Painfully Slow

[lnicole]

I did a search and this topic has been discussed, but I didn't really find a solution so forgive me for re-hashing.

I love working from Lightroom to Photoshop, but when I do, my entire system will gradually slow to a painful crawl. You'd think I was working on an old G3! I know it would be ideal to increase my ram - I only have 2 GB, but the computer works just fine working only in Photoshop / Bridge. It's only when I have Lightroom open that my system slows waaaaaaaaaaaay down.

Specs: iMac G5. 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. 2 GB ram. Lightroom 2.6. Photoshop CS3
My lightroom catalog and database is on an external disk. I have around 3'' GB free.

I'm starting to wonder again about the one big catalog slowing things down?

 

[sizzlingbadger]

A G5 2.8 GHz is probably pushing it a bit. I would say you need to get more RAM, this would be the cheapest option for you to start with. 4GB would help a lot, I used 4GB with LR & CS4 and it was quite reasonable on an intel iMac. I now use 6GB and it helps quite a bit.

 

[Kiwigeoff]

Just to clarify that your Mac is not a G5 as they ended when Intel chips came supplied in early 2''6. So I would say although your processor is slow compared to current chips the main blockage is most likely the lack of RAM. A large catalog >5'k files would probably be affected by this significantly.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

And what kind of external disk are we talking about? Where are you seeing the slowness specifically?

 

[lnicole]

I'm using an iomega 5'' GB drive. Don't remember speed - wasn't an expensive one though. Yeah, I know I need more RAM. I actually ordered enough to max out to 4 GB, but there was some mix up in my understanding computer vocab in France and didn't get compatible chips - need to re-order. This computer is only 2 years old. I know, computers age in dog years, but getting a new computer isn't in the budget for at least the next 6 months - 1 year.

The thing is, working on just the Photoshop file is no problem with my system - only when I'm working on a file via Lightroom. Why does working via Lightroom suck so much more RAM / Processing?

I need a temp solution that doesn't require outlay of bucks. Can I open the file via Lightroom and then close Lightroom? Does Lightroom know to update the file?

Maybe I'll need to break apart my catalog into separate catalogs afterall. I only have around 1/4 of my images imported at this point, so it's going to get worse.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

You still haven't said what exactly you're finding slow...

Is it that PS goes slow when LR is open?
Is it that brushes in LR are slow?
Is moving from image to image slow in LR?
What camera are the files coming from?
Tell us more....

 

[lnicole]

Thanks, Victoria, I'll try to cover those.

Just curious, what does it matter what camera it comes from? File size? Raw format? The answer though is a Canon 4'D. Almost exclusively in RAW.
I'll have to pay more attention to exactly what is slow. I'll work on something tonight. My impressions though is that I can start working fine and then gradually everything slows. (I know, vague - but that's the impression I'll make clearer observations next time)

I'll locate images in LR, do some prelim editing / developing then open in PS to edit further. I may work on several images consecutively. I'd say working IN LR or PS isn't too bad but saving, opening, switching to another app - starts to slow way down. I dread saving as it will take so loooooong and only if LR is open. Yes, as I mentioned, I'd say PS is overall slower if LR is open, but not just PS. Switching apps. Let's say I want to check my email, it will take forever to switch my app.

 

[breyman]

I know you probably don't want to hear it again as it's been stated several times, but this really sounds largely like a memory issue. Switching between apps resulting in sluggish behavior is usually due to low memory. When memory is low, the applications have to write/retrieve more stuff from the hard drive, which slows things way down (especially with slower laptop hard drives).

You might try closing apps when in LR (mail, etc.) and only keep LR and PS open.

Also, what connection is your external hard drive? USB 2.'? Saving files out to that would take a while...

Out of curiosity, how many images do you currently have in your catalog?

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Yep, I'll agree on the memory issues then.

I asked about the camera, as something like a 5dMk2 will slow the fastest machine to a crawl just because of the size of the files.

I asked about whether it was moving between files, which could point to the hard drive access, as opposed to opening files in PS which would be more memory related.

Saving the edited files to the hard drive could be related to the external drive, as Brian mentioned.

One thing you might want to check is that you're not trying to run LR in 64-bit mode - go to Finder, find the app, Cmd-O to Get Info and make sure the Open in 32-bit checkbox is checked. 64-bit will only really help with a lot more memory.

Switching apps being slow is sure to be memory though. If you think about, in PS you tend to have one or two files open at a time... but how many are loaded into memory when you're working in LR on multiple files? That's why it's eating it.

Until you can get more memory in that machine, I'd be inclined to use Export to export the files you want to edit to a folder, and then close LR and switch to PS to work on the files. Should save you a few headaches.

 

[lnicole]

Breyman. It's not that I don't want to hear that it's memory. I know I need more memory. (and 2 rounds of incompatible chips later, I'm still trying to get it!) Just trying to understand what else is going on as all if fine unless I have LR open. I can understand as Victoria says though that having several files open in PS and LR is doubling / quadrupling the memory/drive demands.

But you guys have helped me find some issues that I can address until I upgrade the hardware.

Yes, I am using LR in 64-bit. Thank you for that info. While I was at it, I remembered something else. I was doing a class on Kelby online that had us switch PS to Rosetta for a plug-in. It was still in Rosetta.

I currently have 1',2'' files in my catalog and that's only 2''8-2''9. I still have 2''2-2''7 to catalog! While I've read on this forum advice to keep it as one big catalog, maybe I need to think of breaking it down.
I'm also going to consider changing my workflow. I like to have several apps open. Mail, Firefox, Twitter, iTunes etc. I'm going to think of having those open on my MacMini that I have next to this one. Also, while I've read suggestions to have LR and database on an external drive, it may make more sense for me to keep it on the main hard drive and just the back-ups on external.

Thank you for your help. While it's obvious that I need more hardware power, I think there are things I can do to use my current equipment more efficiently.

Victoria, exporting files out of LR sounds like a headache! What would I do, export them and then re-import them? I guess it's doable, but it sounds like a set up begging for mistakes to happen. What if I close LR to work and synchronize the folder afterward?

 

[Victoria Bampton]

[quote author=lnicole link=topic=8979.msg6'545#msg6'545 date=1264'598'6]
Victoria, exporting files out of LR sounds like a headache! What would I do, export them and then re-import them? I guess it's doable, but it sounds like a set up begging for mistakes to happen. What if I close LR to work and synchronize the folder afterward?
[/quote]

Not that big a headache. There's a checkbox in the Export dialog to automatically add the exported files back into the catalog, and you can export to the same folder as the original. You'd be importing the unedited tiffs (or other format) into the catalog and the previews would later update when you'd edited them. If you set it up as a preset, you never need think about it again. Synchronising would work too, but I hesitate to recommend that dialog to people as some end up deleting stuff accidentally!

 

[breyman]

I'm glad the advice/thoughts helped some .

I agree that moving things to your internal drive will help overall quite a bit. At the very least, you'll see a more serious performance gain by having your catalog on the fastest drive possible (in this case, your internal drive). If there is plenty of room for the pictures too, you can bring them in. They aren't as critical as the catalog files, though.

1',''' pictures isn't really that many and probably isn't significantly contributing to your slowdown. IMO, any very slight performance gains by breaking out the catalogs are lost by managing multiple catalogs. Your other thoughts (moving files to your internal drive, running your other apps on the mini, etc.) should provide the best bang for your buck.

One other thing you should do regularly if you aren't already is optimize your catalog. That will help keep it running as smoothly as possible.

 

[lnicole]

Thanks again for all the advice. Victoria, thanks for explaining about the exporting.

I've gone through pretty much all the LR classed on Kelby and done some online reading, but should probably buy a book on LR. - since it is one of my main tools. I can see there are some gaps in my understanding.

Again, thanks Breyman, Victoria et al.

 

[lnicole]

I just wanted to report back that I reformatted my drive and did a clean install of Snow Leopard. My system overall is much snappier.

Victoria, I'm still trying to figure out my best workflow considering my system limitations. Lightroom is working pretty good with my files on an external drive, but I think it would be a good idea to work on Photoshop intense files with oodles of layers on my internal hard drive. Can that work to export a file, work on it in Photoshop and then re-import it?

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Amazing what a clean install does!

If you're comfortable working to an external drive, then carry on. You can always change your mind later. Try it both ways and see which suits you.

 

[sizzlingbadger]

When a new OS version is released I always do a clean install. It has saved so much future pain and it only takes a couple of hours more than an upgrade usually.

 

[lnicole]

[quote author=breyman link=topic=8979.msg6'555#msg6'555 date=1264'85311]
I'm glad the advice/thoughts helped some .

I agree that moving things to your internal drive will help overall quite a bit. At the very least, you'll see a more serious performance gain by having your catalog on the fastest drive possible (in this case, your internal drive). If there is plenty of room for the pictures too, you can bring them in. They aren't as critical as the catalog files, though.

1',''' pictures isn't really that many and probably isn't significantly contributing to your slowdown. IMO, any very slight performance gains by breaking out the catalogs are lost by managing multiple catalogs. Your other thoughts (moving files to your internal drive, running your other apps on the mini, etc.) should provide the best bang for your buck.

One other thing you should do regularly if you aren't already is optimize your catalog. That will help keep it running as smoothly as possible.
[/quote]

I'm revisiting this thread as I'm about to start adding more images to my catalog. Am I understanding correctly that it would be OK for me to have the catalog on my internal hard drive and my files on my external drive given my need for a more powerful external drive? I'm also thinking of taking Victoria's suggestion and exporting files to work on outside of LR. Thanks!