a great tip

[Benny Pedersen]

Open PSE5, Ctrl+K > Ctrl+2 > Maximize PSD File Compatiblity: Never

What PSE does is that it create an extra layer for compatiblity with older software, (e.g. PaintShop or very old Photoshops), but your files become mega filesize.

I had a PSD file that was about 353 MB, but after I did the Ctrl+K+2 thing, opened the file, and saved
it became only 190 MB... :eek:

Benny,
PS: in version CS2: Maximize PSD and PSB File Compatiblity: Never

[TonyW]

Benny: That's the way I have mine set but one catch to remember is that if you ever want to use a psd image as a displacement map you have to turn compatibility back on as you need the composite image and with compatability off it doesn't save one. Something the books and the help file don't tell you :)

Tony

[troush]

Also, if you don't use the Organizer, you need the Maximize Compatibility for other programs to be able to generate thumbnails to view...

Eh.. Disk space is cheap!

-Trish

[Benny Pedersen]

Benny: That's the way I have mine set but one catch to remember is that if you ever want to use a psd image as a displacement map you have to turn compatibility back on as you need the composite image and with compatability off it doesn't save one. Something the books and the help file don't tell you :)

Tony

For the displacement thing, I think flatten the image would do it. But I havn't tried :p

Troush: Other programs shouldn't generate thumbnails because each psd file already have a thumbnail. :D
A cheap disk could also be filled up. The reason for turn off the maximize thing is also that smaller files would load faster, and copy or burn it would also be faster. Besides that + more space, it's also less probably having bad files in a recover case... ;)
Eh, in other words, Maximize Compatibility would be stupid for those who only use picture software that are able to handle the PSD layers :-)

Benny
Btw. I don't use organizer...

[Wendy]

Hi Benny ...

Flatten does indeed work for displacement maps :)

I made sure that maximise compatability was switched off when I first installed the software, a lot of my files are over 400MB with it switched off so I dread to think what they would be like with it on :)

Wendy

[troush]

Benny,

Adobe no longer publishes the specification for the PSD files - they stopped doing it at PS 7 I think. So, if I want my image viewer to be able to generate thumbnails (and I do), I have to maximize compatibility, or it won't. I know they put a thumbnail in the PSD files, but they don't tell *where* or *how* to get at it any more...

-Trish

[Benny Pedersen]

Benny,

Adobe no longer publishes the specification for the PSD files - they stopped doing it at PS 7 I think. So, if I want my image viewer to be able to generate thumbnails (and I do), I have to maximize compatibility, or it won't. I know they put a thumbnail in the PSD files, but they don't tell *where* or *how* to get at it any more...

-Trish

Hi Trish

I constructed a CMD file for download. After executing, I got thumbs back on all my PSD files. Two other things are required:
Explorer settings should be "Show big icons" and the checkbox in PSE (when saving files) menu should be checked for "include an icon".
The CMD file that bring back thumbnails/icons for PSD files in WinXP, is here:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?p=96223#post96223

Wendy: For only two PSD files that I re-save, I got 324 MB more free space. Each of those two PSD files was less 400 MB :eek:

Benny
PS:
Now running version 5 of Photoshop Elements, so to make sure that everything was still ok, I just downloaded and double clicked my CMD file. Then restarted my computer and saw that I still have icons on my PSD files. Since I have constructed that CMD file me self, I didn't hesitated that double click because I know for sure that my stuff is solidly built each of all 4996 lines...