layered PSD larger than TIFF

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Posted By
Andrea_Denotti
Sep 10, 2006
Views
275
Replies
7
Status
Closed
Hallo,

I’ve noticed that the same file with multiple layers will save as a 547MB file if saved as a PSD and as a 446MB file if saved as a Tiff.

That’s 100MB difference!
Is there extra information that is being lost by saving in TIFF?

Why is the PDS larger and is it then wiser to save layered files in PDS format?

Thanks

Andrea
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large layer tiff

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RK
Rob_Keijzer
Sep 10, 2006
Andrea,

Are you perhaps saving as compressed TIFF?

Rob
C
chrisjbirchall
Sep 10, 2006
If you have "maximize compatibility" checked for PSDs in Preferences (recommended) a composite is also saved with the file.

Personally, I save out as TIFF for the very reason they can be opened by almost anyone else using most applications.

And as a bonus you get thumbnails in Windows Explorer!
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Andrea_Denotti
Sep 10, 2006
Rob,
In the above case I did not use any TIFF compression.

Chris,
that does explain the increase in file size. I had read somewhere that a flattened file is included when saving, for compatibility with some other applications and some older versions of Photoshop.
I tried saving the PSD without "maximize compatibility, and the file size dropped to 282 MB!! that’s a huge difference.
So, in short these are the differences when saving layered files:

PSD
maximize compatibility YES:
547 MB

PSD
maximize compatibility NO:
282 MB

TIFF:
446 MB

TIFF with LZW compression:

So in the end the smaller file size for a layerd file -without compression- is obtained by saving in the PDS format without the maximize compatibility option.

Cheers!

Andrea

cheers

Andrea
JS
John_Slate
Sep 10, 2006
I believe a layered tiff also includes a composite, but there is no option to NOT save the composite.
H
Ho
Sep 10, 2006
I tried saving the PSD without "maximize compatibility, and the file size dropped to 282 MB!! that’s a huge difference.

Yup. I know a lot of folks who save for max comp., but it offers me no discernible advantage and I can’t see wasting HD sectors on useless data. My software is bloated enough. Why bloat the files too?
Y
YrbkMgr
Sep 11, 2006
From the help file:

If file size is an issue or if you’re opening your files only in Photoshop, turning off Maximize PSD File Compatibility reduces the file sizes significantly. In the Maximize PSD File Compatibility menu, choose either Ask to be asked whether to maximize compatibility when you save or Never to save your document without maximizing compatibility.
If you edit or save an image using an earlier version of Photoshop, unsupported features are discarded.
C
chrisjbirchall
Sep 11, 2006
Another consideration is that having Maximize Compatibility ON will allow Bridge to build its previews and thumbnails faster.

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