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4754simon
Inspiring
April 1, 2022
Answered

Using 'Place Linked' doesn't keep file size down. Shouldn't it work like after effects?

  • April 1, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 2801 views

In the past, i have using 'after effects' to grade all of my render passes using 32bit flexibility. More recently i have started using photoshop, as it gives a bit more flexility. The problem is, in comparison to AE, the file sizes are ridiculoulsy large!!

When you link an image in after effects, it seems to treat it as a proxy/xref, and it simply refers to the original layer -- keeping file size to a minimum. Photoshop on the other hand, when i 'place-link' a file as a smart object, it seems to embed the image into the image rather than simply reference it?? The layer icon shows a chain - so its defintely not a pixelated/editable layer.

 

I don't understand why 'linked files' seems to bloat what is really an empty file? Does anyone understand how photoshop 'links' files? Am I doing something wrong, or is photoshop just dropping the ball with regard to linking images?

    Correct answer 4754simon

    Hope has turned to despair.

    Thanks for the suggestion Bojan. I hae reset my preferences (on reflection, i should have saved my preferences first :))

    Attached shows a comparison of linked vs embedded vs rasterised.

    Unfortunately the results have reinforced my thoughts about grading in photoshop.

     

    You will notice that the linked file is now smaller than the embedded layers, (so resetting preferences loooks like it has fixed a few bugs).....  however if you consider that the empty file is 6.8mB and the file with LINKED layers has ballooned to 725mb, it is absurd when you consider that the layers are basically proxies?? 

     

    Also note... the file with 'rasterised layers' is exactly the same file size as the linked??? no logic to me.

     

    Anyway, for comparison, I have attached the after effects file showing th 3 passes INCLUDING the backplate. The file size is only 158kb!!!

    Until photoshop make a determined effort to resolve and optimise this technique.... i will have to return to my old method of compositing in After effects. Its a shame, as it is much easier to refine a grade in photoshop. Very disappointing.

     

    Unless someone can prove me wrong, i can only assume that this case is closed.... Big FAIL 

    3 replies

    Reimund Trost
    Reimund Trost
    Participant
    January 23, 2024

    This is so extremely silly of Photoshop. I really do not agree with this design decision. I hope the team comes around and adds a setting to disable this behavior and make it work like a true link without saving any additional garbage. My workaround is to shrink all linked assets to 1%. Unfortunately that's making us lose time. But this way we can actually commit the psd to the git repositories without adding hundreds of MB for every version.

    Abambo
    Community Expert
    AbamboCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 23, 2024
    quote

    My workaround is to shrink all linked assets to 1%. Unfortunately that's making us lose time. But this way we can actually commit the psd to the git repositories without adding hundreds of MB for every version.


    By @Reimund Trost

    I cannot see how shrinking the linked file can help?

    ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
    Reimund Trost
    Reimund Trost
    Participant
    January 23, 2024

    Photoshop creates a copy of the layer so that it can be used when the linked file is not found. This image will take less disk space if the linked layer is shrunk (fewer pixels to store).

    It's stupid since one of the main reasons to use linked files is to only have one external copy of the layer/image. I'd rather have it work as in After Effects/Premiere Pro where linked objects are shown as "offline" if it could not be found.

    Bojan Živković11378569
    Community Expert
    Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 1, 2022

    Please try with reset preferences because this behavior is weird Preferences in Photoshop (adobe.com)

     

    Here is result of my testing. I am placing huge file into small document.

    4
    4754simonAuthor
    Inspiring
    April 1, 2022

    Thanks for taking the time to share that example. That does give me encouragement. When I return to the office, I will reset preferences and try again. 

      jane-e
      Community Expert
      jane-eCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 1, 2022

       

      @4754simon wrote:

      1. Beauty pass.

      2. Reflection pass

      3. Refraction pass

       

      Are you working with Photoshop's 3D tools?

       

      How are you doing each of these passes in Photoshop?

       

      ~ Jane

       

        Bojan Živković11378569
        Community Expert
        Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
        Community Expert
        April 1, 2022

        "Photoshop on the other hand, when i 'place-link' a file as a smart object, it seems to embed the image into the image rather than simply reference it??"

         

        Place linked should work as desired: create layer from file but do not embed original file. Place Embedded is embeding original file.

         

        I am testing on my machine and things work as expected. File with embeded image is larger then file with the same image placed as linked.

         

        Which version of Photoshop you are using? Have you tested weight when saved embeded vs linked?

          4
          4754simonAuthor
          Inspiring
          April 1, 2022

          Its definitely linked - not embedded. Currently using 23.2.2.

          I will have to do some tests... embedded vs linked. I did hope that creating a 'grading file' in 32bit with linked images would be significantly lower.

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