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rebeccal11099218
Known Participant
July 16, 2018
Answered

Trying to reduce 8GB file size on photoshop / says scratch disk is full.

  • July 16, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 1348 views

Hi there,

I am having a complete nightmare with this file so if anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated.

I had the flowers hand painted flowers in the image below scanned into my computer and then vectorised in illustrator now they have been placed in photoshop.

I have about 10 layers open each layer with an image size of below.

The whole file comes to 8GB so I'm assuming this is because the flowers were scanned on an extremely high resolution?

I am trying to save the file as a TIFF file which is what they requested for them to be able to create the repeat pattern but with photoshop only allowing TIFF files of up to 4GB to be saved it won't let me do it.

So now I tried to go into each individual layer to minimize the layers that way and hopefully reduce the size.

I went into image size and tried to reduce the percentage from 100% to 20% in hopes this would lower the GB but it wouldn't  let me do it and a message pops up saying scratch disk full unable to change the image size.

I have cleared my hard drive and there is honestly nothing else I can delete and it is still saying scratch disk full, but I can see I still have space on my hard drive.

When I go to preferences > general > scratch disk there is only one hard drive available for my scratch disk files to go so I can't select another one either?

Can anyone help me with how I would be able to reduce this entire file so I can send it to a colleague. I am wanting the file size to be under 2GB so I don't know why it is so large?

I am also wanting to know how to resolve the scratch disk is full issue when I just cleared a lot of space on my MAC as this is preventing me reducing the entire image size, or if anyone knows of a better way to reduce this file I would very much appreciate the help as no-one has been able to figure this out for me.

This floral design is for a repeat wallpaper pattern with the dimensions of the wallpaper being 52cm across by 76cm lenght repeat pattern.

Many thanks,

Rebecca

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Dramenon

    The scanned files are very large > there is no way to resolve the scratch disk is full issue without reducing the size of the file or using an external hard disk for scratch space.

    I would try this another way.

    If your file is only 52cm across by 76cm then I would create that document first.

    Then I would File > Place Linked  - the image(s) you want to use in this document.

    After you place the file(s) you need in this document you may save out what you need... You can also Right-Click on the Layer with the Placed art and Rasterize it. It will then become part of the current document and unlinked from the larger file.

    I hope that helps and allows you to finish the project!

    3 replies

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 16, 2018

    Hi Rebecca

    Why are you working at 300 pixels per cm? I understand your document dimensions of  53cm x 76cm but 300 pixels per cm is unusual. Are you sure your printer has not asked for 300 Pixels per inch  (ppi) ?

    That is what is leading to such a high pixel count and high file size.

    Dave

    melissapiccone
    Community Expert
    melissapicconeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 16, 2018

    You want to have at least 25% of your hard drive free. You don't have much to go. I would spend time cleaning out your hard drive.

    Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
    Dramenon
    DramenonCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    July 16, 2018

    The scanned files are very large > there is no way to resolve the scratch disk is full issue without reducing the size of the file or using an external hard disk for scratch space.

    I would try this another way.

    If your file is only 52cm across by 76cm then I would create that document first.

    Then I would File > Place Linked  - the image(s) you want to use in this document.

    After you place the file(s) you need in this document you may save out what you need... You can also Right-Click on the Layer with the Placed art and Rasterize it. It will then become part of the current document and unlinked from the larger file.

    I hope that helps and allows you to finish the project!

    /end of line/
    R
    rebeccal11099218Author
    Known Participant
    July 16, 2018

    Hi there,

    Thank you so much for your quick response!

    Just to quickly clarify you're saying I should scrap this 8GB file altogether and start afresh.

    So, i would create a new background layer measuring 52cm by 76cm

    When you say file > place linked

    do you mean for me to select all the floral images from the floral folder on my desktop one by one and drop them into this new document each on a new individual layer?

    What do you mean by "save out what you need" apologies photoshop isn't my strong point!

    When I rasterize the files does that mean they will lose their huge size and become the smaller document size?

    Many thanks,

    Rebecca

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 16, 2018

    I think you got the only way to save the present situation from Daniel. The PSB format would do it, but if your scratch disk is full the save operation won't complete.

    The thing is, 18 000 x 25 000 pixels is gigantic. I don't think you understand just how big that is.

    I have on a very few occasions worked on files in this size range, for wall-sized banners to be seen from close up - but that's always on high-end desktop systems with 4 or 5 disks and free space from here to the moon. The advice I normally give is that if the file exceeds 15  000 pixels long side, you should think long and hard about why that is needed, and you better have a good answer. Because normally it isn't.

    If you can keep the file open for a while, you might be able to clear out enough space. Look under your user account! That's where most of the big chunks accumulate, and a lot of it for no good reason at all. If you have Bridge, clear out (delete) all Preview caches. That might give you 10-30 GB or so, enough to save the file. But that's just the start. You really need to do some housecleaning.

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