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A
Afterimage
Inspiring
January 4, 2019
Answered

File Size

  • January 4, 2019
  • 5 replies
  • 4236 views

I am having issues with PS file sizes. I do compositing, however, I do not have that many layers yet the file size is over 4GB when the file size on the image says 1.2GB and the file will not save to Lightroom. An issue Adobe needs to fix.

I generally do not use Smart Objects and try to limit my merged layers to one.

Attached is a file that PS will not save as it is over 4GB yet I have no smart objects, one merged layer, and the other layers just adjustment layers.

Please offer any suggestions.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Afterimage

    If I save this file to LR and go to Print, will the quality of the print be the same as the 22x22?

    Try printing 16-bit vs. 8-bit and compare the quality.


    Thanks for everyone's input. I think its time to close this issue.

    5 replies

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 5, 2019

    The others have explained teh large file size - simply related to teh large pixel size of your image and multiple pixel layers wityhin it.

    You might want to add your voice to the long standing request below for psb support to be added to Lightroom

    Lightroom: Support cataloging PSB files (files larger than 2 GB PSDs and 4 GB TIFFs) | Photoshop Family Customer Communi…

    Frankly, given that psb is Adobe's own large document format it is hard to believe that Lightroom still does not support it

    Dave

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 5, 2019

    Maybe you can confirm, but it looks to me like the 2GB limit is the canvas size—the first number in Doc Sizes. So I'm not sure there would be any need to save a 7920x7920 16-bit image as large format. This file saved without a problem as .psd even though its layered size is 2.93GB.

    Sebastian Bleak
    Community Expert
    Sebastian BleakCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 5, 2019

    First thing that came to mind is to check the image size window. Then I read Conrad's reply and I think he's on the right track.

    Were you able to reduce your file size after reading his answer?

    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Conrad_CCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 5, 2019

    Afterimage  wrote

    Attached is a file that PS will not save as it is over 4GB yet I have no smart objects, one merged layer, and the other layers just adjustment layers.

    Please offer any suggestions.

    There are clues in your screen shot that help tell the story of what is going on here, and how to possibly solve it.

    The magnification of the document in the screen shot is 12.5%. That's very shrunken down, suggesting that the image has very large pixel dimensions. Is it more than 10,000 pixels on a side? When I play around in the numbers, I can start to reach your file size by setting up a 15000 x 15000 pixel document, and then setting it to 16 bits per channel to double the file size, and the adding a few layers of pixels.

    But it still isn't enough, the Photoshop file is under 2GB. Seems like it should be able to compress down to...wait a minute, are we really dealing with a Photoshop file here? We should check. Referring to your screen shot, your filename ends in .tif. It's a TIFF file. You're talking about Photoshop file sizes, but it isn't a Photoshop file. It's a TIFF file. This is a crucial detail.

    I go back and Save As to TIFF, making sure to select Uncompressed. Aha...now Photoshop complains about a file size over 4GB. I go back and save as TIFF with LZW compression, and this time it's 3.9GB. I try again with TIFF using ZIP compression for both the document and individual layers, and now it's 19.1MB. (Yes, that seems small but my quickie test doc has lots of solid areas, ideal for ZIP compression.)

    Based on that, I think your file size is big because your document has:

    • Unusually large pixel dimensions, equal to over four feet square at 300 ppi
    • 16 bits per channel
    • Saved as TIFF with no compression…the largest possible file size option, much bigger than native Photoshop format

    Does that seem consistent with the specs of your document? If so, it should be clear what your options are. If you don't need that many pixels, drop the pixel dimensions. If you don't specifically need TIFF with no compression, choose a smaller format or options (which means anything other than TIFF with no compression).

    I won't tell you to step down to 8 bits per channel or get rid of layers, those should be reserved for if you're out of other options.

      rob day
      Community Expert
      rob dayCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 5, 2019

      When I play around in the numbers, I can start to reach your file size by setting up a 15000 x 15000 pixel document, and then setting it to 16 bits per channel to double the file size, and the adding a few layers of pixels.

      I can get the OP's flattened print size (the first number in the Document Sizes box in the lower left corner) of 358.9MB with a 16-bit, 22"x22" doc at 360ppi—7920x7920 px.

      The layered size (the second number in Document Sizes) would include pixels outside of the canvas. In this example my layered doc size is just under 1GB

      If I trim or crop to the canvas the layered file size drops in half to 525.0M (358.9M/525M)

      If I additionally convert to 8-bit both the flattened and the layered size are again cut in half to 179.5MB / 273.0MB

      If the image is headed for commercial print it would be worth considering working in 8-bit—no offset press can print 16-bits.

      A
      AfterimageAuthor
      Inspiring
      January 4, 2019

      If I do a PSB I cannot sync it in Lightroom. A major flaw in the LR software.

      JJMack
      Community Expert
      JJMackCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 5, 2019

      Why would you want to process a PSB file with LR.  Lightroom does not support Layers. Save your PSB fils is some flat image file format you can process with LR. That file will be way smaller than 4GB.

      JJMack
      Conrad_C
      Community Expert
      Conrad_CCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 5, 2019

      Processing isn't the only reason to add a Photoshop file to Lightroom. If someone catalogs all their photos with Lightroom, it's useful to keep the Photoshop versions in the catalog next to the raw versions; this is what I do.

      Also, even though Lightroom can't directly use the layers in a Photoshop or layered TIFF file, since it doesn't alter the original, you don't lose the layers. This makes it possible to pop open a Photoshop file from Lightroom straight into Photoshop, where you can keep editing the layers.

      This is why adding PSB support to Lightroom is a popular feature request.

        Randy Hufford
        Community Expert
        Randy HuffordCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 4, 2019

        save as a Large Document Format. Even some adjustment files are extremely large. So yes i have even noticed that when having a lot of layers it makes large files.

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