What is native canvas and what happens when I disable it?

[djPaulWall]

I disabled it to see if it will fix a dual display issue I'm having, but I'm curious to know what it actually does. Anyone know?

[Ged_Traynor]

Hi

Take a look here

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/3d-faq.html

[djPaulWall]

Thanks for the link. I'm still not sure what it doesn't after reading it. Looks like it has something to do with 3D in PS. I disabled it in hopes that my mac stops getting a green screen after hours of working with two monitors.

[TheDigitalDog]

See: https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/what-is-native-canvas/td-p/12572953

It's legacy behavior that is going away.

Greens screen, can you tell  us more or provide a screen capture?

First, try disabling GPU in the preferences (Preformance tab). Any better?
If not, recalibrate and build a new ICC display profile, the old one might be corrupted.
If you are using software/hardware for this task, be sure the software is set to build a matrix not LUT profile, Version 2 not Version 4 profile.
If turning OFF GPU works, it's a GPU bug and you need to contact the manufacturer or find out if there's an updated driver for it. 
Also see: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/acr-gpu-faq.html

[djPaulWall]

So I'm using a 27" 2020 imac with a second display. It seems that when I've been using photoshop for an extended period my whole system freezes. My second monitor goes green and my imac goes black. I suspect my graphics card might be wigging out so I found this workaround. https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html 

It mentions disabling native canvas. I still need more time to see if this is the fix, but wasn't sure what I was losing by turning it off.

[D Fosse · Accepted solution]

As I understand it, "native canvas" means what you see on screen is rendered using OS-native APIs, i.e. Metal on Mac, DirectX on Windows.

Disabling it means reverting to the old OpenGL APIs.

OpenGL is no longer supported by Apple and Microsoft, hence the entire GPU code is in the process of being migrated. That's a big undertaking and predictably a rather bumpy ride. Glitches and bugs will happen.

Once it's all done and thoroughly tried and tested, the "disable native canvas" checkbox will be removed. In the meantime, it's important that any problems are reported under the "Bugs" subsection. If checking the box makes the problem go away, it needs to be fixed permanently.

Unless I misunderstood the whole thing.

[Micah Player]

Something I keep wondering is whether Native Canvas has a performance advantage to OpenGL. Intuitively, I would think so, but its hard to find anything definitive. Like, do brushes work better / smoother with less latency? Procreate and Fresco on iPad Pros both have really fantastic latency because the drawing / input rendering is always done with Metal on the native level. Does Native Canvas improve pen input on a desktop machine by removing a step and using the native API? I've noticed that for the last several versions of Photoshop, the latency and fluidity of using brushes has improved and is now comparable to Fresco, at least in comparison to the desktop version on my Surface. Is this the result of Native Canvas?

[TheDigitalDog]

What it does (or doesn't) do and why you'd disable it:

[eiapoce]

When you disable native canvas photoshop goes back to functioning properly without glitches and bugs.

It should be a beta only feature reserved to betatesters but godknowswhy they impose it on paying costumers.

[TheDigitalDog]

When you disable native canvas photoshop goes back to functioning properly without glitches and bugs.

It should be a beta only feature reserved to betatesters but godknowswhy they impose it on paying costumers.

By eiapoce

Odd; I have the option OFF (I'm not using Native Canvas) and there are zero issues and greater speed; care to explain that? 

[eiapoce]

What is to explain? Leave it off - it's better this way.

E.G. I can't batch process more than 5 pictures at a time when that crap is active.

[TheDigitalDog]

What is to explain? Leave it off - it's better this way.

By eiapoce

For you, not everyone! Hence the option.

As for explaining; done last year. Long before you arrived.

As to you answering my specific question addressed to you, not done.