PhotoShop running exceptionally slow

[TWISTEDSKUNK]

I've noticed that PhotosShop is running really slow on my machine and wondered if anyone had some advice on possibly how to get around this or perhaps why.

The file that I am working on is using a few Layer Style filters and has around 30+ layers, and is 55.7MB in size, 300dpi A4.

I am running CS 6 Photoshop and I am up to date on all the updates.

My mac is a late 2012 iMac running OS 10.9.2 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7 with 24 GB 1600 MHz DDR3


For a file of this size it seems to be far too slow with every click to activate a layer taking 2 seconds to register with moving of objects taking what seems like a lifetime to complete.

If anyone has any advice it would be most welcome

Christian

 

[TWISTEDSKUNK]

One additional thing is that all the logo layers are Vector Smart Objects

 

[hawkeye]

All files or just that one?

 

[TWISTEDSKUNK]

Any file that uses layer style effects it would appear

 

[Tom Mann]

I'm not a Mac guy, and you may have already done this, but on a PC, the 1st thing I would do is go to "Task Manager" and see what your computer is actually doing when it slows down. For example, there could be some other process unexpectedly hogging clock cycles, you could be maxing out the capabilities of your GPU, etc.

Also, a bit of history would be useful. For example, did this problem come on suddenly, or are you just now experiencing it because of the complexity of this particular file. Have you loaded up some old PSD file that you know ran well and see how it's currently acting, etc., etc.

Tom

 

[TWISTEDSKUNK]

Thanks Tom, there are a few applications open but this hasn't effected performance in the past and it only seems to be PS that is suffering. I will check my activity monitor and see if there are bottle necks anywhere that can be addressed. It has happened in the past but on much much larger files 350MB and upwards, but this is a really small file which is why I was concerned and this file isn't particularly complex, I would expect far more from the machine and from PS.

 

[IamSam]

I have the same memory on my Mac and I almost never have slowing issues. Only occasionally when using a tool that utilizes content aware, but that's about it.

I will ask but you may have already tried this, but save the file and shut down Ps, re-open the file to see if the problem persists. Did you try Tom's idea on opening a a different file?

 

[MrToM]

Make sure your Adobe Flash Player is up to date. (All browser versions)

Flash is all over the place at the moment with security fixes being released on a regular basis....the sooner Adobe ditch it the better.

Latest Adobe Security Bulletin

It may not make a difference, but as PS is all Flash based and Flash is a very fickle thing, updating it won't hurt, if only to rule it out as a cause.

Regards.
MrTom.

 

[MikeMc]

LOOK INTO YOUR SCRATCH DISK...You have ample RAM

 

[mathom33]

I have the same model mac as you except I am running with 16GB ram. You may want to look into a memory cleaner that let's you know the percentage of ram being used. Another option when your mac begins to run slow is to open Terminal and type "sudo purge" to clear the memory.

If it's running slow from a clean reboot then I have no idea why it would be running so slow. Is it possible that other applications are running in the background? Do you use Adobe Bridge? I know when I was running with 4GB ram it was almost impossible to do anything else with Bridge open. Since upgrading I haven't tried using Bridge.