Topic: How to handle Large Files - LR & PS (Read 11859 times)

ThirstyDursty · « **on:** July 14, 2015, 04:02:34 am »

I was wondering how people manage large files created by PS in a Lightroom start finish workflow.

I'm finding that a few of my larger image files (stitches and/lots of layers)...end up being >2gb and then I get an error message when saving.

At this point, I've just been flattening the image and saving....but then it is a destructive edit and I can't go back a tweak later.

I was wondering how others managed this issue.

My current workflow is to import to Lightroom.
Develop raw in Lightroom and get as much work done as possible in the develop module
Open file in Photoshop and do anything I need (been learning creative sharpening techniques and using luminosity masks for various purposes...plus I find the content aware tools are better for removing eyesores).
Then save back to Lightroom and keyword and publish/print and archive.

As I only have a 16mp Olympus...I can only imagine people with more MP run into this issue even faster.

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Jimbo57 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2015, 05:54:47 am »

I use a Nikon D810 which averages about 45Mb for the Raw files and I use a workflow very similar to your own, i.e. I use Lightroom (5.7) as the hub of all my photo-processing, employing Photoshop (CS6) and the suites of Nik and Topaz plug-ins from within Lightroom as required. I always bring back the processed files into LR for finishing, exporting or printing as appropriate.

I have never encountered the problem you identify. Might it perhaps be a result of hardware limitations? I use a 4-year old PC with i7 processor, 16Gb of Ram and the onboard graphics of the motherboard and have neither speed nor file size problems.

Mark D Segal · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2015, 08:44:21 am »

Try saving to PSB format if you are not doing that yet.

ThirstyDursty · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2015, 09:37:18 am »

Is there any downside to PSB? Other then I'd have to import and stack photo manually...but maybe that is the price of awesomeness!

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Mark D Segal · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2015, 09:53:10 am »

I haven't experienced any downside of PSB apart from what you mention. But try a file or two and verify whether this solves your problem.

kirkt · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2015, 09:57:06 am »

Also, consider this adobe plug-in that permits you to turn off the compression used in the PSB file format by default. It may decrease the load and save time, at the expense of larger physical file size on your drive.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/save-psd-psb-images-compression.html

kirk

Schewe · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2015, 03:53:49 pm »

Quote from: ThirstyDursty on July 14, 2015, 09:37:18 am

Is there any downside to PSB?

No downside other than Lightroom can't import/use a .psb file.

ThirstyDursty · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2015, 06:00:38 pm »

Thanks Jeff...just as I started to use Lightroom (was using Aperture till recently)...it looks to become irrelevant for me

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john beardsworth · « **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2015, 06:07:18 pm »

What was the exact error message? And what file format did you use? I thought you could save TIFs larger than 2Gb (4Gb), and these would be read by Lightroom.

Schewe · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2015, 12:52:38 am »

Quote from: john beardsworth on July 14, 2015, 06:07:18 pm

What was the exact error message? And what file format did you use? I thought you could save TIFs larger than 2Gb (4Gb), and these would be read by Lightroom.

You can save over 2GB, exactly how much over 2BG is somewhat unclear (I used to think the limit was 4 GB but I've seen warning in PS with less)...and you won't know until to get to the end of the save process. Personally, I work with layers for as long as I can, save the .psb then flatten and save as tiff to import into LR.

ThirstyDursty · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2015, 02:17:54 am »

Think this is exactly what I'll end up doing.

I wonder what the future will hold for these programs an file formats.

Seems to me that a 50mp images will blow through this quickly with reasonable few layers. More and more cameras have higher mp counts now.

Although, not that many people do too much in PS.

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john beardsworth · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2015, 02:43:10 am »

What was the file format and what was the exact warning message?

I don't do many PSBs but I manage them in Lr by using a little trick. After saving the PSB in Photoshop, I'll save it as a TIF and import that file into Lr. I then delete that TIF in Explorer/Finder, which makes Lr think it's missing - so I fix it by pointing Lr at the PSB. It's not ideal, and I have always advocated Lr cataloguing all file types, but I prefer to trade off a little hassle for the benefit of recording the layered file in Lr.

John

ThirstyDursty · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2015, 07:06:23 am »

It said "could not save document xxx as document is over 2gb...see help about saving documents"

Do tiffs have any advantage over PSD?

Anyways...it is only pano stitches at this point that send me over.

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john beardsworth · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2015, 09:05:45 am »

Quote from: ThirstyDursty on July 16, 2015, 07:06:23 am

Do tiffs have any advantage over PSD?

I think they'll let you go over 2Gb. And in the long run, TIFs are always more likely to be readable in other applications than proprietary format PSDs.

PSD doesn't have any significant advantages over TIF - just obscure stuff like Displacement maps, saving Duotone mode images, and preserving transparency in InDesign.

John

BradSmith · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2015, 05:25:43 pm »

Friendly reminder.......It is really helpful to define somewhat uncommon acronyms for those of us that may not know what you know. What the heck is PSB format?? I've never heard of it. I've never seen it. I had to go look it up. In CS 5, there is no Save As "PSB". It turns out if you save as Large Document Format, it turns out to be the .psb format.

Brad, (who now knows how to save as .psb)

Wayne Fox · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2015, 01:41:36 pm »

If the 4GB tiff limit gets in the way, I made a video on how I manage .psb files in a LR->PS->LR workflow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdzSqIA07k

jjj · « **Reply #16 on:** July 21, 2015, 05:57:26 pm »

Quote from: john beardsworth on July 15, 2015, 02:43:10 am

I don't do many PSBs but I manage them in Lr by using a little trick. After saving the PSB in Photoshop, I'll save it as a TIF and import that file into Lr. I then delete that TIF in Explorer/Finder, which makes Lr think it's missing - so I fix it by pointing Lr at the PSB. It's not ideal, and I have always advocated Lr cataloguing all file types, but I prefer to trade off a little hassle for the benefit of recording the layered file in Lr.

Neat trick John.
I've also long asked for LR to catalogue all image files. Not being able to edit them is is not important as you can always open in PS.

Schewe · « **Reply #17 on:** July 21, 2015, 11:39:01 pm »

Wayne,

Really nice tip which I understand completely but didn't think it through. Too late for The Digital Negative R2 but mind if I post a link on the book's website?

john beardsworth · « **Reply #18 on:** July 22, 2015, 03:02:08 am »

Quote from: Wayne Fox on July 21, 2015, 01:41:36 pm

If the 4GB tiff limit gets in the way, I made a video on how I manage .psb files in a LR->PS->LR workflow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTdzSqIA07k

Yes, I think that's preferable to the way I described. Good idea.

ThirstyDursty · « **Reply #19 on:** July 22, 2015, 07:05:09 am »

That is great! Thank you!

Today I round tripped an image by using a variation of this technique.
-LR "edit in PS CC"
-edit in Photoshop to get it perfect
-in edit menu... duplicate and save as PSB
-return to original in PS delete content and insert the smart object of PSB
-hit save button (which auto imports and stacks in LR)

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Author Topic: How to handle Large Files - LR &amp; PS (Read 11859 times)

Author Topic: How to handle Large Files - LR & PS (Read 11859 times)