 a second time and the Help > GPU Compatibility window shows same info exactly as 23.4.2 (screenshot below), but scrubby zoom doesn't work.

Reverting back to 23.4.2 a second time makes scrubby zoom and flick panning functional again.

UPDATE: I borrowed and installed a new video card (GeForce 2070S) from a friend and updated Photoshop to 23.5 again. The scrubby zoom works with the new video cards and drivers. So the problem lies definitely with the way the new update recognizes older video cards and/or drivers.

But, as I said before, we shouldn't have to upgrade the video card to keep using basic features like scrubby zoom and smooth panning, features that have been working fine for forever, and still would.

If this is intentional by the Photoshop team, to no longer support older video cards and drivers, then there should be a message to the user and Use graphics processor should be set to disabled in Preferences > Performance.

Windows

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer davescm

@davescm According to the link you provided, the "recommended" requirements of 4GB GPU memory for the video card is for 4k displays or greater. So if you have a non-4k monitor, that doesn't apply and his 2GB GPU memory card exceeds the minimum requirements and should work with Photoshop without trouble.

It also states :

'If you are using an older graphics card or driver, GPU functionality in Photoshop may be limited or not supported.

Generally, consider using GPUs with an Average Ops/Sec of 2000 or higher on PassMark's GPU Computer Benchmark Chart.'

Dave

NB, colourmanagement

Community Expert

Here are some suggestions from Adobe for GPU issues.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/troubleshoot-gpu-graphics-card.html

neilB

@mj

Community Expert

Hi @27shutterclicks,

These features are defintely the domain of the GPU now.

Here's a resource that you may find helpful.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html

27shutterclicksAuthor

Inspiring

@TheDigitalDog It's not a GPU bug if it works with the previous version of PS and not the new one. It's a PS bug.

Also, disabling GPU is NOT an option for daily Photoshop users. Essential features like scrubby zoom and flick panning are mission-critical when using PS daily. While I understand that new features may require more from the video card, features as old as scrubby zoom don't need anything new. If anything, there should be a choice to the user as to which features to enable for GPU acceleration and which not. If what I need is scrubby zoom and flick panning and not newer features, then I should make that choice. It's like using a car without AC, because the resources are needed for lane-assist and radar cruise control and u have no choice in the matter.

@@mj I am well aware these are features that are GPU-accelerated, and as I mentioned in my original post, AMD no longer provides driver updates for this card. But if this card can run resource-hungry games like latest Call of Duty releases at high resolution, I think it can handle a measly scrubby zoom. The problem is not the card or the drivers, the problem is the PS update which needs to be tested for backward compatibility.

davescm

Community Expert

@TheDigitalDog Thank you for the fact checking. Always good to have some insight and confirmation on how everything does work. You are right, as a user we assume many things, mostly due to a lack of resources that can inform us otherwise, from those who hold the key to the facts.

Assumption: For example, as an assuming user who doesn't actually have knowledge of COD and PS code base, Yes, I DO assume that essential tool functionality like zooming and panning will not break with newer (minor) updates of Photoshop, unless some major enhancements are brought to the zoom or the hand tool, which I do not believe to be the case with the 23.5 update.

Assumption: I inadvertedly assume that if such updates were to be made to essential tools (and not new tools or features), that such changes be part of the release notes, so that those who DO have auto-updates disabled, can make the necessary decisions about updating or plan the update window accordingly.

Assumption: Here's another thing that I do assume : I assume that if my computer specs do not in fact meet the minimum requirements, that the software in question does NOT actually tell me that my computer does meet the minimum requirements.

Assumption: Lastly, I assume that, as a paying customer, if I do encounter problems with new updates of Photoshop that cause essential tools to break, and if I do take the time to report on them in the proper channels, that Adobe Community "Professionals" provide helpful and less snarky answers. Pasting a link to the GPU FAQ and telling me it's due to the GPU when I report there is an issue with the GPU despite Photoshop telling me everything's ok, is not helpful.

#adobecommunityfail #photoshopupdatefail

“The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct.” ― Franciscan friar William of Ockham

Your screenshots do not show that everything is OK with the GPU. They recomend updating the driver.

Photoshop is moving more and more functionality toward the GPU including teh compositing of the preview. So a function that worked previously may change behaviour in teh newer version not because that function has been updated, but because the code with which it interacts has been updated.

I would try two things:

1. Update the driver for your GPU. I don't know the full options with AMD as I use NVidia here, but if there is an option to clean install the driver (NVidia hide that under 'Advanced') then take it. It will overwrite remnants of the old driver.

2. If you have not already done so, reset Photoshop Preferences. The preference files contain more than just the user Preferences and are saved each time Photoshop closes. Any corruption can cause issues, which sometimes does not show itself until a version update.

Dave

TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

Yes: the problem lies definitely with the way the new update recognizes older video cards and/or drivers.

It's a GPU bug and you need to contact the manufacturer or find out if there's an updated driver for it. This is why disabling GPU is an option as more and more functionality moves to the GPU in newer versions of many Adobe products.
Also see: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/acr-gpu-faq.html

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

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