1 Reply Latest reply: Mar 26, 2011 11:09 PM by Jeff Schewe RSS

    Is it best to flatten large PS files prior to resizing or printing?

    *Rich* Community Member

      My composite image files are over 150mb and usually comprised of over twenty layers. I do not deal with any vector based layers, but rather with photo images converted to smart objects on transparency layers. Also, lots of adjustment layers with masks, blend modes, smart filters, and occasional layer styles. I output to an Epson 3880 printer, with PS doing color management.

       

      My concern is with how accurate my final composite image would be if I let the resizing or printing process calculate final image rendering, versus saving a separate flattened image first and letting the "Save-As" file-saving process render the final image file. Does anyone know if either way produces better quality output than the other? Thanks.

       

       

        • 1. Re: Is it best to flatten large PS files prior to resizing or printing?
          Jeff Schewe Community Member

          *Rich* wrote:

           

           

          My concern is with how accurate my final composite image would be if I let the resizing or printing process calculate final image rendering, versus saving a separate flattened image first and letting the "Save-As" file-saving process render the final image file. Does anyone know if either way produces better quality output than the other? Thanks.

           

           

          Literally 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other...Resizing or printing should produce the EXACT same result regardless of whether or not you keep layers or flatten. So, it's prolly wise to keep the layers. Note, in terms of printing, Photoshop does a flatten prior to printing. It just does so in a temp file so you really won't get any bennies from doing the flatten yourself.