Speed Up Photoshop Performance

Even the most powerful computer can struggle with Photoshop as your projects become more intricate. Instead of investing in costly hardware upgrades, consider optimizing your current setup to enhance performance.

Unmesh Dinda from PiXimperfect offers valuable insights in his video on boosting Photoshop’s efficiency. One key tip is to use the “Purge” function to remove unnecessary data like clipboard content and history states, which can accumulate and slow down the program. By clearing this data, you free up memory and give your computer a much-needed performance boost. This can be particularly useful when you’re in the middle of a project and start experiencing lag.

Another essential tip is to adjust your scratch disk settings. Photoshop uses scratch disks to store temporary files, and if your designated disk is full or slow, it can negatively impact performance. Dinda demonstrates how to manage scratch disk preferences and highlights the benefits of using a solid-state drive (SSD) for faster file access. Switching from a traditional hard drive to an SSD can significantly improve your workflow.

Memory allocation is another critical factor. Photoshop allows you to control how much RAM it uses. Allocating more RAM can speed up the program, but Dinda advises against setting it too high, as this can leave other applications short on memory and slow down your entire system. The video guides you in finding the right balance to optimize Photoshop’s performance while keeping the rest of your system running smoothly.

Managing layers and file size is also covered. For large projects that start to slow down Photoshop, Dinda recommends converting multiple layers into a smart object. This keeps the edits non-destructive and allows Photoshop to process the file as a single layer, improving performance. This technique is ideal for maintaining all your layers without the lag associated with managing them individually.

Lastly, Dinda addresses how excess fonts and brushes can slow down Photoshop. Removing unused assets frees up system resources and helps keep your workspace efficient. His advice is to keep only the fonts and brushes you use regularly, reducing clutter and improving performance. For a comprehensive overview, watch the full video by Dinda.