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bartonlew
Legend
July 25, 2019
Answered

PS crashing because of file size?

  • July 25, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 3685 views

PS is crashing at a particular point in the workflow for a very large file I am working on.  It is a composite panorama.  At 51493 px W x 12652 px H I have no problem with it.  Then I add another layer which extends its width to 71066 px.  Still okay at that point.  But then when I try to create a layer mask on a portion of the new layer PS crashes.  Is it because of the file size?  I ask because this has never happened to me before and this is the largest file I have ever created in PS.  Thanks.

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Correct answer c.pfaffenbichler

What have you done about Photoshop-Performance and trouble-shooting so far?

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/optimize-photoshop-cc-performance.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/basic-trouble-shooting-steps.html

What is the file format?

When you create a duplicate of the image with only that one Layer and add the Layer Mask does it also crash?

2 replies

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 25, 2019

As a matter of interest, why are you creating such a large document – what is its final destination(s)?

Were such a document to be printed the size could be in the region of 17 foot wide at 250PPI (51000px divided by 250). Of course, if you wanted to produce  a poster at that width, the resolution could be much lower, perhaps 50PPI or less as it would be viewed from a distance.

Make sure you're not making too much work for yourself (and your computer!).

bartonlew
bartonlewAuthor
Legend
July 25, 2019

Thanks for your feedback.  The file is an image of an architectural feature and is mean to be printed.  The actual feature is something like 50ft. wide and my final image will be roughly half that at 300 dpi.  The feature has lots of fine detail.  I don't know the display conditions yet but I would like for the image to be printed at a high resolution in the event that viewing can be up close, as well as at a distance. 

D Fosse
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 25, 2019

25 feet at 300 ppi is, pardon my french, ridiculous. You don't need 300 ppi!

300ppi is for book and magazine print to be viewed at less than arm's length. The larger it is, the lower the ppi, because it will be seen from a greater distance.

Wall-sized banners can be as low as10-20 ppi and still look crisp and razor sharp.

If a file seems to require more than, say, 15 000 pixels long side - reconsider, because it most likely doesn't.

c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
July 25, 2019

What have you done about Photoshop-Performance and trouble-shooting so far?

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/optimize-photoshop-cc-performance.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/basic-trouble-shooting-steps.html

What is the file format?

When you create a duplicate of the image with only that one Layer and add the Layer Mask does it also crash?

bartonlew
bartonlewAuthor
Legend
July 25, 2019

Thank you for these helpful links. It's a lot of information to digest but doubtless worth it if you want PS to work optimally for you.  I will begin implementing the suggested modifications.

The file format is PSB.  it is presently around 4.5 GB.  I saw in the specifications for file size that the max PS can handle is 300,000 px x 300,000 px.  Max file size for a PSB file is 4 exabytes which is a unit I have never heard of, but I appear to be well within that range.

So ... I opened my file and it is 3 layers (before bringing in the newest layer).  I merged those and brought in my new layer, began making the mask modifications I referred to previously and PS is not crashing.  So I assume that file size in combination with layer #s (even though there weren't that many) was causing the crash.  Regardless, I'll start making those optimizations in the link you sent.

Many thanks,

Barton