Awsomesauce Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Hello Brian and all - Ive had an issue for some while and have done all kinds of research but not found a solution and not being technically minded am not sure what to look at next. Basically, working in 16 bit with lots of layers slows Photoshop CC considerably and eventually crashes it. Im looking for a solution..... I'll attach some system info. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Hi @Awsomesauce, what size hard drive do you have, and how much of its space is used? Also, how regularly do you restart your computer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 HI Damien - thank you. I have two external drives for my photo work and my internal hard drive . I restart every day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 You don't work off the externals, though, I trust? The photos that you're actually editing are on the internal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 no they are not - I edit them from an external and save them there....I thought that a better route? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 No, it's really not. Externals are for archiving and backup, not for working files. For what reason are you working in 16-bit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 I was asked to for a project I was working on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Did they say why, though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 No - I didnt ask I just couldn't figure out why working in 16 bit caused me slowing and crash issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Well, because 16-bit files are HUGE, of course. What kind of project is it, exactly? There are very few types of work where 16-bit is genuinely necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 I know and I usually work in 8 bit . It was a photo compositing project and I managed to get it done but Im wanting to to figure out the issue so if it comes up again I can solve it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Brian will have some insight when he comes along, of course, but I truly don't think there's any mystery about this. 16-bit files are enormous, even ones with only one layer ... and I bet yours had a heck of a lot more than one layer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 oh yes ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 It sounds like you're the victim of what is technically known as "a wanker". Wankers think they know stuff about imaging, but actually they know stuff-all. Among the nonsense that wankers demand is "The file must be Adobe RGB", or even "The file must be ProPhoto RGB"; "The file must be saved as a TIFF", and in your case "The file must be 16-bit". Needless to say, wankers are a pain in the ass. If this wanker engages you for another one of these jobs in the future, just work in 8-bit as normal, then convert it to 16-bit at the end. The wanker will never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 ??? - sounds like a plan - can a PSD be converted into 16 bit? All the layers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Yes. Something else occurs to me. Please make sure you never copy-then-paste photos into your composite file. Only File>Place, or drag and drop from Bridge. Which method did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 Yes I am guilty of cutting out in ps and then dragging and dropping from one file to another in ps - always forget the file place bit. Or I open the file in PS and then drag n drop it. How does that not help here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Because it means you have EVEN MORE 16-bit files open in Photoshop, of course! Putting even more burden on it. Only have your main file open. Never copy/paste or drag/drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 Not trying to be difficult here trying to understand - if I open something, drag it and drop it and close it? It seems to be the main file size I think that causes me problems. For example if I have lots of layers and then I want to move something - move a layer or transform it for example - it either doesn't move for a very long time (so I can't control it) or it moves very very very slowly........or the whole thing locks up........or PS crashes - those were the kinds of things I was experiencing.........With just the huge 16 bit many layers file open - nothing else at the same time. And yes I must remember to file place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 The other reason File>Place is important is that it automatically makes the layer a Smart Object. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 I’m thinking your problem is one of two things: 1. MacOS Mojave. That OS seems to have a lot of quirks when it comes to PS. There isn’t any fixes that I’m aware of but Adobe has released a few updates 2. The Wanker that Damien mentioned. I’m thinking your techniques of creating your files is causing issues. Especially if your images come from a camera that has a 24MP camera (or more.) Your Files might already be huge and then you are working in 16 bit. ————— For your EHDs...I’m not liking how both of the externals are setup to be used with Time Machine. You don’t want to backup an external to another external while backing up your main drive. Pick a single External HD to be used for Time Machine and ONLY use that EHD for Time Machine Backups. Never-ever store regular data files on your Time Machine Drive. Life is too complicated as it is to have potential data corruption on a TM drive. Since you are working in 16-bit, we also might have to replace your two 4GB stick and install 8GB sticks to get you to 32GB. Run a scan from Crucial.com or find the box / receipt for the 16GB upgrade. RAM works the best if it’s all the same speed and type. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 19, 2019 Author Share Posted January 19, 2019 all good info thanks so much I only updated to Mojave recently and did have the 16 bit challenge before that.... so Im not sure its that. I think because I was compositing with many many many layers and trying to do it all in 16 bit that was the issue. Just the huge size of every little bit. I guess I was trying to understand what I would need to change out in my mac to be able to do that if I ever needed to again....? I can also change my process - flattening along the way but that is not the way I like to work. I like Damiens idea of just turning it to 16 bit before delivery. Its likely it won't come up often though thank goodness. I really appreciate the backup comments - I had no clue what I was doing and was aiming for 2 backups of everythying.....somewhere! I just signed up for an online backup service too so now I could definitely set up one of them - the ex drives - (the smaller one?) as a backup and keep my other one for my files. Is there a way of sorting out what is on one drive (files wise not backup wise) and getting it copied over to the other drive without doing it manually pls? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 19, 2019 Author Share Posted January 19, 2019 Oh and the RAM too - I changed it out and misordered and ended up with 24 not 32. but hopefully its OK for now. I didnt know its better for it all to be the same speed and type. I'll make a note so much to know and learn! Again thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 You ordered the correct kit. The problem is the existing RAM in your computer. In order to get 32GB (or more if you have a 2017 iMac) you need two 16GB kits. So just buy the same exact part number and remove the existing RAM (the 4GB Sticks) and you will have a quantity of four, 8GB sticks for a total of 32GB of RAM. Most people will work fine with 16GB or 24GB but for those working on large files, like 16-bit images, editing video, or those people that have three browsers open with 50 running tabs each will benefit from 32GB RAM. So just find your receipt from your Crucial Order and purchase the same part number. It usually starts with "CT" or something along those lines along with a 8 or so digit code. If you want to keep file sizes manageable, don't flatten during editing. Honestly, Damien has been doing this a long time and I'd follow his directions, 16-bit before delivery. Editing in 16 Bit has it's place, but not for the normal 99% of editing. It's used when we need to work with more data / stuff in the image file to fix specific problems, like banding among other things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awsomesauce Posted January 21, 2019 Author Share Posted January 21, 2019 got it thank you to you both for all the great input Much appreciated 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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