Save for Web (Legacy) Gif Creation Error

[nikolash17795744]

Dear Community,

I receive the following error when attempting to create a gif though Export > Save for Web (Legacy):

This was using the following settings. I cannot reduce the image size due to required spec:

Adobe Photoshop is latest version on MacOS Catalina:

Adobe Photoshop Version: 21.1.2 20200410.r.136 2020/04/10: efaf3fa4e40 x64 Number of Launches: 0 Operating System: Mac OS 10.15.4 System architecture: Intel CPU Family:6, Model:14, Stepping:10 with MMX, SSE Integer, SSE FP, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AVX, AVX2, HyperThreading Physical processor count: 4 Logical processor count: 8 Processor speed: 2400 MHz Built-in memory: 8192 MB Free memory: 2950 MB Memory available to Photoshop: 6061 MB Memory used by Photoshop: 70 % 

I have tried many different strategies to get this image exported including, but not limited to:

• Deleting Adobe Save for Web 13.0 Prefs file under Library
• Deleting Save for Web Prefs.psp file under Library
• Reinstalling Photoshop
• Changing individual parameters (reducing image size by 50% results in success but image size must be 100%)
• Doing the same on my MS Surface Book, with the same results
• Allowing Full Disk Access through Security & Privacy
• Allowing Accessibility through Security & Privacy
• Trying to use the Preview button instead of Save... in Save for Web dialog
• Using file names and paths with only alphanumeric characters

Please help, would be much appreciated!

Best regards.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Just to make sure: Are you saving to the internal disk? 

You seem to have covered this 

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-and-macos-catalina.html#AdobeSaveforWebError

but did you also restore the general Preferences after making sure all customized presets like Actions, Patterns, Brushes etc. have been saved?

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/basic-trouble-shooting-steps.html

[nikolash17795744]

Thanks so much for the fast response, much appreciated. I'll cover off your helpful suggestions in the order in which they were made:

1. I am saving to the internal disk -- specifically to my User folder, which does contain a dot in the name. Still, this does not work when saving to Desktop folder either.
2. https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-and-macos-catalina.html#AdobeSaveforWebError : I hadn't seen this exact link and to be sure I was following the guidance therein, made sure to rename the source .psd file (which contained underscores), the smart object reference to a video (also had underscores), and the destination .gif file. Still no joy.
3. https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/basic-trouble-shooting-steps.html
4. I followed this link and found one on that page that led me to the restoration of the general preferences, which I performed:

   

   Likes

Perhaps worth noting: in spite of all of these preferences file deletion and resets, my default options when entering the Save for Web (Legacy) dialog remained as an unsaved preset which I had put in days ago (I knew because dither was at 100% and colors were at 256): in fact, these options can be reviewed on my first post where I screen captured them. It seems these options are saved in the .psd file itself, for upon changing them to preset 'GIF 128 Dithered', and saving the .psd, the preset now appears when re-entering the Save for Web (Legacy) dialog.

To give as much information as I can, here too is a screen cap of the very simple layer structure of the .psd:

 

A final point: between each attempt I am quitting Photoshop.

Best regards.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

What are the image’s pixel dimensions? 

The official bug report site seems to have a couple of unresolved threads that sound a lot like your problem. 

https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/save-for-web-broken-21-0-3-on-mac-10-15-2

https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/photoshop-21-0-2-save-for-web-legacy-not-work...

[nikolash17795744]

Thanks.

Image size is 1400 px x 1446 px.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

That doesn’t sound bad but could you try creating a new, smaller image and see if that can be Saved for Web? 

How many frames does the animation have? 

Sorry, just grasping at straws here … 

[nikolash17795744]

Thanks, I appreciate the straw-grasping: that's basically what I'm doing too. OK, I can now cause the error from a successful situation:

1. Attempt with smart object referencing .mov file 1400 x 1100 or below 144ppi --> 256 color 100% dithered GIF succeeds.

3. Same psd from point 1, but increase canvas size to 1400 x 1150 or above --> 256 color 100% dithered GIF fails.

The error appears linked to canvas size increases, or canvas size is a parameter that has a knock on effect on some other problem area like memory, file size.

I could go on experimenting into the night to find the pixel tipping point between 1100 and 1150, but I don't see what else we would learn, and this would probably not be reproducable at another point when the available memory changes etc.

Thanks again. Do Adobe check these forums and offer advice? I'll try reposting my findings on the official bug report site previously linked. Any ideas on how to get from a .mov layer over a .jpg background to a high quality .gif without Photoshop (ideally with a 24 hour learning curve -- deadline Sunday 😉)?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Some Adobe employees have been dropping by here but the other Forum seems the better place as it is officially being monitored. 

It would probably help if you could provide the actual file for testing, though I doubt anything will come of it before your deadline … if at all. 

After Effects might be another option, but frankly I am not sure. 

How long is the mov-file? 

What frame rate did you set in the Timeline Panel? 

[nikolash17795744]

I'll give it a go -- I'm resigned to dropping the .gif really.

I think I would be happy to provide the file -- would eventually go up on Behance anyhow.

Was thinking about After Effects but a lot of the tutorials about making gifs end up exporting to PS for that part... But I don't know if it now has that capability.

.mov file is a whopping 5 seconds, 30fps; tried at 24fps and same issue.

Thanks again.

[nikolash17795744]

Oh, woah, just 1400 x 1930 out at 10fps, which kind of sucks, but is kind of awesome. I value the size over the fps right now, so a step forward. I'll keep you posted, but this suggests some ceiling on performance, right?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Sounds like it, not sure if the issue might be a general one or related to the available RAM or other local conditions then. 

[nikolash17795744]

So I managed to get the gif into the project in a decent way, with a big thanks to you for the pointer on fps -- it was this tweak that got it there. If ever a forum needed a 'buy me a coffee' button! In lieu of that, my sincere thanks.