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Question

Printing files over 2GB Image Size

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
January 9, 2022
6 replies
3398 views

I am trying to print files with over 2GB of image information in them (the file sizes in .psb format are in the 80 - 120MB range). Specifically they show over 2GB of info in the Image>Image Size resizing box. When I print them in PS, I receive a Photoshop warning message "Documents containing more than 2GB of data may not print correctly." When I do print, there are errors in the print (using an Epson P800.)

These images cannot undergo further down-size resampling without substantial loss of information (these are non-photographic images: algorithmically created compositions through Java scripts in PS). Their size (already downsampled 50%) is approx 30k x 30k pixels with an underlying image size of about 2.6GB.

When I save to a jpeg, the image size doesn't change although, of course the file size is reduced, but my problem appears unrelated to file size.

Can anyone help me to figure out a way to print these images? I will be grateful for any light you can shed on this and any work-arounds you can suggest.

(Other info: Using 2017 MacBook Pro, 16GB RAM, running Monterey and 2013 iMAC, 32GB RAM, running Catalina. All Adobe software is up to date.)

macOS

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TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

This is all you need to know/read about resolution to the Epson:
https://www.digitalphotopro.com/technique/photography-workflow/the-right-resolution/

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

Jon BurrisAuthor

Participating Frequently

It is an excellent article which has clarified many issues for me. Thank you for passing it on.

Maruhana

Known Participant

Hello,

trying to print halftone files in bitmap, I encountered the same size problem. Despite PS showing some 60 MB, it alerts upon print command.

Now I am puzzled with the following:

Why does it give the 2 GB alert when the file is substantially smaller?
Why do printer specs mention higher PPI resolutions than 300/360 if their head cannot print more than that?
Is there a free driver for mac that can work with bigger files? I cannot spend a grand for a RIP since it is all for art projects, not commercial.

Thank you for your help in advance.

TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

The Epson print driver on both Mac and to a lesser degree Windows has a max size you've exceeded. It is as simple as that. You either need to reduce the size/number of total pixels or use another driver that supports larger documents (ImagePrint is one example).

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

Jon BurrisAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thank you. That's very clear.

L

Lumigraphics

Legend

Why are you not tiling this image?

NB, colourmanagement

Community Expert

Hi Lumigraphics, please explain further how they would tile onto an A2 sheet? Or are you thinking they should print on multiple A2 sheets?

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management
[please only use the blue reply button at the top of the page, this maintains the original thread title and chronological order of posts]

Jon BurrisAuthor

Participating Frequently

The image must be on an unbroken sheet. I could otherwise easily paste up the image, or potentially pass through the same sheet with the main file divided into smaller files offset appropriately, but given potential registration issues, I've not yet tried this.

What puzzles me is that after having significantly reducing the image size to about 880MB (29912 x 31000 with indexed color) and a file size of only 15.8MB, I continue to get the alert "Documents containing more than 2GB of data may not print correctly," and on which I can find no documentation. I should add that the image is well over 95% unvariegated white, which is why the file size is so small for a .psb file.

I assume that the 2GB issue relates to data sent to the printer but I see no way of changing the printer's setttings within Photoshop aside from within the print settings menus (which give me a choice of 1440 or 2880 dpi, and which makes no difference when changed).

I cannot resample this image any smaller without loss of data (I've tried).

So, I should mention that this image is not all that important to me, so I'm going to drop this version and treat it otherwise, but to inform future work, I would appreciate anyone's insight on what the "2GB of data" alert means (what specifically is the data in question) and any workarounds you might suggest.

NB, colourmanagement

Community Expert

Hi, the SC-P800 is A2, right?

Epson's "native" resolution is apparently 720ppi (according to tests), but (again according to test data I've seen) 360ppi shows the same detail in fine lines, so, if that’s right, there's little point in sending an image with any more resolution than that.

However, even at 720ppi the filesize would seem to be 573MB and I'm pretty confident there's no point in printing above 720ppi.

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management
[please only use the blue reply button at the top of the page, this maintains the original thread title and chronological order of posts]

Derek Cross

Community Expert

What are the dimensions of the image and does it really need to have a high resolution?

Have you tried creating a PDF (eg PDF/X-4) and printing from that?

Jon BurrisAuthor

Participating Frequently

The dimensions are 29912 x a bit over 30k (nearly square). Yes, it does need that resolution (already reduced by half) by virtue of the data being visualized (this is an art application of a sort of data visualization). I will try a pdf. Thank you for that suggestion.

Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

I"d still try reducing image size further, you should be able to get away with less than you may think.

Otherwise you may need to look into RIP software (not for rasterisation).

Good luck!

Jon BurrisAuthor

Participating Frequently

I tried reducing it further but then I lose essential information.

These have 1 pxl-wide elements on a field which is 29912 pxls wide (don't ask why). And in that they largely stand alone, the interpolation performed by the printer is already compromising the image. When further reduced, colors shift and, if I could printt them, certain elements are likely to be left out. I will look at RIP software, with which I was not familiar until your suggestion. Thank you for your response.

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