alan_harper

495 Messages

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10.5K Points

Thu, Aug 11, 2011 7:04 AM

174

Lightroom Classic: Support cataloging PSB files (files larger than 2 GB PSDs and 4 GB TIFFs)

Lightroom should catalog psb files, just as it does psd files. I have many psb files that are not over the 65,000 pixels per side or 512 megapixel limits, but are larger than the 4GB limit on psd files, and it would be nice to see them in Lightroom.

Responses

John_R_Ellis

Champion

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5.9K Messages

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102.3K Points

2 y ago

I've got a large number of photographers and retouchers using my PSB Quick Look plugin who regularly create PSBs with 15 layers or more (the recommended method of doing non-destructive editing with Photoshop). They start with high-resolution images and all those layers cause them to exceed the 2 GB PSD limit and the 4 GB TIFF limit:

50 megapixels * 6 bytes/pixel * 15 layers = 4.5 GB

paul_takeuchi_4304780

22 Messages

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380 Points

2 y ago

I'd still love Adobe to implement this. It is LONG OVERDUE. Any compositing with more than a handful of layers with 30-50MP shots will hit the 2GB limit for PSD very quickly.

alec_dann

17 Messages

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272 Points

2 y ago

It is a shame Adobe won't explain why this problem hasn't addressed.

There is a work-around, however. You can create a linked one-layer Smart Object file, save it as a TIFF and import the TIFF into Lightroom. Sean Bagwell has a good video on it on Youtube: A BETTER Way to Save HUGE Image Files in Lightroom

jonathan_lipkin

6 Messages

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146 Points

2 y ago

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled Please add PSB Large Document Format Support in Lightroom.

Higher resolution cameras are becoming more common. I layer my photographs from medium format cameras, resulting in files 4-17G. Lightroom's lack of support for large document format files means that I have to create complicated workarounds. Adding the ability to catalog the files would make my life much easier.

Thanks!

glenn_davy

94 Messages

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1.7K Points

1 y ago

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled LR Classic Can't Read .psb Files??.

Trying to add my composites and paintings to Lightroom Classic (latest version), but it won't read .psb files. Is this correct? Adobe can't read it's own files still, or am I missing something here (wouldn't be the first time)?

jonathan_lipkin

6 Messages

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146 Points

Correct. LR does not read large document files. It should, though

1 y ago

glenn_davy

94 Messages

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1.7K Points

Couldn’t agree more.

1 y ago

thibaud_rebour

26 Messages

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434 Points

Me to

1 y ago

andrew_rodney

2.2K Messages

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25.5K Points

Yes, it should read PSBs, no question.
Patience grasshopper. ;-)

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management" (pluralsight.com)

1 y ago

jonathan_lipkin

6 Messages

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146 Points

Andrew! you're still around!! I'm glad - I read a lot of your stuff, like, a decade ago

1 y ago

alec_dann

17 Messages

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272 Points

Grasshopper is patient, but would like to hear from Adobe that this feature is on their development team's roadmap.

1 y ago

andrew_rodney

2.2K Messages

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25.5K Points

but would like to hear from Adobe that this feature is on their development team's roadmap.

They are not going to tell you, unless you work for them or test for them. When it's released, you'll know. Until then, be patient.

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management" (pluralsight.com)

1 y ago

rolandrick

57 Messages

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834 Points

For a Radial/Zoom blur filter having realtime preview we are already waiting since 2004...

1 y ago

alec_dann

17 Messages

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272 Points

1 y ago

For those looking for a workaround, Sean Bagshaw has posted an update on his approach using Smart Objects. This version uses a linked smart object -- a more effiicient approach.

Here it is: A BETTER Way to Save HUGE Image Files in Lightroom, by Sean Bagwell

arnold_bartel

217 Messages

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4.8K Points

1 y ago

nice, Adobe finally listened to their Lightroom users:
with today's Lightroom Classic release 9.2 PSB files are supported!
(and it really works (just tried it))

Jerry_Syder

623 Messages

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12.4K Points

Yup, they didn't do too bad after 9 years

Jerry Syder, www.jsyder.co.uk - Insta @takenword

1 y ago

andrew_rodney

2.2K Messages

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25.5K Points

Like all files within Classic, the maximum dimensions are 65,000 pixels on the long edge or 512 megapixels. So it’s a start but it doesn’t fully support PSB.

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management" (pluralsight.com)

1 y ago

davescm

174 Messages

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4.4K Points

1 y ago

Thank you, thank you , thank you ! :-)
Dave

christopher_hauser_7937151

9 Messages

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182 Points

1 y ago

Well the size limit is still there... not usefull for me at all.

addieleman

73 Messages

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1.1K Points

You mean saving it to a PSD file? Yes, that is still limited to 2 GB. If you open a file from Lightroom, make it grow beyond 2 GB and then save it, you get an error message telling you the file is too big.

However, I just tested by opening a raw file from Lightroom. I copied the background into 40 layers or so and then saved it as a PSB file, amounting to 8.92 GB. Lightroom shows that PSB file in the catalog after the "Save As" action, didn't have to do anything like synchronizing the folder. So yeah, for me it works and I'm delighted.

1 y ago

christopher_hauser_7937151

9 Messages

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182 Points

No, I’m talking about psb files larger than 512Mp.....

1 y ago

addieleman

73 Messages

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1.1K Points

Oh OK, I understand.

1 y ago

rolandrick

57 Messages

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834 Points

1 y ago

I would be already happy, it Lightroom Classic did show up PSB files. If you must save a PSD files as PSB file because it's > 2 GB, this will yet never again show up in Lightroom Classic, even not after synchronising folder. And that's kinda ridiculous...

John_R_Ellis

Champion

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5.9K Messages

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102.3K Points

Hmm, I observe different behavior that appears correct:

1. In LR, select a raw and do Edit In Adobe Photoshop.

2. In Photoshop, do File > Save As and select Format: Large Document Format.

3. Observe that the saved .psb appears in the LR catalog stacked with the original raw.

If you're observing something different and undesirable, post in detail the steps you're taking and what's going wrong.

1 y ago

jonathan_lipkin

6 Messages

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146 Points

1 y ago

This is definitely a step in the right direction, but I see some problems. Primarily, files must be saved with "Maximize Compatibility" checked. I guess this creates a layer that LR can read and use as the thumbnail and as something to edit in the Develop module. HOWEVER, this adds quite a bit to the file size. I the case of my 100MP captures, it's 2GB per file. I currently have around 200 psb files. In order to use this feature, I have to add about 400G to my storage capacity. Not a huge amount, but significant. Worse, I have to go back and resave every file with max comp. I'd much prefer if there was a way to read existing files - wihout being able to develop them

John_R_Ellis

Champion

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5.9K Messages

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102.3K Points

"Primarily, files must be saved with "Maximize Compatibility" checked. ... Worse, I have to go back and resave every file with max comp."

Using PSD files in LR has the same drawbacks, unfortunately.

1 y ago

jim_christensen_7819254

14 Messages

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370 Points

1 y ago

Thank you, Adobe! This is THE feature I needed most in LR... the ability to catalog all of my images. I was losing faith, but you came thru. Thanks a million! - Jim

christopher_hauser_7937151

9 Messages

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182 Points

1 y ago

Well, it would be great if I actually COULD catalogue all images, sadly the size restrictions are still there... :(

John_R_Ellis

Champion

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5.9K Messages

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102.3K Points

To clarify for others: LR restricts all images, of any format, to be no larger than 512 megapixels and no larger than 65,000 pixels on a side. The addition of PSBs to LR doesn't relax that restriction, but it does allow files larger than 2 GB (PSD) and 4 GB (TIFF).

1 y ago

robert_somrak

Champion

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1K Messages

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15.8K Points

The size restrictions affect a minuscule percentage of photographs. I suspect most photographers photos will be well under the limits and they will happily welcome the addition even with the restrictions.

1 y ago

andrew_rodney

2.2K Messages

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25.5K Points

What’s is the minuscule percentage and how was that percentage value produced?
It’s odd Adobe can’t fully support their own file format as designed. I’m not going to suspect why that is; I don’t like suspecting.
"I never guess/assume. It is a shocking habit -- destructive to the logical faculty." -Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management" (pluralsight.com)

1 y ago

dmitry_smolyanitsky_8hknwe77dobyz

2 Messages

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72 Points

I hit the limit with the first image I tried. Thanks for the explanation.

1 y ago

steve_glass_7722865

25 Messages

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458 Points

Thank you adobe! This is brilliant. I just tried the update. So MUCH better! Thank you, thank you thank. I'd almost lost the faith . .. .

1 y ago

dominique_provost

26 Messages

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412 Points

1 y ago

This is not enough... try harder Adobe and give us NO restrictions. This is not professional !

Image httpsd2r1vs3d9006apcloudfrontnets3_images1824888RackMultipart20200213-39849-1f8pivy-IMG_6816_inlineJPG1581580481

alex_furer

205 Messages

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3.5K Points

1 y ago

Thank you! Took a while, but hey as we say "Ende Gut alles Gut".

As for the 65'000 pixel limit I think this really only affects a very small hand full of people. This converts to 5.5 meters (18 feet) @300 dpi. Modern fine art printers can upscale images up to 4 times which would convert this to be 22 meters (72 feet). So technically you could work on a 22 x 22 meter image (printed) in Photoshop and Lightroom now. Besides that there's no printer that can print this in one go, that's plenty considering the viewing distance rule onto this print in real world conditions.

Off course there might be people that are, rightfully, exceeding this limitation in their work. But hey, that's why we're all called creatives.

naestyoh

428 Messages

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8K Points

Yeah that viewing distance rule is because of shortcomings in res. My 96” wide prints are at 1200dpi and customers view them at 1-2 feet because they /can/. It’s not upscale - it’s massive telephoto stitches.

1 y ago

robert_somrak

Champion

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1K Messages

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15.8K Points

I am extremely happy they released PSB support with size restrictions now instead of waiting to accommodate the larger sizes. They can take their time to remove the restrictions if they choose but this present feature is useful NOW.

1 y ago

christopher_hauser_7937151

9 Messages

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182 Points

They shouldn’t take their time. The new support is great, but for my work I still can’t use Lightroom to get all my images catalogued. Especially since starting to work with the IQ4150 and GFX100 I easily reach the size limit on nearly all of my panorama work.

1 y ago

alex_furer

205 Messages

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3.5K Points

Yeah, there's always pixel peepers. In life as in photography I always suggest to them to relax and take a step back. I'll do the same here.

Off course I agree that with growing sensors and more and more niche techniques a tool should not limit us. Give Adobe 8 more years and they'll figure it out :)

1 y ago

davescm

174 Messages

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4.4K Points

The viewing distance rule comes from shortcomings in our eyes not our equipment or images. Good eyes can resolve around 60 line pairs per degree. At 12 inches that works out at 572 ppi and at 24 inches 286 ppi. If you have a printer and driver capable of 1200 ppi (not dpi which are the printer dots which make up those pixels) then go for it, but only the very young or the very close are going to see it. :-)

That doesn't mean I don't support those folk who want Lightroom to handle bigger pixel sizes. It would be great if we could catalogue all images.

Dave

1 y ago

naestyoh

428 Messages

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8K Points

Correct, large prints and close viewing under 12”. Printer is a commercial large format HP ink. (Bumblejax for example).

1 y ago

alan_harper

Lightroom Classic: Support cataloging PSB files (files larger than 2 GB PSDs and 4 GB TIFFs)

Responses

John_R_Ellis

paul_takeuchi_4304780

alec_dann

jonathan_lipkin

glenn_davy

jonathan_lipkin

glenn_davy

thibaud_rebour

andrew_rodney

jonathan_lipkin

alec_dann

andrew_rodney

rolandrick

alec_dann

arnold_bartel

Jerry_Syder

andrew_rodney

davescm

christopher_hauser_7937151

addieleman

christopher_hauser_7937151

addieleman

rolandrick

John_R_Ellis

jonathan_lipkin

John_R_Ellis

jim_christensen_7819254

christopher_hauser_7937151

John_R_Ellis

robert_somrak

andrew_rodney

dmitry_smolyanitsky_8hknwe77dobyz

steve_glass_7722865

dominique_provost

alex_furer

naestyoh

robert_somrak

christopher_hauser_7937151

alex_furer

davescm

naestyoh

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