Post Processing and File size

Quick question, after PPing I sometimes have files that are really big. Is there a way to convert those RAW or PSD files and convert them or make them smaller but still keep the psd file and it's information, meaning not degrading the image so to speak.

BTW, I'm using CS5 and LR3

Thanks
Rick

Since you have that suite of products, I assume you know that you can use e image processor to generate jpg etc, so I think you are asking how to make native PSD files smaller.

If so, then the only way I know of is to flatten the images to eliminate all layers, then save as a new file name.

As for raw files, they are all of the data, so, there is no way to make them smaller.

You're correct. I know I can convert to .jpg and make smaller but I'm trying to avoid that. I guess worst case I can get more HD space but I'm trying to keep everything on my laptop.

Thanks

Ah, I see now. 2TB USB drives are cheap now, so consider one of those.

If you have photos that you know are not portfolio quality, consider keeping only the JPGs of those and discarding the raw files.

Another option for files you are not actively editing is to move them to a service like box.net or rsync.net by copying them up and then deleting the local copies.

Really, the best solution is going to be an external hard drive -- actually, two, one for your long-term library and one as a backup drive.

The only option for a smaller Raw file is to convert CR2s to DNG files. They have a smaller file size but still are Raw files.

A PSD can be in either 16-bit or 8-bits per channel. The 8 bits will give you significantly smaller files, however you want to ensure that you have gotten the most out of your Raw processing before converting to 8 bits. If you do a lot of processing colors and tones in Photoshop, then keeping the files in 16 bits will be valuable.

But those are pretty short-term considerations for active photographers. Built-in hard drives fill up, and that's especially true for laptops. Check out external hard drives and you will see that very high-capacity drives have become quite "inexpensive". Of course, spending a bit more than $100 on a two-terabyte hard drive doesn't sound "cheap", but the expense is well worth it.

Yeah I guess that's what I'll do again. I already have one external with my archive so to speak and now ny laptop is filling up again.

I already convert to DNG. I find it simpler than the canon raw file + the data. I just wanted to check with you guys to make sure I wasn't missing something to maybe make these files smaller.

Again, thanks guys, much appreciated.