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Paul-ny
Known Participant
August 12, 2023
Answered

Is my scratch disk working?

  • August 12, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 998 views

I'm working on some big files, but I have an even bigger scratch disk set up, and I'm wondering whether it's working because I have been gettiing "can not complete operation because of insufficient RAM " warnings.   The scratch disk is a new SSD (ExtremePro Sandisk) 1TB, which I formatted to APFS and there's absolutely nothing on it. When in use, should Finder show me any files created by Photoshop on that disk? I don't see any, and whether Photoshop is running or not, Finder info on the SSD says Available Space is 999,75G and Used is about 1 MB.

 

 Photoshop Settings say this SSD is the primary scratch disk and it's active, could that be right? I can set my computer to see invisibles and that shows a temp folder on the SSD but I don't know enough to get around the permissions denial for looking inside it.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer melissapiccone

     

    "isn't that what a scratch disk is for, to stand in for the computer's RAM? "

    No... 

     

    I think you have a misunderstanding of how a scratch disk is used:

    A scratch disk is a hard disk drive or SSD used for temporary storage while Photoshop is running. Photoshop uses this space to store portions of your documents and their history panel states that don’t fit in the memory or RAM of your machine. By default, Photoshop uses the hard drive on which the operating system is installed as the primary scratch disk. 

    Here is the full page:

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/scratch-disks-preferences.html.

     

    Your insufficient RAM warning went away because rebooting freed up all of the RAM on your system allowing it to be re-allocated when you resumed your task. If your files are huge you might really not have enough RAM. 

    3 replies

    Shangara Singh
    Shangara Singh
    Inspiring
    November 23, 2023
    quote

     Photoshop Settings say this SSD is the primary scratch disk and it's active, could that be right? 

    By @Paul-ny

     

    You understanding is fine. Photoshop uses the scratch disks you specify in Prefs when it can (you can choose to see SD info in the status bar of the documents), either when idle, or when RAM isn't available. The scratch disk is cleared once you close a document or Photoshop. More info here:

    https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/photoshop/using/scratch-disks-preferences.html

     

    My primary scratch disk is SSD, a partitioned main disk and formatted as APFS. When I open a file too big for RAM, I see the size going down almost immediately in a Finder window. Closing document doesn't clear scratch space (I would say that's a bug). However, closing Photoshop restores the space. Like you, I cannot see where files are being stored, even with show invisibles enabled.

     

    Open a large file. Increase it's size to something way beyond what your RAM can handle and watch scratch disk in a Finder window. Does the size go down in the Finder window? It does here.

     

    HTH.

    Shangara SINGH.
    S
    simonp16574977
    Participant
    November 23, 2023

    Hi, I think I had the same problem as you. I needed to format my external drive to MacOS Extended Journaled then Photoshop recognised the correct free space.

    melissapiccone
    Community Expert
    melissapicconeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 14, 2023

    How much actual RAM do you have? A scratch disk won't make up for lack of real RAM.

    Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
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      Paul-nyAuthor
      Known Participant
      August 16, 2023

      I have 29 GB available and Photoshop settings allowing use of 20GB, but I'm not really asking because of problems with inadequate RAM. I had slow behavior and this "insufficient RAM" warning only one time., and rebooting made that stop. But with a 1 TB scratch disk available I've been wondering whether the SSD is actually functioning as a scratch disk-- isn't that what a scratch disk is for, to stand in for the computer's RAM?  So now I really want to know if there is a way to tell whether the SSD is functioning correctly as a scratch disk or not. Photoshop Settings show it as the primary scratch disk, and as active. This SSD tends to stay very hot, even when Photoshop isn't running, and even when the laptop it's connected to has been sleeping for ten hours. Is that normal?

       

       

      melissapiccone
      Community Expert
      melissapicconeCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      August 16, 2023

       

      "isn't that what a scratch disk is for, to stand in for the computer's RAM? "

      No... 

       

      I think you have a misunderstanding of how a scratch disk is used:

      A scratch disk is a hard disk drive or SSD used for temporary storage while Photoshop is running. Photoshop uses this space to store portions of your documents and their history panel states that don’t fit in the memory or RAM of your machine. By default, Photoshop uses the hard drive on which the operating system is installed as the primary scratch disk. 

      Here is the full page:

      https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/scratch-disks-preferences.html.

       

      Your insufficient RAM warning went away because rebooting freed up all of the RAM on your system allowing it to be re-allocated when you resumed your task. If your files are huge you might really not have enough RAM. 

      Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
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