Please help: "unable to create image buffer" error

[isaacb993116]

While editing, I keep getting an error saying "unable to create image buffer," shortly followed by the program freezing or crashing (or my display driver crashing).

I'm editing .mov files imported via the media browser shot on a Canon t5. I faced the same problem when editing MXF files from a Canon XF100 a few weeks ago.

I've been trying to solve this problem for weeks to no avail. The only workaround I have is to edit quickly in sessions and frequently save before the program freezes again. Sometimes I think it's a pc problem and that I should install more RAM, but this wasn't an issue several months ago.
 
Windows: Version 12.1.1 (Build 10)
Mercury Playback Engine GPU Acceleration (CUDA) enabled

Error Messages

PC Info

Clip Properties

Premiere is Idle

Working and Error Occurs

[Cassandra5C8A]

Has anyone else tried this? I need to try it! Mine keeps doing the same thing and crashing 😞 I have an asus zenbook duo laptop and its literally brand new. So it has to be PP

[jeeheon_cho]

Strangely when I keep releasing memory I get a different error than the normal one.

[Kevin-Monahan]

I have an asus zenbook duo laptop and its literally brand new. So it has to be PP

Not necessarily, Cassandra. You didn't let us know the version of the computer or its CPU. Is it an i5? If so, I recommend getting a more powerful CPU. 2 GB VRAM is fine for HD but is light on power for 4K. You also didn't fill us in about your media. Could you tell us more?

I recommend transcoding any media to ProRes LT to see if your problem gets sorted out. Your computer may not be powerful enough for your native camera media workflow. Try it, and report back.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Raghed]

I have same this problem but Ram just 39% and i working in 2021

[Philippe5E34]

It is 2021 and I have the same problem. Seems like as if there is no fix since two years.

[Brady5DB9]

SAME

[jenrpa]

Hey all,

I cam across this problem just after I did some updates on my computer, so have a few other options you can check. 

My Disk on Windows 10 was 100%'ing constantly, and one of the suggestions to fix that is to adjust your virtual memory settings. Once I fixed that problem, I started getting the "Unable to create image buffer" - turns out I got the numbers wrong on adjusting the virtual memory space (Windows recommends "use a number that's one and a half times the total available memory for the "Initial size" and three times of available memory for the "Maximum size" when possible")

So...

1. Check to make sure you have enough space on your hard drive available for virtual memory. If you're getting close to full there isn't enough space to use the virtual cache (3x your memory space should be available per above).

2. Adjust your virtual memory (Search "How to change virtual memory size on Windows 10" and look for the Microsoft page.

[Philippe5E34]

I think you are on to something. I worked on an external ssd that did not have a lot of space left. That might be what caused my problem.

[Valery5E47]

Did any of those help you? Cause I also has this kind of problem with image buffer, but adjusting virtual memory didn't help at all.

[Ivan5C88]

Problem solved with adjusting virtual memory. Thanks!

[snehal4s]

Hey,

Try this. Just go to File >Project Setting> General and change GPU Accelaration to Software only in in video rendering and playback. It might help you

[Valery5E47]

Same issue here, premier starts to using all ram without unloading unnecessary files in it. I can just start replaying the same 3 seconds of video sequence and the memory usage starts filling up to 100GB by itself, without any unloading. And when the premier reaches 100GB (32GB of RAM + 70GB of virtual memory), then it gives me an image buffer error and the whole computer just crashes.

[Pernulle13]

I too am having this issue! I have no idea what to do, I'm working on my last exam and the timing couldn't be any worse 

[Valery5E47]

I couldn't take it anymore and just switched my motherboard from ASRock x570m to Rog Strix B550-f. Now this problem disappeared and premier works more than fine. But, just how terrible is that to fix premier memory leak I had to buy a new motherboard...

[luisn22555378]

Estou tendo o mesmo problema em 2021. Pelo o que eu li, pode ter relação com a memória do computador? Até esses dias estava funcionando normalmente, agora começou com esse "erro ao criar buffer de imagem". Trabalho em computador com 32GB de RAM e uma RTX 2070 

[Valery5E47]

GUYS! I FINALLY MADE IT! 
So the problem itself in my project was with the "studio reverb effect" on my audio. I'm making videos with my voice and there is a lot of text and to give my audio a more natural sound, I add reverb due to my acoustic isolated room. Why don't I do that in an audition on the way with all other effects? Well because it's easier for me when I can delete reverb from the specific voice line if this is way too expressive line that is itself loud enough.

But anyway, deleting the studio reverb effect improved the memory leak problem due to premier pro somehow starts eat all ram and virtual memory just for audio playback.

[Guest]

Seems like rendering two iterations of your voice from your chosen audio application. One wet and one dry would be the quickest way to alleviate it. Then just mute/cut where you wanna swap between.

[Datti5E1E]

Same here anyone hlep me out.  While editing I keep getting an error saying "unable to create image buffer" shortly followed by the program freezing or crashing (or my display driver crashing).

[Laezio5D1E]

Same Here. I have a powerfull machine and still have the buffer issue.

I also had the screen preview blacked out sometimes.

[brianbbb]

Struggled all day with the buffer issue, low memory warnings and more. Trashed preferences, deleted media cache, rebuilt the sequence by copying and pasting all the clips into a new project. Problems kept getting worse. I just deleted a Lumetri Color setting on a source clip and rebuilt it, and it *seems* to have fixed it. Fingers crossed.

[Hiro Lim]

  

I got the error after adjust this thing, later I add it back, the problem solved. Try add more paging file size.

[Nichifor Bujor]

Thank you so much for this solution!!! It started working perfectly immediately. You saved me hours and days of pain that I had with many projects.

[Rut25419864xrvu]

  Solved for me: after trying everything and a lot of frustration, a computer graphic technician told me to reinstall windows. It worked like magic. Warning: don't forget to backup from files; downloads, pictures, videos, documents, and everything you have on C.

[grkn25031131liwn]

I reinstalled but still same error.

[grkn25031131liwn]

Still... I format my pc but nothing changed.