Generator is a JavaScript-based extensibility technology. It is a Node.js application that handles communication between Photoshop and Generator plug-ins. Photoshop includes one Generator plug-in called Image Assets. Generator also provides the asset creation logic behind the Export As tool.
Issue
The error: "There is a problem with Generator. Please quit Photoshop and try again. If the problem persists, remove any third-party plug-ins or try to reinstalling Photoshop." may occur when launching Photoshop or using Generator-related functions.
Solutions
Try any of the solutions listed below.
Configure your security/anti-virus software
Generator uses a local network connection to communicate with Export As. Make sure that port 8010 is open for Generator and Export As to function.
Also, make sure that Photoshop is allowed in your security/anti-virus software.
To do so, allow Photoshop to access controlled folders on your machine.
In particular, the allow listing node can fix this error. The node can be found at the following locations:
- Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2024\node.exe
- macOS: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop 2024/Adobe Photoshop 2024.app/Contents/MacOS/node
Related conversations on Adobe Support Community:
Remove non-default plug-ins
Generator errors might be caused by third-party plug-ins that you have previously installed to a location like:
- Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2024\Plug-ins\Generator
- macOS: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop 2024/Plug-ins/Generator/
To test this, you can temporarily remove individual plug-in folders, restart Photoshop, and see if the problem persists.
Disable Generator
To disable Generator, do the following:
- Navigate to Preferences > Plug-ins.
- Deselect Enable Generator.
If you use File > Export As, Generator will be re-enabled.
Review logs for errors
Photoshop keeps a log of Generator activities in a folder named "Adobe Photoshop [Version]" (that is, "Adobe Photoshop 2024") in the following location:
- Windows: C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2024\Logs\Generator
- macOS: /Users/[Your User Name]/Library/Logs/Adobe/Adobe\ Photoshop\ 2024/Generator/
The logs might provide helpful information about which plug-ins are being loaded and which is causing an error.
Should you require more help, use the Log Collector Tool to gather the logs.
The Windows AppData and macOS Library folders are hidden by default. To find these folders, please see the following:
Generator's logging folder is created during the launch of the Generator process. If you don't see the Generator folder, then the process failed before that step or the create step itself failed. Confirm that you have write permission on the parent folder seen in the location noted above.
For Apple Silicon running M1 and M2 chips
- Enable Rosetta
- Open Finder
- Navigate to Applications > Adobe Photoshop
- Control/Right Click Adobe Photoshop and select Get info
- Enable Open using Rosetta
- Once Rosetta is enabled, test Photoshop.
- If these steps do not work, manually create the Generator folder at - /Users/[Your User Name]/Library/Logs/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop 2023/Generator
