16 Messages
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380 Points
Sat, Aug 22, 2015 4:05 PM
Solved
Photoshop CC 2015: UI font scaling produces font sizes too big/small on high-res monitors (not fixed by PS CC 2014 UI font scaling feature)
[PLEASE DO NOT MERGE THIS TOPIC WITH SIMILAR TOPIC: "Photoshop: Menu too small on Windows high res display", or any other topic that is marked as Answered, because at this writing, the issue I am reporting is not answered or solved. My renewal is coming up in a few months. In and of itself this font issue isn’t enough to push me over the edge and make me cancel my CC subscription, but that’s because I have 2 monitors, and I can read the font on the smaller, lower resolution monitor. It’s a pain, but I have been able to live with it. That said, substandard customer support is enough to and has in other cases been enough for me to stop paying for and using software or services. What I saw in that other, similar thread was not a shining example of how I would expect a company like Adobe to handle customer support. I suspect other users on that thread feel the same way—they didn’t start out so frustrated and furious that they felt like cancelling, but after reading the responses they received, I can see how they got there. I hope this thread can avoid repeating the miscommunication in the other topic. Here are the facts as I understand them. Something in Photoshop CC 2015 is broken. Adobe tried to fix it once under CC 2014 (thank you), but the fix didn’t work for many customers (customers can understand this sort of thing happens if it’s acknowledged and they can see it’s being worked). There is still a problem that needs to be fixed. So in this new thread I hope Adobe can take ownership, be up front and honest about the situation and the status, keep users informed on progress and when a new attempt to fix it can be expected. Thank you in advance.] Adobe Photoshop CC 2014 added a UI scaling feature intended to address customer reports of font sizes too small on some high resolution monitors. The update did not resolve the issue for many customers.There is another similar post on this site (Photoshop: Menu too small on Windows high res display), but it is for an issue that is marked by the moderator as “Answered” (the answer in that topic is that Photoshop CC 2014 added the UI scaling feature). As described below, while the Photoshop CC 2014 UI scaling feature may have solved the issue for some customers, it has clearly not fixed the issue across the customer base. The other topic includes many customers reporting the fix did not work for them. There is clear and obvious frustration on that thread, with some users threatening to terminate their subscriptions to CC (or stating they already have) because the UI with such small (or large) font results in an unacceptable user experience. Based on the posts in that thread, a) it does not seem this is a minor issue affecting only a small percentage of users, b) it seems this issue has been ongoing for well over a year, and c) there is significant frustration and confusion on the other thread, where multiple users have tried in vain to communicate to Adobe the issue is still not fixed, and they continued to be told it was. For these reasons, it was clear a new topic was needed that was not bogged down by arguments about what for many customers was an inaccurate assertion that the issue was answered/fixed. I am one of the many customers for which the UI scaling feature has not solved the problem. I have a color-calibrated, high resolution monitor (2560 x 1440) on Windows 7 64-bit SP1, and the font size on Photoshop is either too large or too small. There is no setting that produces a readable and usable UI. I've tried all UI Font Size and UI Scaling options (along with Windows controls for font sizes), restarted PS and the PC multiple times, and no matter what settings are used, the font is either too tiny to see without getting very close to the screen, or it’s so large that the portion of the UI left visible for the photo is too small to be practical for a photo editing software program. Adobe phone support confirmed the Photoshop CC 2015 UI scaling feature did not solve my font size issue while remote controlling my PC, acknowledged other customers have reported the UI scaling feature did not solve their issue, said Adobe software development was working on a fix, and suggested the question be posted on this site so progress could be tracked.It should be noted that other applications (including Adobe Lightroom) don’t have this issue on my high resolution display. When I changed the Windows font size controls in an effort to make Photoshop font more readable, it made the font sizes unusable/impractical in my other applications, including Lightroom. The other, similar thread offers workarounds that involve manual registry edits and downloads of files from third party websites. However, because these workarounds are not formally endorsed and/or supported by Adobe, the risk of them causing problems during future Photoshop installations is, in my view, not one worth taking. If they truly offer a legitimate solution, I look to Adobe to update Photoshop CC, and have the Adobe installer execute them as part of the installation process. Since that has not happened, I do not view them as viable options for me (although I appreciate and applaud the customer who figured out and posted the workaround in such detail, and those who have pointed other customers to the workaround as an option to consider). I would also acknowledge that I have never had to manually edit the operating system registry for any other program for any reason. Unless that starts to become the norm (which I can’t imagine), I don’t plan to start now.Adobe seems to suggest the problem is at least partly a Microsoft issue. That seems quite possible. But as a user, if my other applications (and Lightroom) are not having this issue, it’s hard to understand why Adobe is unable to fix it for Photoshop without Microsoft assistance/intervention. I am pleased to know the 2 parties are working collaboratively to find a solution, but that doesn’t mean many Adobe customers are willing accept years of delay in getting something like this fixed. Graphical user interfaces are the first and often most important piece of user experience. Like a fly in the bottom of your wine glass, a poor UI is hard to get past. If you meet ALL criteria below and are still having the same problem (Photoshop font options are too large or too small), please register your situation below so Adobe can understand how many users are still having the issue, and which resolution monitors are still problematic. Please keep to the facts and don’t include anything the moderator can’t post because it violates the website rules. That increases the odds for us all that Adobe can prioritize this accordingly and get it fixed sooner.* You are a Photoshop CC 2015 customer running the latest version* You have a high-resolution monitor (please include the resolution of your monitor)* You have tried all permutations of the Photoshop CC UI Scaling Feature (Edit => Preferences => Interface => Text, then UI Font Size, and UI Scaling), each requiring a Photoshop restart, and your issue has not been resolved* You have tried the Photoshop UI Scaling Feature in concert with all permutations of font size manipulations offered by Windows (ex. Windows 7: Control Panel => Display => Smaller, Medium, and Larger options), and your issue has not been resolved* You are unwilling/uncomfortable making manual registry entries and using files downloaded from third party websites, and/or taking the risk that the next update of Photoshop CC has problems because you edited your registry or added files Adobe was not expecting to be there (and then hearing Adobe support tell you a complete uninstall, manual removal of directories, manual registry edits, and a full reinstall is your only option)* Your Photoshop fonts are either too small, or too large such that you have far too little room to view the photo you are editing* Your other applications (including Lightroom) don’t have this problem on the same monitor * You WANT Adobe to address this issue because it is a significant annoyance, or you NEED them to address it because otherwise you cannot use the UI (please state which, and be honest—for me it is a WANT)Hopefully this thread can help Adobe establish how many customers this is affecting, how, and share up to date applicable information as Adobe works to fix this.
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JeffreyTranberry
Adobe Administrator
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15.8K Messages
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295K Points
3 years ago
Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Digital Imaging
0
0
paulette_risher
5 Messages
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110 Points
5 years ago
So disappointed at the failure of Adobe to fix the menu font and icon incompatibility in Photoshop for high resolution monitors. I have complained about this for two years (back to the CS6 days) and the user groups across the web are full of like complaints.
Now even with a new CC 2015 and Windows 10 the problem is still unresolved. The PS screen either has 7 pt labels on microscopic icons or 30% of the screen real estate is taken up by the 200% UI resolution option. I would give up all of the CC 2015 updates for solution to this one problem which makes using PS stressful and frustrating instead of the pleasure it should be.
There is nothing that Adobe talent can't fix. You can fix this, if you care to. Obviously whatever your development systems are, you are not living with this issue or you would have addressed it.
......
I posted the above comment this morning and received the standard "this was fixed with 200% scaling in CC2014". This is my response:
With all due respect, if you look at the image I posted with my post earlier today, the bottom part of the image is what the 200% UI scaling looks like (the top part is what either 100% or automatic looks like. You'll notice that with 200% scaling there is no room for layers, there is no room for pallets, brushes, filters or anything else to display. It is unusable. To say that this is a fix is unconscionable.
This issue has been on the books since CS6 . At that time the Adobe developer identified a work around which involved manually setting the Windows 7 display to 151% which triggered some kind of threshold value and would allow CS6 to display properly. Unfortunately the work around will not work with CC2014 or CC2015. I actually reloaded CS6 last night but even the workaround won't work with Windows 10 (which works brilliantly with every other piece of software except Adobe).
I share the views of others, I am not (nor should I have to) hand-jam a registry fix. I am a highly experienced end user, but that is a boundary I won't cross.
I don't know what the Adobe development systems environment looks like - but I've seen all sorts of monitors mentioned in posts. Why does this plague the user base and not the developers? Trust me, if this was your day-to-day experience, this would be fixed.
6
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jp_hellemons
3 Messages
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90 Points
5 years ago
Scaling issue with hi-dpi. Surface pro 3 with external 24" full hd screen. Set to auto scale UI results to huge splash screens and settings dialog.
native resolution of surface pro is 2160 x 1440px on 12" set to 150% dpi
native resolution of my 2nd screen is 1920 x 1080 on 24" set to 100% dpi
when photoshop is set to auto ui scaling. it is way to big on my 2nd screen. The options 100 and 200% are not enough, There should be (a lot) more. When I open photoshop on the 2nd screen with auto ui I do not even have the complete toolbar on the left side. The zoom option is off screen.
I am running win 10 (not insider preview) and the latest photoshop CC version.
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melody_spencer
5 Messages
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122 Points
5 years ago
**My Dell UP2414Q, 23.8 LCD Display, 3840 x 2160 resolution....Problem with interactive tools, pallets, layers, taskbars & icons too small to read, unable to identify what each of my layers contain as well as in my navigator to work efficiently, which is severely slowing my business down.
I've tried all the other solutions, though not the registry tinkering (and will not do) & nothing has worked.
I have not gone to the CC subscription. (1) I do not need it for what I do at this time. (2) I feel wronged that I should have to pay a monthly fee for a problem that lays with Adobe & not me. (3) CC does not guarantee a fix for this problem.
Melody
3
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melody_spencer
5 Messages
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122 Points
5 years ago
If they can do it...................?
4
0
amy_fell
1 Message
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50 Points
5 years ago
0
0
frank_h_sler
1 Message
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82 Points
5 years ago
Just bought a new Dell XPS with 4K. This is my primary working PC. Have the latest CC 2015 installed. I'm working with dirfferent external screens in different offices.
External monitors are usually not high dpi. Standard Setup for me is: Working stage an external screen and palettes etc. on laptop screen.
As Windows 10 allows different scaling factors on different screens, Adobe should find a way to support this too. Current status is completely unprofessional and some parts unusable.
There is a workaround which improves the situation slightly, but not completely:
www.danantonielli.com/adobe-app-scali...
0
michael_puetter
8 Messages
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122 Points
5 years ago
1
0
michael_puetter
8 Messages
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122 Points
5 years ago
“Photoshop Elements 13 now has native support for high-resolution Mac display devices (Retina displays). Work on your pictures in the best possible clean and crisp resolution, with sharp and clear icons, thumbnails, and text in the user interface.”
I have downloaded a free trial version of PSE 14 to check it out and draw a line in the sand for exactly where we are in October 2015 with the issue of fonts being too small in the user interface of PSE on my Windows 10 Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (SP3). Also on SP3 I have my licenced copy of PSE11.
In order to accommodate other software, such as Microsoft Office 2010 and File Explorer, in the Windows 10 display settings on the SP3 I must have the size of text etc. set at 200%.
With the PSE 14.0 trial version downloaded 8 October 2015 I found the following.
PSE 14 organiser
On initial examination user interface text displays satisfactorily (“large”). Unlike the editor, there is no option to adjust the interface font size.
PSE 14 editor
User interface font size can be adjusted in Edit/Preferences/Display & Cursors ...
Amongst other settings, there is one for High Density Displays where the UI Scale Factor can be set to one of
(a) Automatic
(b) Small – 100%
(c) Large – 200%.
There is a note warning that some items may be cut off when using 200%.
When changing from, say, automatic to large, the change is not immediately reflected on the screen. For the change to take effect it is necessary to close and re-open the editor. On my Windows 10 Microsoft Surface Pro 3 settings “automatic” and “100%” appear identical.
When using the 200% setting I found the cut-off of some items irritating, e.g. the tool “colour” is partially off-screen at the bottom of the toolbox in expert mode. That bothers me because I may be looking for something that is there but off-screen and therefore not easily found. I emphasise that images are not off-screen because of this cut-off; where images are off-screen the panel can be scrolled.
I have therefore decided to use the automatic setting and put on my reading glasses for “the small print” which occurs in these areas on the screen:
• Menu bar (file, edit, image ...) within which drop-down options are easily read
• Mode selector (quick, guided expert)
• Toolbox (select, enhance etc.)
• Tool options bar (or photo bin, depending on what you are doing)
• Taskbar (photo bin, tool options ... )
• Panel bar (layers ...).
The active image area in the centre of the screen is actually a little larger than on my Windows 7 PC with PSE 11 and a 15.6 inch screen. This is the part of the user interface that really matters. In my view Adobe have sized this absolutely right albeit at the expense of having to deploy “the small print” until they find a proper solution.
In conclusion, I can live with the current user interface font sizing until then.
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sweetheartgirl
3 Messages
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100 Points
5 years ago
I'm pretty confused, to be honest. 100% scaling is too small and 200% is too big. Can someone please explain to me why other options simply can't be added (e.g., 125% and 150%)? It seems like a simple fix to me, but perhaps I'm missing something?
2
eric_kelp
2 Messages
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70 Points
5 years ago
2
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gary_bast
1 Message
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50 Points
5 years ago
0
0
artur_harla
1 Message
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60 Points
5 years ago
It's fine on my 23" 1080p monitor, but it's an issue on my 13" 1080p laptop, where PS is either too small or too big, while AI seems to be fine with it's 150% scaling and Windows scaling set to 125%.
3
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reto_gentinetta
4 Messages
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120 Points
5 years ago
I can only laugh about the Support Chat - the only Workaround is to decrease the Resolution from Win7. Hello Adobe? I high Resolution Screen running in low Resolution? i have plenty of application installed, some of them have some ui Problems, but photoshop and Bridge are the only applications wich have this small ui Fonts, i can not read.
And i really don't understand why a Company as Adobe can not fix this, if every other Software vendor can fix it...
1
aaron_roberts_7627124
2 Messages
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70 Points
5 years ago
0
0