Save space by switching off psd layers
Ivan | Sun, 2009-12-06 01:14
Photoshop files tend to be huge. If you want to save disk space both on your primary HD and your backup disks there is a very simple trick that can reduce files sizes by more than 50%. Before you save just switch off the visibility of all layers. With the layers switched off, Photoshop will not save layer previews resulting in smaller file sizes. At times the saving is as little as 10%, but in other cases it can be up to 90%.
Besides saving disk space you will also save time, because saving and opening smaller files takes less time as well. If you work with large files this can result in serious productivity gains.
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Great tip - my HD is littered with huge PSDs so this will help big time. Thanks!
Or just disable Image Previews altogether (Preferences > File Handling).
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That's cool. :)
Not entirely the same, but I noticed re-saving and overwriting InDesign documents (which have been changed a lot) can also reduce filesizes down (up?) to 50%.
Interesting. Back when computers were dog slow I would work with the photo previews off in Quark. Simple trick that speeds things up immensely.
OMG...i need that so mutch thank's!!!
Thanks! This is really usefull for emailing psd files, or uploading/downloading them. They're always so darn heavy!
i feel dumb, but how do u do this????
thx,
ang
This is gonna be my first tutorial on creativebits. Just follow this step by step tutorial. There might be a steap learning curve but I think you'll figure out in the end. Good luck!
PS: Lens flare only for decorational purpose.
Great job on the tutorial, a couple of questions though, what does '(F7)' mean? Click the eye? Sounds painful... I can click my knuckles? Save file, it's back in my manicure kit, thanks.
Can your next tutorial be on lens flares? because yours is super sweet.
living on dreams and custard creams.
I actually forgot:
4) Happy face
Lens flare tutorial coming up as soon as I have time! It's going to teach you how to make that big ass mother of all lensflares. Lens flares for everybody!
Thanks for the kind explanation ;)
Btw, nobody is born all knowing Adobe CS :)
Hehe, I think she didn't know it was this easy. I assume everybody in here knows how to swich layers on and off =)
yeah noone said just turn off the layer lol - thanks for the tutorial!!!!
actually i just went back and reread it, and clear as day it says to switch off layer visibility - duh, guess i was having a 'stupid' moment
Are you sure it's the absence of previews causing the file shrinkage? It seems like it would be the Photoshop compatibility part of the file (flattened version saved for compatibility with older apps) being made one big swath of color, and very easily compressed to almost nothing. If that's what's causing it, you could just turn off the file compatibility mode in preferences. And then be sad when you run into the app that hates your new slim .PSD files... :)
I think you're right.
nice trick.
having huge PSD's always sucks.
This is no problem if you were smart enough to use Paint'10!
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For me the difference is only 100KB. I switched off the layers and also changed the Image previews to "Never Save". Not too big difference.
Another useful trick (that have something in common with yours, Ivan) is to add Color fill layer on top. That reduces composite image size (inside .psd) to nearly zero.
Although you get a non-informative file icon, uploading huge posters takes less time.