Random Squares Appearing during Export

[defaultfeno450we5dr]

Hey everyone!

I have a strange issue going on. Whenever I try to export as a PNG from Photoshop (V22.3), I get random squares on the exported image. If I add a background, it seems fine however the file needs to be transparent. Any suggestions would be awesome.

Thanks!

[Trevor.Dennis]

Are these squares still there when you open the PNG in other apps, or even reopen them in Photoshop?  It sounds like a video card driver issue, but that would only apply if the artefacts are only on the screen, and not in the exported PNG.

If not video card, then it could be OS specific.  What operating system are you using?

[Bojan Živković]

Also, can you post some example image? Upload and embed in post, do not use attachment.

[defaultfeno450we5dr]

Thank you for the responses! Yes, when I do the export, the exported file has the squares in it as well. I have uploaded a screenshot of how the image looks during the export. These aren't visible when editing.

[D Fosse · Accepted solution]

In that case it's a problem with layer compositing and blending.

The workaround is to flatten prior to exporting (remember to undo the flattening before saving the original!)

A few versions back a new layer compositing engine was implemented. In the beginning it was a bit buggy, so there was a checkbox in preferences to "use legacy compositing". Recently that checkbox was removed, on the grounds that the problems had been fixed.

But apparently not, and I suspect they should have left the checkbox. I've seen a couple of similar cases recently.

Bottom line - this should be reported as a bona fide bug on the feedback site (the official bug report channel). Include as many specific details as you can.

https://feedback.photoshop.com/topics/photoshop/5f5f2092785c1f1e6cc4086b 

[defaultfeno450we5dr]

That fixed it!! Thank you so much. It was very frustrating

[defaultr1pdv7qx38ys]

when i flatten the image, the squares show up on that image? cannot find a way round, very very very very frustrating, paying a lot for this.....

[tjk89345747]

I figured out a work around! See if your color mode is in RGB if you switch it to a CMYK color profile then flatten it resolves the issue. 

When converting to the other color profile it may switch up some settings and you may need to fix some color changes but all around pretty good fix.