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gerald5C9C
Known Participant
February 2, 2024
Question

Trouble saving TIFF

  • February 2, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 2899 views

I am unable to save a layered TIFF file in Photoshop. An error message pops up expressing the file is larger than 4GB. The file which contains one medium format image (~500MB) and 8 adjustment layers seperated into 2 Groups. There are no smart objects. MacOS finder caluated the exact files saved as a PSD and PSB as 1.24GB. 

 

I've run into this problem randomly for the past 4 years. I always thought there must be hidden bits pumping up the files size. But this is as clear as day..... There is no way the file is over 4GB. I regularly save layered TIFF files with composites of 3 full (500MB) images with several layers with no problem. 

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

 

 

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    1 reply

    Kevin Stohlmeyer
    Community Expert
    Kevin StohlmeyerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 2, 2024

    @gerald5C9C PSD and PSB have different compression algorithms compared to a TIFF file.

    TIFF file format has a limitation of 4GB uncompressed. You can try changing your compression settings in the save as window but with something that large you are better off saving as a .psb which is built for files this size.

      G
      gerald5C9CAuthor
      Known Participant
      February 3, 2024

      @Kevin StohlmeyerThank you for the feedback and suggestion. I save all of my large working files as a PSB for archival purposes. But ultimately everything needs to end up back into Capture One for final crop and export. C1 can not recognize a PSB file.

       

      As I mentioned in my post I have successfully saved layered TIFFs with much more than this. And especially from the same job with similar files with the exact same groupings of adjustment layers. I guess I am asking if this is a bug, or if perhaps there could be corrupted files? 

       

      Or maybe I don't understand how a file that is completely under 2GB in every measurement possible is unable to save down as a TIFF. 

       

      I can easily stack 3 500MB medium format images, add a couple adjustment layers and save it as a TIFF. I do this all day everyday. Yet this file, which only has one image and 8 adjustment layers is recognized as over 4GB. It's impossible. 

      Stephen Marsh
      Community Expert
      Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 4, 2024
      quote

      But ultimately everything needs to end up back into Capture One for final crop and export.


      By @gerald5C9C

       

      Why? Cropping and exporting are both possible in Photoshop...  As I don't use Capture One, I fail to see the added benefit.

       

      Can you express the dimensions of your files in pixel width and height, 8 or 16 bpc and alpha channels?

       

      I doubt that this is the case from the description of your workflow, but to rule it out, check for excessive metadata:

       

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

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