Render Lighting Effects not working?

[shawnc58192803]

I have been trying to add a lighting effect to an image, but whenever I go to filters>render>lightingeffects it pulls up a black screen. I've found that turning up the ambience lets me at least see the image, but beyond that nothing works. All the other sliders seem to have zero effect on the image. I've updated by graphics card, made sure I was working in 8 bit channel and RGB, I've even ticked the legacy compositing box. I'm using windows. I've been searching all night for answers and cannot find any. Is there anything that I'm missing? Is anyone else experiencing this issue? Please help!

[gener7 · Accepted solution]

Hold down the Alt key in the Lighting effects dialog and you will see the Cancel button change to Reset. Click on Reset and restart Ps for good measure.

If that does not work, Reset Photoshop Preferences as shown below.

[shawnc58192803]

Thanks so much, it's finally working!

[Naran5FAC]

Same problem here.This is not working for me....plz help

[PECourtejoie]

Hi, there is the solution to try an older version of Photoshop: https://prodesigntools.com/adobe-cc-2019-direct-download-links.html

[PECourtejoie]

Users of a M1 Mac need to use Rosetta, (in the CC app, select start on intel when doing a right-click on installed apps) and most users might have to disable the native canvas in the preferences/technology previews, as Lighting effects use the 3D engine that is being retired. 

[defaultmx38vc7ngr27]

Cool it works after this! Thanks! Of course I had to waste 30 minutes with this and fixing a basic feature that should have worked in the first place (Hey Adobe 🙂 ) but at least there was a forum thread about it with the fix. Thanks again

[remoran]

I did this. Nada. It's even worse, it destroys the artwork so one has to quit the file in order to avoid trashing the graphic. This is a disaster.

[davescm]

Hi

If the reset described by gener7 does not work , then you might want to add your comments to the bug report here:

https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/photoshop-lighting-effects-does-not-work-dire...

Dave

[PECourtejoie]

But I would also try to update to Ps 21.1, that fixes a problem with the lighting effects on canvas controls: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/fixed-issues.html#photoshop-desktop-fixed-issues

[Christian~F]

They have NOT fixed this issue with the 21.1 update.

[PECourtejoie]

Hello, it was another Bug, but 21.1.1 release ntoes does list the black lighting effects: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/fixed-issues.html#photoshop-desktop-fixed-issues

[Christian~F]

This link worked!!! Richard King posted that we should turn off "Show Transform Controls" and then restart Photoshop. That obscure workaround is what actually worked!

[RRKing]

But unfortinitly with 21.1 it isn't resolved and when speaking to Adobe about it they said they ahve not fixed it yet and are working on it still.  This is as 5min ago.  I'm glad that workaround works but being the "Show Transform Controls" needs to be off is a real bummer 🙂 lol.  like sucks bad.

[PECourtejoie]

Hello, try 21.1.1 as its release notes does list the black lighting effects: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/fixed-issues.html#photoshop-desktop-fixed-issues

[whatzupwiththat!]

Hi there, it doesn't show the fix. What I found was turn off show transform controls I turned that off and nothing different 

[Karlos3Eleven]

Lighting effects has become very buggy. It works on my MacBook, but not on my iMac. I've tried all of the measures detailed in various places in the Adobe Support Community, and have gone through lengthly troubleshooting sessions with support reps, but continue to experience the same problems. The solution here is to ditch Photoshop, at least for lighting effects, and buy a copy of Affinity Photo, which costs $54.99 (period—no monthly payments) and has a lighting effects filter which is arguably better than Photoshop's, and which actually works.

Adobe recommends buying a suite of their new Substance 3D products, costing $19.99 and $39.99 per month, depending on what you need—they are not included in the Creative Cloud Suite, and no discount is offered for Creative Cloud users. It's unclear to me whether those products even permit you to apply lighting effects to a 2D image. 

Adobe is a monopoly, and behaves accordingly.

[S.K. Tora]

Lighting effects have completely stopped working for me, which really sucks. I used to use this tool a lot and now I feel completely inhibited in my work with this feature utterly useless. I have tried literally everything on here and absolutely NOTHING works whatsoever... I am at a loss. 

I hope this somehow gets fixed. At some point.  

(I'm on Windows 10, using the newest update of Photoshop cc2022)

[Sue Leonard]

I'm using a MacBook Pro with plenty of power etc and Photoshop CC2022 v23.3.2.  I thought it was me doing something wrong.  The Lighting Effects doesn't work at all.  Sometimes gives a blank white document.

[S.K. Tora]

Also, I completely agree. I would like to check out that Affinity Photo. Sounds pretty good