Photoshop freezes when using Camera Raw filter on smart objects

[alxb49009547]

There have been several discussions on this issue in the past, but they've all died out without any solution. 

Every time I try to use the Camera Raw filter on smart objects, the CR window appears along with a dialog box that seems to be loading the CR filter, but it gets stuck like that, the Cancel button can't be clicked so I have to force-quit Photoshop. Every single time! This makes this smart filter functionality entirely unusable for me! This has been an issue for me for many Ps versions now, and going through multiple macOS versions. 

Other filters used to work on smart objects until today, when I had this happen when trying to use the Filter Gallery on an object converted for Smart Filters. So, I'll probably have to stop using those as well.

Solutions proposed by users in older threads, like restoring preferences, unchecking Use Graphics Processor, and others, if they've ever worked, they don't any longer. 

And over the years, I've gone through many Ps versions and even several clean installs, yet the problem has always been there. 

It's downright infuriating that Adobe doesn't want to address this issue, in spite of multiple threads about this over time!

My PS version is 24.5.0, Camera Raw v15.3.1.1455

and i'm on an iMac Retina 21.5", 2017,

Processor: 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7

Memory: 16 GB 2400 MHz DDR4

Graphics: Radeon Pro 560 4 GB

[alxb49009547]

Omer, thanks for taking the time to reply, but i had already tried most of them, except for creating a different user account (would I have to pay for a separate license for that?). I really doubt it's related to the user account, it's most likely a bug having to do with active windows. 

[alxb49009547]

Also worth mentioning, PS doesn't technically freeze, Mac Activity Monitor doesn't show it as unresponsive, but since that progress bar doesn't move and all PS windows, although movable, are unclickable, I have to force quit PS every time.

[Kathleen28019755to4q]

First, I'd like to say I am no tech expert but I came accross this issue and this was my solution. I have been trying to solve that problem myself and it has been a frustrating experience as I have tried every single online solution possible and none has worked. I found that the Camera Raw filter window might just be stuck outside of your laptops or monitors screen. When I used Camera Raw, I moved it's window onto a monitor screen and when I disconnected the laptop from the monitor I no longer had access to that window, even after restarting, uninstalling, or rolling back photoshop several times over the past two days. I then had the realization that when I used it the first time and it had worked, I was using two screens (my laptop and an external computer monitor).

For anyone using a laptop, the issue might be that the Camera Raw window is stuck outside of your laptop screen if you have used an extrernal monitor with it previously. I am not sure if this is the case applies for you, as my specific situation involved multiple monitors, but I hope this helps somebody cause I have not seen anybody here mention monitors, but having the same issue as me (Photoshop freezing or graying out, and the only way of closing it is by going through the task manager). If this is the case the solution is reconnecting the external monitor and moving it to your main screen and disconnect the extrernal one. I know that on Windows 11 there is a setting that is automatically checked, which is "Remember window locations based on monitor connection", I would uncheck this for anyone using Windows OS. Quite a silly discovery. Unfortunately, I do not know if IMacs or Macbooks have this setting. I really hope you find the solution to your problem if this situation does not apply to you. 

[NB, colourmanagement]

@Kathleen28019755to4q "For anyone using a laptop, the issue might be that the Camera Raw window is stuck outside of your laptop screen if you have used an extrernal monitor with it previously. - - - -

I know that on Windows 11 there is a setting that is automatically checked, which is "Remember window locations based on monitor connection", I would uncheck this for anyone using Windows OS. Quite a silly discovery. Unfortunately, I do not know if IMacs or Macbooks have this setting. "

Great tip @Kathleen28019755to4q  I've not seen such a setting on a Mac, but I have seen that issue sometimes after disconnecting an external screen, an app appears to be broken because its window is effectively on the invisible screen. I've not seen it not with Photoshop.

Al the same, perhaps as a rule for mac users it’s a good idea to drag the app windows from the external onto the MacBook or other mac before quitting the app and disconnecting the external screen.

If a Mac user gets stuck with Photoshop this might help

- click on 'window/arrange/tile all ---'

 

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[Donart6969]

Agreed. This happened to me too. I spent hours changing cables, doing restarts, trying to reset preferences and follow all that other advice, and then plugged in an external screen and there it was. I was both delighted and infuriated at the same time.

[rcgordon]

I'm having this problem too (also somewhat inconsistent, but never reliable), on Monterey with PS 24.x. Not a problem with earlier versions. 

[joseerodriguez]

this is happening to me in  July 2024 ... same issue seems like adobe hasnt fixed this yet
my pc is iMac Retina 5k 27 2017
32 Ram
Radeon Pro 580 8GB

Photoshop and Camera raw updated to latest

[rcgordon]

Mine is on a Mac Pro 5.1, Monterey via non-patching OpenCore. My card is also a RX580/8gb. I'm not sure that anybody else on this thread has mentioned their configuration, but I wonder if there might be a bug specific to that card. I'm sure that my running on an unsupported system, renders anything that I might report as low priority. 

[joseerodriguez]

what's non-pathching Opencore?
do you think it really is because of the card?

[joseerodriguez]

Also how do we scale this? this is super frustrating having to be really careful before openin camera raw, i've lost many of my progress in different projects and its becoming annoying ... We pay for this and we need to have something reliable...

[RcGordon]

OpenCore is a mechanism through which some Mac models can be booted to run later versions of Mac OS than the limit set by Apple.

What I mean by non-patching OpenCore is a version developed my Martin Lo, which allows 2009-2012 Mac Pros (which officially top out with Mojave) to run systems up to Monterey, and it does no direct patching of system files, as opposed to the Dortania versions, which directly patch some system files, but can also allow the same devices access to versions currently up to Sonoma.

[RcGordon]

I actually have no idea if the card is really a factor. I was just noticing that we both had devices with that card, though it's quite a common card. If it was a very widespread phenomenon, perhaps Adobe might have already done something about it.

[joseerodriguez]

i've tried this... lets see if it works out

Reset of the Camera Raw preferences:
Hold down the Command key and select Photoshop > Preferences > Camera Raw (macOS)

[rcgordon]

Lloyd Kahn