photodoc16

Hogs,
I am tying to reduce a file's size for email that has to be under 25MB. I work in PS 2021. Is there a major difference in file sizes among the options of hiding a layer, masking out a layer and deleting a layer? I have a requirement of 2000 px on the widest side and 72 ppi. The size looks good at about 1800 px but I want to do it at the 2000 px size. There are 5 images in layers that are not crucial to the photo which I can delete but if that doesn't do it then where do I go?
Thanks,
Photodoc16

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Export it as a jpg file then resize it

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

In PS, use Save for Web, set your long-side pixel size, click apply, save as JPEG is sRGB colorspace. There's a screen capture in this post:

Recommended resizing parameters for digital images

File / Save As does the same, and includes the EXIF data, if relevant, in the JPEG.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

You can flatten the layers, and keep the effects of them rather than delete them.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

For most uses, you would normally flatten a file to eliminate all layers, before saving it. Each layer can be the same size as the original... so five layers (if that's what you've got) would theoretically make the file size 5X larger! Once flattened it may be 1/5 the size it is now.

Is there some reason you need to keep separate layers? Most uses of images need them fully "flattened". If need be, you can save one copy with layers kept separate for yourself, just in case... Then flatten and save another copy for the purpose intended. If the use requires 72ppi and you're limited to no more than 2000 pixels on the long side, the image is going to come out to whatever total size it comes out. An 8 bit sRGB JPEG will be smaller than 25MB, sized that way. A 16 bit TIFF would be larger, but still might be within that 25MB limit... Larger color spaces (Adobe RGB, etc.) also would increase image size, but aren't needed for most purposes.

I do not recommend "Save for the web" because that reduces file size by lowering the image quality and by stripping of the EXIF data. If you have copyright ownership info in the EXIF, you don't want it removed. Instead just "save as" and set the image quality fairly high. If the image will be displayed online you definitely want to flatten all layers, save as an 8 bit JPEG with sRGB color space. These are usually the correct settings for printing, too. Might be right for other things, too... check with whoever you're sending the image to.

photodoc16

Hi Paul,
Thanks, I was hoping you would answer. What I forgot to say was that the file should be a .PSD format so that my work can be seen at the other end. I will try the web option in PS. However, because I cannot email from PS and this was not a LR file, I am forced to open up the PS file in Elements and send the email from there. To top it all off, the image sizes indicated by PS and Elements can be different. Would grouping the layers reduce the file size appreciably?
The other frustration is that the drop down menu for file sizing in Elements lists files as, say, 7M and not Megapixels which I am certain is what M means. I have read that there are about 3MB for each MP so I will estimate file size and when it seems to be under 25MB (limit for Gmail) it can still get rejected. WeTransfer might be the answer but some folks cannot handle the download.
I will try your suggestion and f/u shortly.
Thanks again,
Richard

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

As mentioned by others, look at your layers and flatten / merge some of them. See what that does to the PSD on disk.

What is it that you want to transfer, all the edit data from all the layers? Or something else? Rather than email, should you be using free to 2GB dropbox?

photodoc16

AMfoto1,
Thanks. I keep the layers and use .PSD files so that additional edits will be possible. You lose that ability with flattening. However, saving the layers file and then grouping instead of flattening might be an option. In this case the 'other end' wants to be able to make edits also.
Photodoc16

photodoc16

Paul,
I use WeTransfer because I am more familiar with it than DropBox. I should educate myself on the latter.
Richard

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Isn't wetranfer the same thing, as in send up to 2GB? If no, then dropbox may need to be considered.

photodoc16

I think that the maximum might be 2 GB in WeTransfer. It is very helpful but it requires a download which some
folks don't like to do.
Richard
I tried using 'export to web' and entered the 2000 px size but it did not make a difference. I ended up sending the image at 1700 px. How much of a difference could that make if the images are just going to be shown to a group on Zoom and some additional editing will be done to educate the group watching?
Richard

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The save for web is intended to 'flatten' the image and create a much smaller JPEG, including resizing the pixel resolution. Keeping it as an PSD likely won't accomplish much, as you've noted.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

When using "save as" you can easily reduce the size of your image.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I rarely see a .psd file that is below 25MBytes. If you flatten it you might be able to get it down but then you can't see your work. I think your only option is to place the file in Dropbox or some other file sharing app or email it by one of the big file email apps.

There is no real reason you HAVE to email it out of PS or PSD. Mail the link through your regular email program.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

This is what I do. The keyboard shortcut is Shift/Ctrl/Alt - S

The file should easily be less than 10MB after this....