Newbie question re: slowness and image size

[Jinbrown]

Hi,

That's a very large image, 4800 x 6000 pixels at 300 ppi.

25 is not a large brush size under normal circumstances.

The simplest answer is to work at a size that allows you to use brush sizes you want and doesn't cause Painter to slow down. Of course, you're asking what that size might be.

The real answer to your question depends on a few things, some of which are listed below and others reading this thread may offer other scenarios to think about.

How the image will be displayed:

For instance, if the image will be displayed at a distance, you might get away with working smaller and with a lower Resolution (fewer pixels per inch), then printing larger (less color information when the image is enlarged beyond 100% of the original working dimensions).

What kind of image it is:

If it's a painting with fine detail or an image that contains text with needed sharp edges, you'll be less likely to get a good result working smaller and/or at a lower Resolution (fewer pixels per inch), and/or enlarging the print beyond 100% of the original working dimensions.

If it's a watercolor painting which would be typically softer, you might be able to work smaller and/or at a lower Resolution (fewer pixels per inch/less color information), and/or enlarge the image for printing beyond 100% of the original working dimensions.

What brush variants you're using - Some brush variants are more demanding of system resources than others:

Simpler brush variants will probably work faster and at larger sizes without causing slowdown, especially if the image dimensions are not overly large and the Resolution (number of pixels per inch) is not overly high.

More complex brush variants will work slower if the image dimensions are large and the Resolution (number of pixels per inch) is high and, as you've already noticed, you'll have trouble with larger brush sizes.

How many Layers and what's on the Layers:

Each Layer adds to the file size and depending on what's on the Layer, may use more memory to open the image in Painter. If you have a lot of Layers, especially if they're full of color, the image dimensions are large, and Resolution high, that's going to demand more of your system resources and tend to slow things down.

Other things to consider are:

Closing down all other programs while working in Painter.

Keeping your brush library in it's original state (not larger due to a lot of custom brush variants being added).

Keeping your art materials libraries in their original state (not larger do to a lot of custom art materials being added).

It might be good to read the Sticky thread at the top of this forum named Keeping Painter 6, Painter 7, and Painter 8 Running Smoothly then apply the appropriate suggestions for your Painter version. If you have Painter IX, you may not need to delete the Pre-built Brush File as it now has a maximum file size limit of 200 MB.

How about telling us which Painter version you're using, including the patch/update number if one is installed, and describing the image considering the info above along with anything else you think might help, so maybe someone can offer suggestions?

[evophoto]

My apoligies, I should have mentioned that I was using version IX. I am using mostly the wet oil cloner on the projects I am working on. I have started working at 11x13.75 at 180 dpi and uprezing when I am done. This gives me fairly good brush control at size 16 with the wet oil cloner. If I get much larger it slows quite a bit. But, I am coping and I hope to upgrade to a G5 2 ghz iMac with 2 gigs of ram before long.

But, if anyone has ideas in the mean time...

I have looked at the sticky... no difference there. BTW Painter tends to behave the same even on a 1.8 ghz p3 PC with 512 megs ram...

Thanks again!

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