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marcel_911
Participant
September 6, 2017
Answered

Smart objects, why so big?

  • September 6, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 608 views

Hi,

I need to output about 30 jpg files from a single master, the differences will be crop shape and colour.

I thought Image Assets would be ideal.

I have converted my base layer to a smart object, added a couple of Hue Sat adjustment layers with masks clipped to the base layer, put all these in a group and called the group something like red.jpg

I duplicate this group and call it something like pano_red.jpg and add a panorama shape mask to the group.

This is working fine, but each time I duplicate this group my original psd file is increasing in size by 120mb.

I thought a smart object when you duplicated it was linked to the first one. it must be somehow because if I change any of the duplicated smart objects then they all change, but why is it adding 120mb each time. That is some admin overhead!

The image is roughly 9000 x 5000px. An 8bit mask at this size is only 4.5mb uncompressed so this isn't where the 120mb is going.

I am up to 7 groups and the file is now 1.2gb.

I was trying to make this idiot proof so anyone can replace the base image and then fiddle with the adjustment layers and voila, 30 saved jpg files

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer davescm

    Hi

    A single pixel layer of 9000x5000x3bytes = 128MB

    Each time you add a duplicate smart object it will add an overhead equivalent to single pixel layer size, no matter how large or small the contents of the smart object. So even if the original smart object contained 16 pixel based layers - the overhead of duplicating it is a single pixel layer size.

    Note the effect on saved file sizes is smaller due to PSD/PSB compression

    I hope that makes sense

    Dave

    1 reply

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    September 6, 2017

    Hi

    A single pixel layer of 9000x5000x3bytes = 128MB

    Each time you add a duplicate smart object it will add an overhead equivalent to single pixel layer size, no matter how large or small the contents of the smart object. So even if the original smart object contained 16 pixel based layers - the overhead of duplicating it is a single pixel layer size.

    Note the effect on saved file sizes is smaller due to PSD/PSB compression

    I hope that makes sense

    Dave

      M
      marcel_911Author
      Participant
      September 6, 2017

      Thanks, that makes sense.

      I'll have to find another way.

      davescm
      Community Expert
      davescmCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      September 6, 2017

      Hi

      You could try this:

      If the only difference is adjustments then you could start with a single image layer (in a smart object) and add all the adjustments.

      Turn on the visibility of each set of adjustments in turn and save each set as a layer Comp. That way you can add as many adjustment layers as you like and the layer comps will take care of switching on and off the adjustments.

      You can then create an action to both switch layer comps and  Export Save for Web for each layer comp

      Dave

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