Adobe CS2 (Photoshop, Illustrator) performance problems (#2)

Yesterday's reports of issues with performance from Adobe's Creative Suite 2 (CS2) applications generated dozens of reader responses, with most users corroborating slow operation -- primarily in Photoshop 9 (CS2) and Illustrator CS2.

MacFixIt reader David Notley's case is typical:

"Ever since installing CS2 we have a consistent slow down at one specific time. The first time you go to print in IDCS2, after the machine has been shut down, it takes a long time to launch the print window. After that initial slowdown the print dialogue window opens normally when launched again. The problem is the same on all four machines, all running OSX10.4.2. Repairing permissions, deleting and re-installing the printers has made no difference. The problem only occurs with CS2, no other applications."

Tommy Stubbs adds:

" I'm a longtime illustrator using Photoshop for many years. Photoshop CS2 has many problems that cannot be corrected by the user. Adobe has acknowledged a problem with brushes when you select smoothing and scattering with Wacom tablets. It locks up. The font preview issue is another. Overall performance is another. There are many improvements that will make CS2 a great application. But not till Adobe comes up with a fix. I have gone back to CS1 which works just fine. I have experienced no problems with Illustrator CS2 or any other CS2 applications."

Michael Fiegel writes:

"I convinced my boss to let me upgrade from Photoshop 7/Illustrator 10 to CS2, and what a horrid mistake that was. Startup times are at least double what they were in the older versions, and saving documents easily takes three times as long. Luckily I was smart enough to keep the old versions installed, so I've re-saved all my documents as Legacy format docs and have been happily working with PS7/Illustrator 10, and saving - literally - hours of time. The only piece of the pie that works well is Indesign CS2, but I've got no point of comparison so it may be that it's slow too and I just don't realize it."

Rob White notes frequent crashes in addition to performance issues:

"I also have frequent crashes immediately after starting up Photoshop CS2. (On the order of once every 4 times I start it) If I click the message button to restart it, it seems to run fine. Bridge seems never to crash, but can take as long as 2 minutes to fully open!"

Don Saban reports on his experience discussing the issue with Adobe's technical support team:

"I'm having the same issues. Adobe says "this is the first they've heard of it" and that I'm the only one with problems. My issues are: delayed brushes, rubber stamp, cloning tools, general sluggishness, and stalls that last up to 3 or 4 minutes. Adobe says that it's my machine, not their software that's the problem. All my associates, ranging from Panther to Tiger and G4's to G5's are having this problem. As Johnny Cochran once said, 'don't admit until you can fix.'"

We are working on identifying and confirming several workarounds that can provide temporary performance boosts. If you are having issues with slow CS2 application performance, please let us know.

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