How to reduce PSD file size

[UPSGuy]

June 13th, 2009, 7:30 am

Interesting tip - place a white layer over the top of your PSD. The resulting smaller sizes after saving, especially when followed by zipping, are impressive - sometimes showing an 85% reduction. If browsers begin supporting a way to archive images and pull them at once, this could be an interesting way to increase speed and maximize your hosting space!

http://idletogether.com/how-to-reduce-your-psd-files-size-using-photoshop/

[ATNO/TW]

June 13th, 2009, 7:47 am

This obviously assumes the person you might email it to has photoshop to hide the white layer.

An alternative is to delete all unused layer and merge the remaining ones. Of course that won't be very editable by the receiving party. I suppose that depends on the purpose.

You can also compress the file size a bit further by saving it as a photoshop pdf (merged layers of course)

[joebert]

June 13th, 2009, 8:14 am

Definitely a cool trick if you happen to be in a pinch where you need to shave some bytes, I wouldn't start doing this to all of my PSD files to save space though.

It's kinda like cutting the bathroom and laundry room off your house to save on the water bill.

[graphixboy]

June 13th, 2009, 11:40 am

Interestingly enough that seems to have zero effect on CS4 files.

I think an easier solution would be to simply disable the preview data. File -> Preferences -> File Handling -> change "always save" to "never save". Also change "Maximize PSD and PSB compatibility" to never or ask.

Those two steps will do pretty much everything that a white layer would accomplish, especially since the white layer trick would probably make a big difference in a small PSD's (< 5mb) but likely doesn't do much in a ~250mb file with lots of layer styles, pixel data, etc.

And honestly I can't think of the last time I had to send a PSD to someone else where size was really an issue. If the issue is local storage space you can always get an 500GB external USB HD from around $60...

June 16th, 2009, 11:37 am

Keep you psd file streamlined by eliminating unnecessary layers - or combining layers in which elements are still easily editable.

June 17th, 2009, 4:29 am

Thanks for advice graphixboy, because I already though that white layer was my solution

[graphixboy]

June 17th, 2009, 8:26 am

extomas wrote:

Thanks for advice graphixboy, because I already though that white layer was my solution

Your welcome.

June 20th, 2009, 11:21 pm

Even better: ZIP the PSD. Unsurprisingly, compression, um, compresses. In the case of PSD files that aren't merely layers of bitmap data (IE you're intelligent enough to use adjustment layers and maybe even the pen tool), I've seen roughly 80% trimmed via simple zipping.

[ATNO/TW]

June 21st, 2009, 10:17 am

Well hello Truce. Where ya been?