Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: file size
Dear Friends,
I am trying to save space on a small laptop. When I save some files they are about 20 megs when they are open and when they are saved they take up
30 or 40 megs. I can't figure out why
any ideas?
I am using CS on a Mac _________________ Thanks for your help,
Walt
A similar question came up over on the adobe.photoshop.windows newsgroup recently. The consensus seemed to be (and I state it that way because I didn't encounter a definitive answer with a reference citation) that the size shown in the dialog is based simply on the pixel dimensions of the image, while the saved file contains a great deal of ancillary information other than just the pixel information.
There are some obvious things you can do, such as merging layers that you're finished with and no longer need to edit separately, blend, etc., deleting paths used for selections that you're finished with, reducing PPI for display-destined images, etc. My habit when starting to edit is always to hit Ctrl-J to start working on a copy of the background layer (on the "just in case" premise ;-), turning off visibility for the background layer so I can see my edits in any areas of transparency. Obviously, when I have finished editing, that extra, original background layer is superfluous and only serves to take up space, so it can be deleted at that point.
There's also a good deal of discussion of this on the Web. One suggestion I have seen (which I haven't tested, so YMMV ;-) is to turn off layer visibility before saving. The layers will still be there when you reload, just click the "eye" to show them again. Another, even more effective technique, that I have tried, is to turn off Maximize Compatibility when saving if you're not using older Photoshop versions or sharing with those who do.
Maximize Compatibility saves a lot of extra information solely for the purpose of enabling older versions to open the file. Typical size savings run about 25-35% with compatibility turned off. You can test by simply loading an image, making a minor change, then resaving under a different name. When the Maximize Compatibility dialog appears, uncheck the box. Now go into whatever you use for a file manager (I'm a Windows user) and check the difference in file sizes. You should see a fairly significant change.
For the sake of the archives, please return and let us know what you find out from your testing. I don't have a Mac, so I can't test this on one.
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject: some savings
Dear paladyn,
Thanks for your response. I found that there are some savings by turning off compatibilty and some from shutting off layer visibility, but not very much for either.
Not saving layers or alpha channels gives you considerable savings, but limits the utility of the file.
Could it be there is no such thing as a free lunch? _________________ Thanks for your help,
Walt
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:23 am Post subject: Re: some savings
waltl wrote:
Dear paladyn,
Thanks for your response. I found that there are some savings by turning off compatibilty and some from shutting off layer visibility, but not very much for either.
Not saving layers or alpha channels gives you considerable savings, but limits the utility of the file.
Could it be there is no such thing as a free lunch?
Heh, heh, yep, could very well be. ;-)
You might want to do what I have to address a similar situation. Although my ThinkPad's 60 GB drive was "huge" back when I bought it in 2005, it didn't take long after adding Visual Studio, Macromedia Studio, etc., to learn its limits.
I purchased a Western Digital Passport external HD. What I like about these units is their small size, that they're USB-powered, so no power brick to carry and they're hot-pluggable, and they're sleek and high-performance. Currently you can pick up a 120 GB drive for around $70-75. Another benefit of this approach is that it makes it easy to plug the drive in to your main desktop to back up your working files. See
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Passport-120GB-External/dp/B000DEMBF0 for an example (scroll down to read the description).
The drive and its cable fit nicely into a quilted, zippered makeup bag one of my lady friends was kind enough to give me, after she saw me remove the drive from my laptop case, wrapped in its then current padding of a folded-down ankle sock. Hey, don't laugh; it worked. But, I have to admit that the current case is much less... umm, locker-roomish, and offers far better padding than the sock did.
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:57 am Post subject: I was fooled
Dear paladyn,
I guess that I did not think this thing through. I was fooled by the numbers in the lower left on the bottom of the picture indicating size(document size). Of course layers,channels, etc take up space, I guess I did not realize that that number doesn't include this kind of information. Can this number be changed to represent the size, that all the information will take rather than just the actual pixels?
I have two copies of all my pictures.One on the laptop and one on an external drive. I guess I could keep one large copy with all the editing information on the external drive and a small copy of just the image on the laptop.
Thanks for your help. _________________ Thanks for your help,
Walt
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject: Re: I was fooled
waltl wrote:
Dear paladyn,
I guess that I did not think this thing through. I was fooled by the numbers in the lower left on the bottom of the picture indicating size(document size). Of course layers,channels, etc take up space, I guess I did not realize that that number doesn't include this kind of information. Can this number be changed to represent the size, that all the information will take rather than just the actual pixels?
I have two copies of all my pictures.One on the laptop and one on an external drive. I guess I could keep one large copy with all the editing information on the external drive and a small copy of just the image on the laptop.
Thanks for your help.
Hmm, I have to admit that I'm really not sure what you're after at this point. I mean, I realize that you wish to minimize storage requirements, or perhaps better said, maximize available space usage. But, I'm not really getting why you want to display the actual space usage. The only point I can see for that would be that at some point you would set a limit and say, "OK, at the limit, can't edit anymore," and I don't think that's either a viable option or what you actually mean.
I always keep a copy of whatever I am editing, either by saving immediately any scan or by saving a loaded image from a camera, etc. under a new name before beginning to edit. Am I missing something, or not understanding your objective?
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: This thread is done
Dear paladyn,
I guess I am saying this thread is done.
My files will be big with all the editing
there isn't anything I can do about it. I guess I can't rely on the Document Size
# to tell me how big. That was my last question. Can I see, as I go, if I am creating a really large file . I want that number as a clue as to whether to save it to my laptop( if its small enough) or to my external drive( if it looks to be really large.
Thanks for all your time and assistance _________________ Thanks for your help,
Walt
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
