P: Version 23 has introduced file compression on large files which slows down saves

[davescm]

Version 23 has introduced file compression on large files - even when file compression is disabled in preferences. This is slowing down save times compared to previous versions.

As an example, on my current PC a psb file on disk at 8.2GB now saves at 5.4GB but with a lengthened save time. The PC is Windows 10, i9-10920X, save to NVMe drives

The same file on an older PC shows the same issue.i7-3930K, save to SSD drive

In all other versions, disabling file compression resulted in a larger file but a much faster save. The new version is not as slow as enabling compression, but clearly some undocumented partial compression has been introduced. There are many of us who invest in large high speed solid state drives for the fastest save and load times, and purposely disable compression in favour of speed. This change negates some of that speed gain.

Dave

Note : This bug report came out of a discussion on speed in this thread : https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/slow-saving-16bit-images-m1-max/td-p/...  but as it has not yet been proven on Mac I've raised this bug report separately.

[Dedubs]

We're many versions on now and still no sign of having a check box to enable RLE compression??

Adobe can anyone update us on when this will be added?

[Lumigraphics]

I'm guessing that at some point, processors will be fast enough to compress and decompress in real time, so there is no lag, and settings for it will go away. Both Apple and Microsoft use compression at the system level and obviously, compression is an important feature for online use. Most video is compressed, JPEG images are compressed, etc.

Adobe may have just decided that other features are more useful and might revisit file compression later.

[D Fosse]

And meanwhile, some of us avoid compression altogether. Fast save and open is much more important - especially for big files, where a compressed save can stretch on for minutes.

[Dedubs]

I totally agree that the current compression is AWFULLY slow. I'm just interested in the RLE compression that was brought in temporarily on 23.4.2 - it was a break through for us on how to deal with either super slow saving or crazy huge files with no compression.

Here are some stats to demonstrate how for those of us that have to write to a server how much the RLE compression was a huge break-through and how disappointing it is that its not even a check box in the settings on later releases.

As you can see, yes it's marginally slower on an A0 100+ layer photoshop file to save with RLE in 23.4.2 but the file sizes are SO much smaller. So when you don't want 92gb photoshop files everywhere this is a god send

PS 24.1.1	No compression	To server (Raid 5 4xSSD / 10gbe)	10m 08s	92gb
PS 23.4.2	No compression	To server (Raid 5 4xSSD / 10gbe)	03m 45s	13.6gb
PS 24.1.1	No compression	To desktop (M.2)	02m.34s	92gb
PS 24.1.1	With compression	To desktop (M.2)	20m 00s +	7gb
PS 23.4.2	With compression	To desktop (M.2)	03m 19s	13.6gb

[Dedubs]

When I say 'marginally slower' I mean its slower to save to server with RLE compression when compared to the latest photoshop release to my desktop with an M.2! Which is of course got hugely faster write speeds than the server. You also then have a huge file saved locally to deal with.

If we compare like for like the RLE compression to the server was 3x times faster than saving with no compression on the latest photoshop.

Thats night and day.

[Dedubs]

Is Adobe ever going to introduce his RLE compression as a tickbox in preferences? This is stopping us from working in anything beyond 23.4.2. Every version gets released, I look, and it's not there.

Just a simple tick box adobe...that's all we ask!

Adobe - can you confirm?

[Lumigraphics]

Have you considered using TIFF instead of PSD? There is grandular control of TIFF compression, far beyond PSD options.

[davescm]

I don't think TIFF will be an option for the 92GB file in the previous example ( a couple of posts up) 🙂

Dave

[Lumigraphics]

There is a checkbox in preferences to disable compression of PSD and PSB files. I don't have a 92GB file on hand to test with but what compression is used there? The only mention I find in help is for compatibility

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

[Dedubs]

@Lumigraphics - best to read the whole thread to understand the issue fully before commenting 🙂

I'm fully aware of the tick box...anyways please read back to understand the problem at hand.

[D Fosse]

Hang on. Are you saying that a 92 GB file shrinks to 13.6 GB with RLE compression? That's jpeg-level compression efficiency. In my own testing back when this issue was up, I managed at most 20 - 25 % reduction. Are you really sure about those numbers?

Not denying that compression is way too slow, but I assume they're using existing and established algorithms and not writing this from scratch.

BTW saving directly to server is unsupported and generally asking for file corruption.

[Lumigraphics]

I've read the entire thing. And?

[Lumigraphics]

RLE compression depends heavily on content. For a file with large single color areas, I would expect those to compress quite well.

[Dedubs]

My only point here is...

In 23.4.2 Adobe introduced the RLE compression by default when you save uncompressed. Agreed this was not the best move for those who save locally as it did slightly slow save times down.

BUT for those of us that run and work in a studio where working on a shared server is critical and the only option, this RLE compression was actually a god send. So much quicker to save and the file sizes were only fractionally bigger than the normal VERY SLOW compressed sizes.

All I ask is that Adobe introduce a 'save with RLE compression' tick box in preferences and harness a really good thing they showed in 23.4.2. It's so important to our workflow that our whole studio works on this old version.

We've tried going to new versions and the save time is so bad with compression. With uncompressed the files are enormous and not practical for the volume of files and resolution we are working with.

Please Adobe can you implement this tick box?

[Dedubs]

Just to communicate my point above I have done further tests to prove how good the RLE compression was that Adobe introduced in 23.4.2 when you ticked 'disable compression of PSD and PSB files' in preferences. It has the speed of saving uncompressed but at a fraction of the file size.

SAVING TIMES

Photoshop v25.2
With compression / To server / 4:02 / 3.8gb

Photoshop v23.4.2
With no compression (where adobe added RLE**) / To server / 0:41 / 5.5gb

---

Opening times of those files from any version of photoshop...

File saved from v25.5 With compression / From server / 0:31 / 3.8gb
File saved from v23.4.2 With no compression (where adobe added RLE) / From server / 0:10 / 5.5gb

**when you ticked 'disable compression of PSD and PSB files' in preferences.

---

So as you can see, yes the files are a tiny bit bigger in the newest photoshop, but MY GOD look how much slower it is!

Please Adobe, can we have the RLE compression you added in 23.4.2 as an option in preferences at least please?

[Dedubs]

I've added this as a feature request here - hopefully adobe are reading these? No response yet. Not sure if that's the correct place to post it?

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/photoshop-23-4-2-psb-rle-compression-please...