Unable to add a Black & White layer in psd file that includes a jpg or tif file as Layer 0

[Bill Junk]

I've been able to do this for year, but within the last couple hours I am no longer able to add a Black & White adjustment layer to a psd file I'm building that has a jpg or tif file as Layer 0.  I think there was an update to Camera Raw that was installed late this morning and the interface is now different so something there has changed but I don't know of a Photoshop update taking place in the last few hours.  Nor do I know why that update might have changed the behaviour of Photoshop.  Photoshop work perfectly yesterday and even early this morning when I was doing this same thing.  Now several of the layers are greyed out in the menu.  Anyone know what might be the cause or a way around it?

Adobe Photoshop Version: 25.0.0 20230906.r.37 b14e317 x64

Operating System: Windows 11 Pro 64-bit Version 10.0.22621 Build 22621

Adobe Bridge Version 13.0.4.755

[davescm · Accepted solution]

You have opened your document in 32 bit/channel bit depth. Black and White adjustment is not available in that bit depth. Unless you are working with HDR images, you should set camera raw to open in Photoshop in 16 bits/channel

Dave

[Bill Junk]

The issue that I reported above keeps getting stranger and stranger.  I went back and opened the original jpg file directly into Photoshop and was able to add a Black & White layer to it.  I then opened the original jpg file in Camera Raw then opened it in Photoshop and was able to add a B&W layer.  My final test was to open the original jpg file in Camera Raw then update the Current Process to Version 6, then open it in Photoshop.  Once again I was able to add a B&W layer.  Yet I still have a reviously created psd version of this file to which I cannot add a B&W layer.  Something went haywire somewhere but I have no idea where it might have been.  About all I can guess is that there's something unexpected in older psd file that is telling Photoshop there are certain layers that it can't add.  

[Bill Junk · Accepted solution]

Thank you for catching that detail I missed.  I will be more careful next time or if not I will at least know what to do about it.  Your quick response is appreciated.