Speed up saving of layered files?

In CS4, on a first generation quad core Mac Pro with 12 gigs of RAM and scratch and all image files on a fast two disk RAID 0, I find that saving psd files with layers is extremely slow.
If I open a 16 bit 12 megapixel D300 raw image from Lightroom into Photoshop, and immediately save it, it takes just 1 to 2 seconds to save the 60 megabyte file. But if I duplicate the background layer and save again, it takes about 15 seconds. If I duplicate two more times so there are four layers, it takes over 30 seconds to re-save the now 286 megabyte file.
Why does this take so long? Are these numbers normal? Is there anything that can be done to speed this up? I can duplicate the file in Finder in less than 4 seconds, so I assume this has nothing to do with disk bandwidth.
And why does saving files have to be modal? If I could start the save then switch over and start working on a different image I really wouldn't care how long it took.

If you save with maximum compatibility, we have to composite (flatten) the document and save that PLUS the layer contents. That takes extra time.
Yes, without major changes, saving has to be modal (due to disk access, error handling, etc.).
Opening a file is decompressing - easy.
Saving a file is compressing - SLOW.

Similar Messages

Saving non-layered file as PDF

Why is it that when I save a file that has many, many layers to a PDF without layers as a copy that the file size is larger than flattening the layers and then saving the file as a copy to PDF? 19Mb vs. 5Mb?? Wouldn't saving a file without layers be the same as flattening the layers and then saving the file?? Can anyone explain this?

Wouldn't saving a file without layers be the same as flattening the layers and then saving the file??
No. that's simply not how it works. PDFs are "object"-centric, meaning even without layers there can be separate entities in a document and PS will try to obey that if and when possible based on what PDF settings you use - vector smart objects may come in separate, text may be editable, layers that have vector masks may come in at full size and so on...
Mylenium

Photoshop CS6 program error saving layered files

I recently updated my adobe software and I am still getting issues with saving layered files. I keep gettting program error - only occasionally. Sometimes saving to my desktop works and other times it doesnt. Other coworkers are experiencing same thing ever since they updated. It happens when working on a layered file for any length of time and need to save it out as a layered photoshop file. We are forced to flatten and save as a tif and loose our layers. I think it has something to do with background task but not sure...

Drag the file to your desktop, open the file there, do your edits, save, and then drag back.
Let us know what you are working off. If server, what server software are you using. System preferences >> spotlight, uncheck all items.

Why do my images and layered files 'shrink' in pixel size when 'saving as/saving for web'?

I'm using CS3 and when I "Save As" or "Save For Web" to a format like .jpg for example, the resulting .jpg is reduced in size considerably.
For example I was touching up a photograph that was 1300 x 700. I saved out the file for web to my desktop and emailed it to a friend. When my friend opened it, it had shrunk down to about 75% of the original 1300 x 700 size. I have the same problem when saving out layered .psd's, which lead me to believe it had something to do with my save settings. I've scoured the net for answers as well as gone through each setting, but have not been able to solve this problem.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer in solving this annoying problem!
Jason

Jeffrey, I checked the UI dialog and it's set to 'original'.
Marian, this problem occurs whether I email the file or not.
Thanks for the responses guys, but the problem continues. Any other thoughts? Remember this happens under both 'Save As' and 'Save for Web' actions.

Help with Saving Progressive Layers as Video or Files

Hi, I am interested in creating an animated video with Photoshop. I have 80+ layers, each one building on the last. For example, layer 1 is a simple horizontal line ( - ). Layer 2 is a simple vertical line ( | ). With both layers on, they form a cross ( + ). Layer 1 must be visible for layer 2 to make sense, within the video. So, each previous layer must remain visible when the next layer is turned on. Then the next, then the next.
Previously, I have manually saved layer 1 as a JPG, turned on layer 2 and saved the new file, turned on layer 3, saved the next new file,and so on, until I go through all layers. Then I used a video editing program to put the files in sequence and render it as a video.
I am hoping PS (CS5) can help me. I need to render a video with each layer turning on (perhaps a .03 second delay, like in the animation strip) but with all previous layers remaining on. Onion skin's max layers is 8, so that doesn't work for me.
If I can't render the video directly from PS, how can I create an action that will
1. save file without a prompt as JPG with the layer name as the file name, in the directory where the PSD file resides
2. make visible the next layer up (or down, whatever)
3. repeat until all layers are complete, no matter how many layers

They aren't necessarily only line drawings. As an animated video, it may be line drawings, then a photo, then drawings on the photo. So it's something like this:
layer 0 = black background
layer 1 = white vertical line
layer 2 = blue horizontal line
layer 3 = photograph in the upper left corner
layer 4 = blue dot over the photograph
An example of one of my shorter films is
I did that by saving every layer as a separate JPG, then putting it together in a video editor. That's how I've always done it, but that won't work anymore due to the volume of the layers.

Saving PS CS3 files when used as an external editor

When I open an image through aperature with PS as the external editor it makes a copy of my image and saves it in my library when Im done in PS which is great, but when I take that same PS edited file, open it back up in PS and attempt to save another PS version of it in the aperature library with the "Save as" command it does not show up in my library anywhere. If I go to the aperature library folder I can find my additional saved PS images in the correct library folder, but they do not show up in aperature.
Does anyone know a way to be able to save additional PS files in the aperature library?
Thanks!!

Thanks for the help. Only problem still is that if I do it that way and import the edited saved Tif or PSD file back into aperature my PS layers and settings are erased when I try to reopen that PS file with the external editor through aperature. Unlike the original image duplicated in aperature when using PS as the external editor which I can continue to open and reopen from within aperature and be able to access all my saved PS layers, mask, adjustments, etc.
Sorry if this isnt making any sense

Why are 'saved as' .psd files so much bigger than original raw nef files?

I was under the impression that original raw files were the biggest possible. I appear to be very wrong. Why are 'saved as' .psd files so much bigger than original raw nef files?
I'm beginning to think that saving them as psd is a bad idea.
Yes, though I've heard all the arguments of keepng the original raw files (For ex. Did you throw away the negatives when you were using film) I se eno purpose in keeping them. Once I've made the initial adjustments--cropping, color correction etc. I don't feel a need to ever go back and never do. Most of my work is done in Photoshop and I like it that way--but suddenly finding myself with such huge files doesn't appeal to me at all--and other formats like tif...well never mind for now.

Good point made c.pfaffenbichler however, my thinking is this--there is time spent on the raw file and then there is much more time spent on (usually a psd) the file once in Photoshop. For me to then go back to the orignal raw file, after having worked on it on PS would mean getting rid of all the work (larger amount of work, time wise and artistic wise) done on PS which seems pointless. Although the psd file does show your layers and stuff it only shows the end results of that layer. It does not show from where to where you pointed your brush, from what point to what point you changed the color or part of an image etc. etc.Anyhow I understand why most people keep their raw files, but this is the main reason why I do not. It would mean hours of work on an image you already worked on (and usually were satisfied with) to perhaps make some minor alteration. Also please note that though I was noce a pro photog, no I do it mostly for fun. Getting the exact red in my Coca Cola can has never been of importance. On the other hand, if there were a way of working on a raw file within Photoshop and keep it (save it as) a raw file equivalent, then I would absolutely do so.

How does Motion Handle PSD Layered Files?

I've done an extensive search on the Discussions looking for an answer to my problem without luck.
I have a layered file created in Illustrator CS. I exported the file to Photoshop so that I could retain the layers. The file opens and looks normal in PS. I want to import this file into Motion 2.0 so that I can animate some of the layers. The PSD file is in CYMK mode as Photoshop will not allow files to be saved as layers in RGB. Motion allows me to import the PSD layered file as individual layers but all of the text and graphics come in yellow and seem to have lost their original color. I have set PS File Handling to Highest.. If I flatten the file it looks fine in Motion but I lose the layers. Does anyone have any suggestions or methods that could help me?
Thank you..
j

The PSD file is in CYMK mode as Photoshop will not allow files to be saved as layers in RGB
I just created a RGB Photoshop file and added several layers, and saved it.
I used the import command from the File menu, and brought the file in with individual layers -- again saved in RGB.
Why won't your PS version allow you to save in RGB?
please take the time to mark a response as solved or helpful
best wishes
David
Remember to mark an response helpful or solved.
It protects the integrity of the board.

Horizontal Lines in saved AVI preview file

Hi all,
On another thread I was asking why I was getting an error message when trying to export and save a movie, but now I was able to get a temp AVI file after hitting enter and saving a preview file, but this AVI preview file, which is normally of the same quality of the full saved file I think, has horizontal lines in it that are very obvious compared to the original file... below are the sample still screenshots to compare...
Clean original 720x480 30 fps AVI file
Horizontal lines showing in this Premiere 720x480 30 fps AVI preview file
I have a file imported in to the timeline and it is set to play in reverse via the speed setting being set to -100 and it plays back in the preview window correctly, in reverse, when I click the play button.
But when I do a "File>Export Timeline>Movie" command I get an error message saying "An error occurred while making the movie. Error writing file (disk full?)"... but my hard drive is not nearly full, with over 30 gigs left open on it... and my RAM usage gadget shows over half of my RAM capacity is unused.
But I got a temp preview file that was generated after hitting enter to play the preview after I wasn't able to save, and that's how I got this file... and I think the temp files are normally just as sharp as the final saved files because they take just as long to generate when previewing by hitting enter as they do when doing and export and save.
Also, this process saved an 8.5 gigabyte AVI file from a 1.5 megabyte AVI file using the CamStudio codec.
Another try using the MSU lossless codec produced a 3.5 gigabyte AVI file that looked better, but wouldn't play any faster than about one frame per second after an hour and a half of saving time.
Does anyone have any solutions?... also I see that the new file from Premiere shows a larger screen size, though it was saved at the same 720x480 size as the original was.
Thanks,
numetro

Yes, that's what I started with, but it wouldn't render a working file of reversed video for anything over 2 minutes or so... so that's when I started trying everything else in the world... including these ridiculous attempts and resulting problems with Premiere trying to handle the complex task of saving a video file correctly.
If Apple can make a simple "REVERSE" button in its user friendly iMovie app, why can't anyone else?
Originally there was Xander's Video Time Reversal, that worked for me before and still works for some files, but just won't work on other slightly longer files and produces blank or unusable files 75 percent of the time, and Xander's French forum admin committee was asleep at the wheel while I waited for approval to ask a question.
Then there was "Rehan's" method of using two different apps (VirtualDub and Avisynth) and writing AVS script files in notepad... compared to this, it may be easier to have the desired video clip re-enacted in reverse with professional actors and a special effects team than it would be to use Rehan's method.
Then there is Stupeflix.com, which seems to be all the name implies since they were bragging about a webpage with an upload button to upload a clip to, and then a download button to get the reversed clip from... but the link for this magic page is nowhere to be found in the conversation on the blog site that was talking about it, and Stupeflix.com itself currently shows no feature of the kind.
Then finally at the long awaited end of this of my odyssey, after Premiere and before going back to XVTR, there was "K-5 Video Reversal Tool" and after reading the description about the needed codec pack and deciphering which download button is actually for the Video Reversal Tool and not one of those trick "Download Here" buttons that takes me to a virus laden site in Siberia, I did find a download link for it that is from Cnet.com... but then that app didn't work at all, even for very short, uncompressed AVI files, which it was supposed to handle with no problem... but it would flash a command prompt screen for a quarter second, then give a message stating that it produced the reversed file... which of course, it did not. And the guy that coded this gem has a chat thing on his K-5 website that he keeps responding to my original question about and he just can't admit that the app doesn't work.
I feel like... I've wasted a day and a half... now two days after writing so much.
Thanks,
digi

Suddenly 3mb layered file saves as 230mb file on disk?

all the sudden i'm seeing that when i'm working on smallish layered psd files, they're saving on my disk at huge sizes. for example, small layered file in p'shop says the doc is 3.09M/27.1M but when it's saved it's 230M. file has 2 layers with one alpha channel and one layer mask.
why is this happening? nothing has changed as far as i know.
thanks!
mary
Pshop CS3
mac os 10.5.4
quad intel mac with 4 GB ram

I believe the "doc size" shows the size of a flat uncompressed image (flat/layered). However it doesn't seem to take into account smart objects etc. It's not the actual file size you will get when saving but should give you a hint of how heavy your file is.
PSD with layers etc. will always be quite large. You can compress them to save some space, flatten/remove unnecessary layers/channels, use solid color layers instead of layers filled with color and so on...
Also you can go to preferences and tell it to ask you about "maximize compatibility" for PSD files. This feature saves a flattened copy of your image with your file (as well as some additional info for backward compatibility). I recommend leaving it on but if you don't need it and size is critical, feel free to turn it off.

Featured Request with psd layered files

Photoshop Layered files that include alpha channel show the alpha channel visually in aperture thumbnails and previews. They usually look like white or black masks around the subject.
This is a very undesirable feature. What is needed is the ability to ignore the alpha channel. This was done in iView several years ago when I was using that as my database. The software team in iView was able to quickly, in their next version, to add an ignore alpha channel check box, which eliminated seeing the alpha channels.
I hope the aperture team will consider this as a very necessary feature. Layered psd files are just as important as raw files to many photographers. I hate using more then one database to manage my files.
How many of you guys and gals out there are interested in this feature??? I personally consider this a very important feature for many photographers using a database type program like aperture.

Theoretically, yes, but this doesn't actually always work.
Despite Photoshop saving a composite preview, Apple's photoshop-reading routine also reads the alpha channel, and renders an alpha-masked version of the composite in Aperture, Preview, etc. This is true whether the alpha channel is visible/applied in the Photoshop document or not (ie, you can use quickmask to create a selection, save that selection, then have it turned off in your channels pallet, and it'll still get applied as an alpha mask to the complete flattened composite that Adobe provides, by Apple's photoshop/psd reading routines).
The only workaround that I'm aware of for this, is to create an empty alpha mask as the highest-level alpha channel in any document that has alpha channels (visible or not). Select your RGB channels, create a new channel, select it, select all and delete, then drag it to the position directly below the RGB channel set, save, and then Aperture will display the image properly.

How do you change the default save as directory when saving a PDF file to your hard drive?

This is the on-line help instructions on this site:
Downloading a PDF file to your hard drive
You can download a PDF file to the hard drive from a web page's link. Downloading PDF files doesn't require the ActiveX plug-in file to be installed. (If you want to open and view the PDF file after downloading it, you must have Acrobat, Adobe Reader, or Acrobat Reader installed.)
To download a PDF file from a link:
1. Right-click the link to a PDF file, and then choose Save Target As from the pop-up menu.
2. In the Save As dialog box, select a location on your hard drive, and then click Save.
My issue: I want to save several pdf files (from the Adobe Reader in my browser) one at a time and each time it defaults the save as directory to the desktop and I have to go looking for the directory I last saved a pdf file in. I got lots of directories and I wish I could change the default setting for the save as directory. Just a minor thing but irritating as other programs usually will allow you to switch the default save as directory to one of your choosing.

There is not a way to set the default location from all the forums i searched in the last couple days.
Russ

Error saving Project 2010 files to network drive - doesn't see network drive

ANSWERED (11 April 2014):
So it seems the resolution to this is to simply create a new share with a different name. I used the existing folder (to retain NTFS permissions) and just select to Add a new Share (applying the same Share permissions as the non working Shares).
Deploying this new Share via Group Policy as a test resulted in staff being able to open files from Windows Search, save files through MS Project and the Share being accessible through browsing SMB.
All problems resolved by using a new share name for the existing folder. Seems to be a corruption in the namespace.
Note: I had previously deleted the share and recreated it. I had removed all NTFS permissions and readded (through both the GUI and icacls). This didn't make a difference.
Only changing the name of the share fixed the problem.
Original Question
Already
posted here... but Microsoft Support has not responded.
It seems some staff on some computers are having problems saving MS Project files to the network. This is only since an upgrade to SBS2011 (from SBS2003). The only difference now, is that network drives are mapped via group policy rather than a 'net
use' script.
This is affecting users on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, with either MS Project 2007 or 2010. The users have full change access to the folders and can create new files and modifying existing files, just not a MS Project file. Other file tyes, e.g
Word .docx, Excel .xlsx, Adobe .pdf files, all work fine. These files can be opened, edited and saved normally without problem.
To replicate this:
The user opens an existing file or creates a new file on the network folder (either through Windows Explorer or MS Project). They then click File > Save in MS Project and receive the following error (see pic below):
An interesting symptom of this is that if you select File > Save As in MS Project, the Sae As dialog box doesn't remeber the path location of the network drive. MS Project instead prompts to save the file in the local users documents folder (see pic below):
If they browse back to the original folder where the file was saved and choose to save it there, they are of course, prompted to overwrite the existing file and they can save the file. But the same thing happens every time they open the file.
It seems the problem is that Project isn't seeing the path of the file or that the network drive is attached.
If a user closes the file without saving it, they are prompted to save the file and the prompt shows the drive path:
Do you want to save changes to "N:\... Projects\Active Projects\CC...\F4 Project Plan File\004 Programme\test project file.mpp"?
But choosing to save the file gives them the same result as Save As, they are prompted for a new location as if the original file location doesn't exist.
I have disconnected the mapped drive and connected it again using net use but get the same error.
I have reinstalled MS Project 201, installed Project 2010 SP2 and installed Windows updates and it does the same thing, exactly the same symptoms.
Further, if the user opens a file from the network drive, the file shows in the Project recent files list. If they try to open the file from the recent files list in project they get the following error:
"Project cannot open the file.
-Check that the file name and path are correct.
-Check that the file format is recognized by Project.
Project files saved in a version earlier than Microsoft Project 98 can't be opened...."
This is a test file that I created on the user's computer and network drive, This is being opened with the same version it was created in. If I browse to the folder in Windows Explorer I can open the file. Of course, I then can't save the file (I still get
the original error). I'm logged on with Domain Admin privileges.
I've checked these links from other threads (neither apply to my scenario):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/983458/en-us|
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/excel/thread/2eeea140-7e6c-4cb9-a89b-06d2102bd9f7/
I've downloaded my TechNet version of he software and installed it with Sp2 and Windows updates and it does the same thing. This also happens on the Remote Desktop server (Server 2008 R2) using MS Project 2007.

Case 1
This error message appears when the document is open on two or more computers that are running different operating platforms. For example,
if the document is open on a Macintosh computer and you open it on a second computer running Windows or Windows NT, the error occurs when either user tries to save the document.
This problem stems from a difference between the ways Macintosh OLE and Windows OLE open files. As a result, you cannot save a file on two different operating platforms at the same time.
Case 2
This error occurs in Word 97 for Windows if you save to a MAPROOT type network drive connection on a NetWare server where spaces exist in
the file or folder name.
Case 3
This problem may occur if an anti-virus program running on a network has the ability to scan for macro viruses in documents in shared network
folders.
For example, if you have the following:
a shared folder on a network server
-and-
an anti-virus program is running on the network server that is set to monitor the shared folder,
when you attempt to save a document (across the network) to the shared folder, the anti-virus checker may cause the error to occur.
Case 4
This problem may occur on Novell networks when the AutoRecover files path is either blank or set to a network drive.
According each, please try the following workaround:
WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use one of the following methods appropriate to your situation.
Case 1
Method 1:
Move the document to your local hard disk for editing. Move it back to the server after you finish.
Method 2:
Save a copy of the
file with a different
file name, and work on the copy, either on your hard disk or on the server.
Case 3
Method 1:
Move the document to your local hard disk for editing. Move it back to the server after you finish.
Method 2:
Do not use spaces in the directory or document names.
Method 3:
Do not use MAPROOT-drive connections. Map your drive connections to the volume-level only.
Case 4
Turn off the anti-virus protection on the network server and then try to
save the document. Contact your anti-virus protection software company for additional details and/or updates to their programs.
Case 5
Set the AutoRecover files path to your local drive. To change the AutoRecover path, use the following steps:
1.
On the Tools menu, click Options.
2.
On the File Locations tab, select AutoRecover files and then click Modify.
3.
Change the Modify Location dialog box to a
folder on your local drive and then click OK.
4.
Click OK to close the Options dialog box.
Hope that helps.
Smith

Print to PDF - using Snow Leopard (Saving a PDF file when printing is not supported. Instead, choose

i have a PDF form that i created that is used as a custom proposal that my company sends out to potential clients. the form in its editable state is only used internally. we recently upgraded to snow leopard, but prior to the upgrade, we were able to fill the custom proposal form out using adobe reader, and, as you well know, we weren't able to save that edited document as a PDF with the custom form fields filled out. our work around using adobe reader was to print to a pdf using the adobe pdf printer in the printer dialog. with the addition of snow leopard, however, instead of choosing the adobe pdf printer, we were to choose PDF from the bottom left corner, then Save As PDF, and it would spit out an uneditable pdf that then allowed us to email it to the potential client without them being able to edit it as well as have an internal, digital copy for our records instead of having lots of paper floating around (i know this is also doable using security that disallows the client certain editing privileges, but printing to a pdf is much quicker and more efficient, and the pdf security isn't really that secure at its best).
in any case, i came across this gem of a post here on the support forums that installs another option from the PDF drop down on the bottom left of the print dialog menu that reads Save As Adobe PDF and is supposed to do exactly what i am trying to get it to do...print to a pdf file from adobe reader.
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/509/cpsid_50981.html
once i updated to acrobat 9.2 (as the link above suggests 9.1), however, the Save As Adobe PDF does appear in the print dialog menu, but it still gives me the same error that acrobat 8 - 9 gave me while using Snow Leopard — Saving a PDF file when printing is not supported. Instead, choose File > Save — and as i've already explained, you can't save an edited pdf form in reader (as i am the only one in the office with acrobat) and still keep the fields as you've entered them in. the only work around is to print to a pdf but is apparently having some recent problems.
using acrobat, however, i know that i can save the editable pdf as a new file with the fields customized as i have left them, but it still saves it as an editable pdf and the print to a pdf option still remains the best option...that way we have digital copies internally that are uneditable that can be printed at any time or emailed to the client.
how can i do print to a pdf, based on what i've written above, using snow leopard and acrobat and reader?

A simple way is to flatten the form fields, which converts the field appearances to regular page contents. You can do this with JavaScript or PDF Optimizer (Advanced > PDF Optimizer > Discard Objects > Flatten form fields). A very nice script that adds a custom menu item can be found here: http://www.uvsar.com/projects/acrobat/flattener/

I saved a word file onto my imac. when i go to open file in documents with pages the file is grey and unable to open. the workable files are highlighted in bold. is there a way to open this file????

i saved a word file onto my imac. when i go to open file in documents with pages the file is grey and unable to open. the workable files are highlighted in bold. is there a way to open this file????

THis is safe for Mac's? Sorry, I have just never heard of this site before.
And there are literally tens of thousands of sites of which I've not heard, too. Not this one.
It's legit. There are lots of links in Apple Support Communities to the LibreOffice web site, as well as others that are legitimate open-source developers of options to buying MS Office, such as NeoOffice and OpenOffice. I have Open Office installed on one of my older Macs that can't run Office 2011 and it is rock-solid.
I've been here too long to start posting bogus urls now.

Speed up saving of layered files?

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