Lens Blur Filter not working properly in CS6 – a Disgrace!

[emil_ems5]

<p>I have recently installed Photoshop CS6 on two of my computers, the MacBook Pro of 2011 and the "Big Mac" of 2010. So I am using OS 10.7 and 10.6, respectively.<br /> I was very disappointed to notice that the Lens Blur Filter did not work properly on either machine with CS6. The effect was identical to using the Gaussian Blur Filter with the mask, creating a halo effect on the borders of the mask.<br /> I had the same problem already when installing version CS5, so I am forced to keep the older version (CS4) on the machine just for the purpose of using the Lens Blur Filter. <br /> Since the problem occurs with two different machines with two different operative systems, this is NOT a machine dependent problem, but a problem of programming at Adobe.<br /> I took up this issue with an Adobe Expert at the Photographic Mess in Stockholm already in autumn 2011. He did not believe me at first, but experience the problem first hand, when applying the lens blur filter in CS5 on his own laptop. He promised me to take this up with Adobe and that the problem would be resolved immediately.<br /> To my surprise I see that CS6 has exactly the same problem. I would say that IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE to let people pay a lot of money for updates, without bothering to remedy such an obvious fault in the program! I am surprised that this issue has not yet surfaced as a big issue in the Community.</p>

[Wouter Willemse]

<blockquote>

<p>I am surprised that this issue has not yet surfaced as a big issue in the Community.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Sorry to say, but I think your clue is exactly in that sentence there: not too many people seem to think this is a massive problem. And with that, the pressure on Adobe to fix this is not that high either.</p>

[digitaldog]

<blockquote>

<p>I was very disappointed to notice that the Lens Blur Filter did not work properly on either machine with CS6.</p>

</blockquote>

<p> <br>

Can you be more specific in what isn't working so we can see on our end if this can be replicated? IF you have a document to share that each party could test, that would be useful too.<br>

<br>

While you may have used two machines, it's possible that something common on both is producing this issue? Did you try logging into another user account? How about a clean OS install on another drive? </p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>Just for grins, I tried it on a recent CS6 install on a machine on my end. Worked fine. Meaning, it's obviously not doing the Gaussian thing, but instead the lens blur thing. Still kind of a pain to use convincingly regardless, but it's definitely not a normal Gaussian blur it's producing - the filter's various parameter sliders are changing the rendering as expected.</p>

[keith reeder]

<p>Works fine (well, <em>y'know...</em>) here in CS5 - although I'm not in a position to compare it with CS4's implementation, which might well be <em>different</em>.</p>

<p>Even so, it's not the same as Gaussian blur here.</p>

[emil_ems5]

<p>Andrew,<br>

When I spoke to the Photoshop expert at the Stockholm Photo Exhibition in late 2011, he experienced the exactly same thing with CS5 on his Apple laptop. So it is nothing to do with my machines, it appears. I made a clean installment from disks on both machines, who have never shared any programs directly. I always install from original disks from the supplier, both as concerns operating systems and other programs. I will put two pictures on the forum, as soon as I have prepared them.</p>

<p>Matt and Keith,<br>

Are you working with an Apple with OS 10.6 or OS !0.7?</p>

[keith reeder]

<p>No, Emil - Windows 7 64 bit here.</p>

[emil_ems5]

<p><img src="no%20name/jpeg/comparison%20of%20CS4%20and%20CS6%20Lens%20Blur_1.jpg" alt="" />OK, I tried to upload pictures from my computer to state my point. But for some reason I cannot attach a photo directly to this answer from my computer. Instead the forum asks me to provide an URL. But I have seen others put photos directly into their messages. Is there still a way of doing this?</p>

[Spearhead]

<p>After you post, the confirmation page has a box for uploading a photo. It will show inline if it is less than 700px wide and you put a caption in the box. If you have a website, it's easier to upload it there and just use the URL with the image widget in the edit box.</p>

[Spearhead]

See the attached screenshot.<div></div>

[digitaldog]

<blockquote>

<p>When I spoke to the Photoshop expert at the Stockholm Photo Exhibition in late 2011, he experienced the exactly same thing with CS5 on his Apple laptop.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>To which I answer, prove it. We need exact steps and probably a file to test it on our end. If we can do so, we'll agree that the behavior is AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE. </p>

[emil_ems5]

<p>New version to appear shortly!</p>

[emil_ems5]

<p>OK, I finally managed to upload a picture!<br>

In the picture you can clearly see haloes around the cactus fringe in the upper right, in the CS6 version of Lens Blur, quite similar to the haloes you get with Gaussian Blur CS6. No such haloes are visible in the CS4 version, which functions exactly as it should. The three versions are based on using an identical cactus mask on a duplicate of the identical background picture.<br /> What more proof can I give you, Andrew? It could only consist of visiting me and working on my two computers, or on the computer used by the Adobe expert at the Stockholm exhibition in late 2011. ;-)<br /> Having said this, I have to admit that I may have been a bit too harsh in judging Adobe in my introductory remark. That remark was made in affect, just after discovering that CS6 still had the same defect as CS5. Now that I have calmed down somewhat, let's agree to disregard the wording "Absolute Disgrace" and replace it by "Possible Adobe Neglect", to be changed into "Adobe Neglect" if it turns out that others in the Community with OS 10.6 or OS 10.7 have experienced the same issue.</p><div></div>

[digitaldog]

<blockquote>

<p>What more proof can I give you, Andrew?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Sorry, but you don't seem yet to get it. That YOUR two systems exhibit what you find is a bug doesn't mean it's a bug in the product. What I and others need was explained. We need a step by step set of instructions of <strong>exactly</strong> what you are doing AND we need the document. </p>

<blockquote>

<p>It could only consist of visiting me and working on my two computers, or on the computer used by the Adobe expert at the Stockholm exhibition in late 2011. ;-)</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Look, lots of items on these systems could affect that result that has nothing to do with Photoshop itself (hence why isn't the web filled with posts on Adobe software shouting out this issue?). It could be a graphic card or driver issue. It could be a preference setting. It could be a conflict with another software package or system hack. The evidence of a Adobe wide bug due to your two computers and one so called Adobe expert isn't enough evidence as yet presented to give Adobe the info they would need to track this down, let alone fix it. <br>

Look, I've been a beta for Photoshop since 2.5, an alpha since CS. So I have a tad of experience writing up bug reports (and I've had a share that were indeed not bugs). You came here in a rant mode:</p>

<blockquote>

<p> <em>IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE to let people pay a lot of money for updates, without bothering to remedy such an obvious fault in the program! I am surprised that this issue has not yet surfaced as a big issue in the Community.</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>There may indeed be a reason this issue hasn't surfaced as a big issue in the community, think about that. If you do want to get to the bottom of this, upload the full rez file somewhere with step by step instructions of exactly what you did, what settings, what you expected the results to be and what the actual results are supposed to be. Then maybe we can <strong>help</strong> you or help Adobe.</p>

[emil_ems5]

<p>Ok, I think apologies are in order. I went into this issue once more today, to prepare a file for Andrew, as requested by him. While doing this, I discovered, to my dismay, that I had overlooked that the fall back choice in the check box "Depth Map" is "None". In Adobe CS4, I must have, some years ago, entered "Layer Mask", and it stayed there. When uploading CS5 and subsequently CS6, I did not think about checking this box again, since it always had worked for me automatically with "Layer Mask" in CS4. This shows how even the most careful photographer can make silly omissions from time to time.</p>

<p>My sincere apologies to Adobe, for having accused them of severe negligence. And also to Andrew, for having taken up his valuable time with this irritating issue. And also many thanks to Andrew for the same thing.</p>

<p>If it would be possible to delete this conversation, I would appreciate it, since its title wrongly abuses Adobe of severe negligence. Otherwise, maybe the title could be changed by the administrator into "Lens Blur Filter not working properly in CS6? - don't forget the Depth Map Box!"</p>