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Save time when saving large Photoshop files Apps
Here's a very simple tip than can save a huge amount of time. If you put a lot of work into a Photoshop file, like lots of edits and masks and layers and special effects, you're going to want to save often. Problem is, the more layers you accumulate, the bigger the file, the less you want to be interrupted to save the file. And the bigger the image to begin with, the bigger the problem. So here's a way to save a big chunk of time while saving (the bigger the file, the more time you'll save).

When Photoshop saves a file, it creates a preview of the flattened image, plus an icon for the desktop. You'll see the progress bar crawl across the screen while it does so. Sometimes this part of the save process takes longer than the actual "saving." So for interim saves while you work, just turn off the visibility of all your layers before you save. Photoshop will virtually skip the preview building process (as all it has to do is create a blank preview), and jump right to the file writing process. Tah dah! That's it.

Lots of layers and layer groups? No problem, create one master group that contains all the other layers and groups. Then it's just one click on the master group's visibility icon to hide all the layers. When you're done working, just leave the layers visible for the last save, so Photoshop can generate the previews.

There are Photoshop preferences that control the preview builiding process as well, which you might prefer. However, saving the final version of a file without a preview is a bad habit, as the preview is used by a slew of programs, including the Finder, and comes in very handy. If you're working on a very large file, this can save you as much as a half hour a day, or more.
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Save time when saving large Photoshop files | 9 comments | Create New Account
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Save time when saving large Photoshop files
Authored by: Pedro Estarque on Dec 21, '06 08:53:40AM

Great hint !!! Thanks a lot.

How didn't I ever think about that after all those years of waiting for Photoshop to create a "full composite" or whatever.



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Save time when saving large Photoshop files
Authored by: pub3abn on Dec 21, '06 09:02:09AM

Cool hint. I once had a 7+ GB Photoshop document, that literally took between 30 minutes and one hour to save, each time (really pulls down your productivity when each save uses about 1/10th of your work day). I'm sure this hint would have helped a lot....



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Save time when saving large Photoshop files
Authored by: richspees on Dec 21, '06 09:22:59AM

Now if someone could figure out how to get PS, CS2 to launch faster, everything would be right with the world.



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Save time when saving large Photoshop files
Authored by: DavidRavenMoon on Dec 21, '06 01:29:09PM

Photoshop is what all other slow launching apps are compared to! We can't go changing the order of power!

But, boy, it sure does take a while... even on this dual 2.7 G5. :-\

---
G4/Digital Audio/1GHz, 1 GB, Mac OS X 10.4.8 • www.david-schwab.com • www.myspace/davidschwab • www.imanicoppola.net



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Save time when saving large Photoshop files
Authored by: spclark on Dec 21, '06 01:51:09PM

You install the CS3 beta yet?

Vast improvement, at least on my 3Gb Mac Pro.



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Save time when saving large Photoshop files
Authored by: Kimhill on Dec 21, '06 09:31:09AM
"Lots of layers and layer groups? No problem, create one master group that contains all the other layers and groups. Then it's just one click on the master group's visibility icon to hide all the layers."

You can also option-click on one layer's visibility icon -- this hides all but that one layer. Then release the option key and click once more. All are hidden.

To view all again, the easiest way is control-click any visibility icon and use the contextual menu.

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Save time when saving large Photoshop files
Authored by: Cartoonasaurus on Dec 21, '06 09:45:24PM

GREAT hint - my gosh, that'll save a ton of time at parties where I'm entertaining!



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Save time when saving large Photoshop files
Authored by: berada on Jan 01, '07 01:20:42AM

Umm, how does this differ from de-activating saving Image Previews and Thumbnails in the Preferences dialog: /File Handling/File Saving Options/"? .... This is what I've been doing for ages ....



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Save time when saving large Photoshop files
Authored by: smash1gordon on Jan 02, '07 10:13:45AM

When working on huge files, create a new file (any size, tho smaller is better - 50px x 50px will work) and drag just your recently changed layers (linked and preferably in a layer set) onto the new file. Drag from the image with the move tool, not from the layers palette. You won't see all of your imagery, but it's there. Then just save this "temp" file as a .psd or .psb. Saves a lot of time.



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