alyoshaname
Level 1 (3 points)

Q: iMac 4k (late 2015) photoshop screen flickering issue/bug

Hello,

I am a retoucher so i use Adobe Photoshop to do my work.

Recently i've bought a new iMac 21.5 (late 2015) with cool 4k Retina display.

 

Configuration:

OS X El Capitan

Version: 10.11.3 (15D21)

iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015)

Processor: 3,1 GHz Intel Core i5

Memory: 8 GB 1867 MHz DDR3

Graphics: Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 1536 MB

 

But the happiness was gone very quickly after installing Adobe Photoshop and tries to do my job. The matter is that i've found a disgusting bug. My screen goes black/begins flickering/flashing (video is here - https://youtu.be/D-5dF3dvYmM).

 

First my think was - perhaps this is a problem with key combinations or graphic tablet. So i switched off the tablet and checked hotkey settings and tried once more - the problem didn't gone.

 

Next i tried to repeat the bug. I've realized that there is no any sequence of actions. Screen flickers randomly. But i noticed - pressing CMD,SPACE,[] keys makes screen to flick more often (when using brush or stamp tools).

 

So the next step was Google. I found lot of such issues:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7349449

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7401844

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7370586

https://forums.adobe.com/message/8289188

https://forums.adobe.com/message/8337985

https://forums.adobe.com/message/8353487

https://forums.adobe.com/message/8252309

https://forums.adobe.com/message/8392296

https://forums.adobe.com/message/8157454

 

I have already tried:

1) different combinations of advanced graphic processor settings - nothing changed

2) turning off use of GPU - nothing changed

3) update my OSX to the latest version - nothing changed

4) update Adobe Photoshop to the latest version - nothing changed

5) restore PS settings to default - nothing changed

 

There is ONLY ONE REALLY WORKING solution - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aGJBafQWTg

+Chris Hong Here's a very lousy solution - I realised that this issue is happening only when my cursor size for eraser is too big. I just went to the Preferences>Cursor and made the cursor to precise. It stopped the blinking issue. Although it makes the work little difficult on photoshop.


This is really worked but made PS is usless for me (and as i've understood for many users of new iMac 4K too).

 

I tried to make a return of iMac but my Apple retailer told me that this is software problem so they cannot take my iMac back and make me a refund.

 

Dear Apple and/or Adobe,

Please solve this terrible issue.

I look forward to your reply and the resolution of my problem.

 

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Alyona

 

p.s. sorry for my English.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), 4k Retina (late 2015)

Posted on Jan 29, 2016 11:35 AM

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alyoshaname

Q: iMac 4k (late 2015) photoshop screen flickering issue/bug

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  • Helpful answers

  • by TatyRS,

    TatyRS TatyRS Jan 29, 2016 12:50 PM in response to alyoshaname
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 29, 2016 12:50 PM in response to alyoshaname

    Hi,

    I have the same problem with my brand new iMac 4K, latest version of OS and latest update of Photoshop.

    I already contacted Apple and Adobe, but Adobe has no answer for us, and Apple says that it is a software problem, so Adobe has to solve it.

    The really unique solution in order not to have the screen flashing black is the one you posted, taken from a comment on a Youtube video: setting the cursor as "precise".

    I agree with your prayer: please Adobe and Apple fix this bug!

    Tatiana

  • by Nik Merkulov,

    Nik Merkulov Nik Merkulov Jan 31, 2016 6:49 AM in response to alyoshaname
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 31, 2016 6:49 AM in response to alyoshaname

    Hello! I have same problem, but i find temporary solution. Go to System preference ---> Accessibility --> Display ---> Cursor size

    and then enlarge size of cursor to second line! It helped me and the screen stops blinking. Good luck!

  • by monta17,

    monta17 monta17 Jun 7, 2016 11:17 AM in response to alyoshaname
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 7, 2016 11:17 AM in response to alyoshaname

    I have the same problem in Photoshop with 2 separate 4k iMacs (late 2015). Display screen flashing to black with seemingly no rhyme or reason.  Some times fine for 15 - 20 minutes, then start flashing a bit, then flashes with each moment. I have spoken with Apple twice, and like others have reported, the representative had me try resetting a few things, then said it must be software related.

     

    However... 

    I just downloaded a trial version of the Affinity Photo software (which is supposed to be very much like Photoshop), and the flashing black screen problem happened again.

    So, am I correct in thinking that it can't be a software issue because it is happening in two different software programs (and one is Adobe and the other is not)?

    Or is it more complicated that that?

    I do agree with everyone ... it makes if very difficult (and sometimes impossible) to get any work done.

     

    Hoping for a solution soon!

    Barbara

     

    iMac 4K Retina, OS X El Capitan 10.11.5

  • by joetotheworld,

    joetotheworld joetotheworld Jun 29, 2016 11:41 PM in response to monta17
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jun 29, 2016 11:41 PM in response to monta17

    This bug also happens when I am using InVision to create mobile prototypes. When I move my cursor from the inside of the mobile simulator to the outside, the screen flickers for a second. So I agree with you that this is just not an issue with Photoshop. Maybe the problem is really just on the iMac's end.

  • by megfromhockley,

    megfromhockley megfromhockley Jul 31, 2016 6:18 PM in response to alyoshaname
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 31, 2016 6:18 PM in response to alyoshaname

    So, I made my cursor a tad bit bigger, like just past the initial tick mark, and its seemed to have resolved the issue. Not sure whose problem this is, Adobe or Apple, but it definitely is a turn off to buying a 4K. It's supposed to be better, not problematic. Let me know if this works for anyone else

  • by macedotavares,

    macedotavares macedotavares Oct 12, 2016 2:22 PM in response to alyoshaname
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 12, 2016 2:22 PM in response to alyoshaname

    I've had this problem ever since I bought mine, 3 months ago. Nothing that Apple Care suggested seemed to work. Then, while fiddling cluelessly with the System Settings, I may have fixed it.


    Go to Displays, choose "Scaled", and then select some resolution other than "default". Then, where you chose "Scaled", change back to "Default". This did the trick for me. Immediately after that, the flashes stopped and it's been a couple of weeks now.


    By the way, this bug is not exclusive to Photoshop. It happens whenever a custom cursor changes back to a default one. Even some websites (like zappos) can suffer from this.

  • by mtw36,

    mtw36 mtw36 Oct 13, 2016 8:00 PM in response to macedotavares
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 13, 2016 8:00 PM in response to macedotavares

    Amazing macedotavares