PS won't save animation files - stuck at 85%

[Avi28717380yltk]

I am having issues trying to save animation docs in photoshop 2023. I have ended up making multiple copies of my work and have deleted about half of it each time hoping to be able to stitch it together in the end so that the program has less to save. This is no more than 18 seconds of hand drawn straight ahead animation on video layers, overall fairly simple stuff, although I do have a large number of layers.

I have worked with similar animations in PS before that were twice the length, although in a much older version (CS6) and on a much older lower spec laptop (I previously had a base model 2012 macbok pro, as of last year I now have a 2021 M1Pro Macbook pro with 32GB memory running Monterey 12.5, this is the first time I'm doing this kind of work on my new laptop), and never had this kind of issue saving my work before. So far I have now lost about three or four hours of work in total due to being unable to save/needing to abort the save/needing to force quit. Each time I try to save PS gets stuck at 85% but doesn't register as "not responding" anywhere on the laptop although PS freezes and won't let me do anything with it during this time, and in activity monitor it's showing PS using a lot of CPU still. When it manages to save, the next time I try to open the file PS says the file is incompatable with this version of PS despite both clearly being 2023.

I've done a lot of troubleshooting and so far (uninstalling and reinstalling PS, updating PS, restarting the computer, deleting half the layers and creating a new file, removing linked content/texture, removing the reference videos, etc) at this poing the only things I can come up with as potentially causing this issue would be:

Large number of layers although I've removed most of them by now so it feels less likely

File size (around 2gb at this point)

PS itself being bugged

Something horribly wrong with my laptop

Somehow the single layer of paper texture?

Creative Cloud causing me issues? CS6 did not have access to CC

I'm fully willing to believe I'm doing something stupid as I'm largely self-taught, but I'm incredibly stumped and insanely frustrated at this point. ANY help would be so appreciated.

[Earth Oliver]

since you're using an M1, try using Ps in Rosetta mode (get info on the App in Finder). Adobe probably still hasn't updated all the animation tools to be ARM compatible.

[Avi28717380yltk]

Thanks for the reply, that's some new info to me.

When I looked into it, the 2023 version of photoshop is supposedly universal instead of Intel and should be able to run okay on M1. I set it to Rosetta anyway because at this point I have nothing to lose by doing that, I've accepted my work is probably lost, and so far I seem to be having the same issues. I've actually had the most success uninstalling PS and installing the oldest available version opening with rosetta (which is 2020 I believe runs Intel) and working there- the 2023 version has gotten me stuck in a recovery loop where it is frozen because it is insisting on trying to recover a version of my file from force quitting but can't open it even after uninstalling and reinstalling 2023 and restarting my computer

[NB, colourmanagement net]

Perhaps try a thorough reset of Photoshop preferences?

(read this entire post before acting please)

Resetting restores Photoshop's internal preferences, which are saved when Photoshop closes.

If they become corrupt then various issues can occur.

Here’s some info on how to do that:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

Manually removing preferences files is the most complete method for restoring Photoshop to its default state: 

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#Manually

Note re macOS: The user Library folder is hidden by default.

To access files in the hidden user Library folder, see here for how to access hidden user library files.

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/access-hidden-user-library-files.html

Unexpected behavior may indicate damaged preferences. Restoring preferences to their default settings is a good idea when trying to troubleshoot unexpected behaviors in Photoshop. check out the video

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#reset_preferences

Learn how to access and modify Photoshop preferences and customize per your frequent workflows

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

And here’s an earlier forum discussion as an aid to understanding

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/quick-tips-how-to-reset-photoshop-pre...

You may want to backup your settings and custom presets, brushes & actions before restoring Photoshop's preferences.

Here is general info about that:  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#BackupPhotoshoppreferences

Before you reset your preferences

in case of future issues, I suggest you make a copy as Adobe may need one to check problematic references. 

Quit Photoshop.
Go to Photoshop's Preferences folder

Preferences file locations: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/preference-file-names-locations-photoshop.html\

  [on MacOS see: Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings

  Note for those on macOS: - be aware that the user Library folder is hidden by default on macOS.

  https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/access-hidden-user-library-files.html

  In the Finder, open the “Go” menu whilst holding down the Option (Alt) key.

  Library will now appear in the list - below the current user's “home” directory. ]

Now you can drag the entire Adobe Photoshop [Version] Settings folder to the desktop or somewhere safe as a back-up of your settings.

Note for those on macOS:

Preference preservation is affected by macOS permissions,

you’ll need to allow Photoshop ‘Full Disk Access’ in your Mac OS Preferences/Security and Privacy

It may even be time to reinstall Photoshop.

It’s recommended that you use the Adobe CC cleaner tool to remove all traces first.

(See above about preserving preferences though! Its worth preserving them unless they are corrupted.)

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

Uninstall Photoshop BUT make sure to choose the option “Yes, remove app preference”.

Once that process finishes, start the installation process and look into the “Advanced Options”. Uncheck “Import previous settings and preferences” and choose to “Remove old versions”.

I hope this helps

neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer

google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management