One of the weirdest bugs/glitches I've ever seen... jpg file size.

[JtechDT]

I received 3 files from an agency in layers. Relatively medium in size, about 34 megs each.  If I flatten them and save as jpgs, they are ALWAYS 24 megs.  I've changed image size to 1"x1" at 72 dpi and every size in between and they are always 24 megs.

I had a coworker try it on his desktop, our server, same exact result.  We even tried making a new document, flattening the problematic file and dragging it in and saving it - same result 24 megs. 

Even tried saving as a different format png - same thing!  

Both of us have never seen this in 20 years of using Photoshop. We have checked color settings and profile, color mode, bit depth, channels, layers, etc. nothing works.

Anyone else experience this?  By far, the strangest thing I've encountered.  

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

Try Save for Web, quite likely the files carry (useless) Ancestors metadata. 

[JtechDT]

That worked!  What in the heck could that have been?  

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Ancestors metadata probably … check out File > File Info > Raw Data for the original files.

There may be a huge amount of accumulated information that you do not actually need or want. 

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

There is a Script available to remove Ancestors metadata, please see if it makes a difference for you: 

https://forums.adobe.com/message/8456985#8456985

That metadata is carried over when copy/pasting a composite image into a newly created blank one (see File > File Info > Raw Data) by the way. 

[JtechDT]

Thanks!  

[JtechDT]

Inside of Raw Data by the way it says "Cannot display raw metadata,contents too large"

[PECourtejoie]

Could you share the file, if you blank out its contents?

I think that the Ps engineers might want to take a look at the file, and see if they can fix the issue in future versions, if you post a thread on the topic at https://feedback.photoshop.com an engineer or QE might be interested by the file, don't delete them all!

[JtechDT]

How/where can I upload the file? It's not sensitive info, no need to blank out the contents. 

[PECourtejoie]

Once you've posted on feedback, you can link there to a file hosted on your creative cloud space...

[Stephen_A_Marsh · Accepted solution]

I have updated the following blogpost with a solution for automating the removal of photoshop:DocumentAncestors metadata in smart object layers:

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/06/metadata-bloat-photoshopdocumentancestors.html

[Michael Bullo]

Great article. Thanks for sharing.