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Great tips to optimize Photoshop performance

Adobe Photoshop can be a big resource pumper and if you dont have a super computer, you might notice some system errors and problems running Adobe Photoshop.

Now I got tired of all these issues with Adobe Photoshop, so I thought, why not try to find out how to solve it without buying a new super computer with 4 gb ram etc.

Do not launch Photoshop as the first application

I am not sure if this is true, but I think I read it somewhere, that if you open up Photoshop as the first application then Photoshop will have used up a lot of resources at first. Yes I know sound really wired but I think it works for me.

Photoshop scratch disk

This is some virtual space photoshop uses on your hard disk, it will be used as extra memory.
It is recommended not to use your main hard disk or a removable disk as the scratch disk.

To set the scratch disk:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance.
2. Select the Active? box for each hard disk you want to contain a scratch disk.
   
3. Click OK.

Photoshop cache levels

With cache levels Photoshop makes quick low resolution images to quickly update the image while you work. The higher you set the cache levels the faster Photoshop will perform.

To adjust the Cache Levels setting:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance.
2. Enter a value from 1 to 8 in the Cache Levels text box.
3. Restart Photoshop

Allow Photoshop to use more RAM

Remember this can get quite messy if you do not have a lot of free memory, but if you do, then set up Photoshop to use more of it, this will increase Photoshop performance a lot.

To increase the percentage of memory used by Photoshop:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance.
2. In the Memory Usage section, increase the Let Photoshop Use amount, and click OK.
   

Do not make 32 bit images if its not necessary

In many cases its not necessary to make 32 bit images, 16 bits will work quite fine and Photoshop will perform much faster.

Less history states.

As you might know Adobe Photoshop has a great feature, which lets you watch history and jump some steps back in time, as standard, Photoshop has this setting set to 20 steps back memory, you can set this lower, this will also make Photoshop perform faster.

To set Photoshop history state:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance.
2. In the history states, set the amount, and click OK.

Regular use of disk defragmentation.

This is not only a Photoshop tip, it is always a good idea to defrag your hard disk, even though I forget to do this quite often. (I think I only run a defragmentation once every 6 month) maybe I will do one tonight.

Ending comments

Even though Adobe Photoshop CS3 does do better and I see a lot of optimized issues worked out in this new version so the last tip must be, upgrade to CS3 if you can afford it :-)