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Answered

Scratch disk getting WAY too full

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
September 13, 2020
5 replies
571 views

Hi guys,

I downloaded a game UI psd that is 165MB in size. I edited it for my purposes without any apparent problems for a while. However, whenever I open it (which takes a very long time) my SSD loses 46GB in available space. Moreover, since recently I am constantly getting the "could not complete action because the scratch disk is full" message, even while having no history whatsoever, and can no longer work on it.

Why on earth is a PSD file taking up TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT times more space than its full size? The file does have several smart objects, could this be the cause? If I were to use a script to rasterize them all would it fix the issue?

Thanks a lot!

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer davescm

Where did you measure the file size of 165MB. If that is the PSD size on disk then it is prior to the lossless decompression when loaded into memory.

If you are looking at Image - Image Size then it is the pixel size of one layer x 3 (or x 6 for a 16 bit image). It ignores multiple layers.

If you are looking at the bottom left of the document window it includes layers but not the contents of smart objects which themselves can contain other smart objects.

Finally, scratch disk is working space, not just document size, and its use depends on what functions you are doing. 10s of GBs is not unusual at all.

Dave

PECourtejoie

Community Expert

Hi, how many layers in the PSD, how many Smart Objects? Do you also have lots of presets loaded? If the PSD has lots of layers, tweak the tiles in Preferences>Performance accordingly.

C

CeeBee2001

Known Participant

I inadvertently created a 3000cm (as opposed to pixel) wide document yesterday. Shortly after, I was greeted with the message that my 'scratch disk is full' I have a freshly installed 1TB Sabrent Rocket Q4!!. I looked to see that my scratch disk was at 600GB and rising. Is there any way we can set a limit on scratch disk size to prevent things like this??

D Fosse

Community Expert

The scratch disk is what prevents Photoshop from crashing and burning. It makes little sense to limit it, when the real problem is that there's usually not enough.

We all make mistakes. You can't possibly eliminate all user error.

The reason you can limit RAM usage is that too much can choke the rest of the system. There's no such consideration for the scratch disk.

davescm

Correct answer

Community Expert

Where did you measure the file size of 165MB. If that is the PSD size on disk then it is prior to the lossless decompression when loaded into memory.

If you are looking at Image - Image Size then it is the pixel size of one layer x 3 (or x 6 for a 16 bit image). It ignores multiple layers.

If you are looking at the bottom left of the document window it includes layers but not the contents of smart objects which themselves can contain other smart objects.

Finally, scratch disk is working space, not just document size, and its use depends on what functions you are doing. 10s of GBs is not unusual at all.

Dave

D Fosse

Community Expert

This is the way raster image editing goes. If you worry about file sizes you're in the wrong business.

You really need to get more scratch disk space.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

Normal. Get more space or set scratch to another disk.

ZeHgSAuthor

Participant

Really? There's really no setting to reduce this? Does it REALLY need 278 times the full file size? What is the purpose of this?

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