Did you know that there are over 100 million Mac computers in use today? One of the primary reasons behind this is that Mac devices are highly conducive to creative work. Photoshop memory usage can be a problem even for top-tier computers, though.
If you’re looking to speed up Mac performance in this regard, we’ve put together a guide that can help you get started. Let’s explore everything you need to know about how to better manage memory when using Photoshop on your Mac.
Clear RAM From Your Computer
One of the best ways to speed up Mac performance is to clear RAM from your computer on a regular basis. This can be done manually or by using a piece of software that automates the process. For manual clearance, simply open the Activity Monitor and select “Memory” from the drop-down menu at the top.
This will show you a list of all the apps and processes that are currently running on your computer. Take a look at the “Memory” column to see how much RAM each one is using.
To clear RAM, simply quit any apps or processes that are using a lot of memory. You can do this by selecting the app in question and clicking the “Quit Process” button at the top of the window. For processes that are essential to the functioning of your computer, you can reduce their memory usage by clicking the “Reduce Clutter” button.
This will close any unnecessary tabs or windows associated with the process. Clearing RAM will provide Photoshop with much more available memory.
Edit Your Scratch Disk Preferences
Another way to speed up Mac performance in Photoshop is to edit your scratch disk preferences.
Scratch disks are temporary storage locations for files that Photoshop needs quick access to. By default, the program will use your computer’s main hard drive as a scratch disk. This can slow things down, as the hard drive is much slower than RAM.
To change your scratch disk preferences, open Photoshop and go to Edit > Preferences > Performance. From here, you can select which hard drive you want to use as a scratch disk. For optimum performance, you should choose an SSD drive.
If you don’t have an SSD drive, you can try using an external hard drive or USB flash drive instead.
https://setapp.com/ has a page on its site where you can learn more about how to clear your scratch disk settings on your Mac.
Adjust Your Photoshop Cache Levels
A notable method to improve Photoshop performance is to adjust your cache levels. Caches are temporary storage locations for frequently accessed data.
By default, Photoshop uses a moderate amount of caching. This can be increased or decreased depending on your needs. To change your cache levels, open Photoshop and go to Edit > Preferences > Performance.
From here, you can use the “Cache Levels” slider to adjust the amount of caching that Photoshop does. If you find that the program is running slowly, you can try increasing the cache levels. Conversely, if you find that Photoshop is using too much memory, you can try decreasing the cache levels.
It’s also important to consider your cache presets. Cache presets tell Photoshop what types of data to cache. By default, the “Standard” preset is selected. This is a good all-around option that should work well in most cases.
If you find that you’re still having performance issues, though, you can try one of the other presets. The “Text Only” and “Proof Colors” presets are both designed to improve performance.
Minimize the Number of History States
History states are essentially a list of all the changes that you’ve made to a file. Photoshop keeps track of these so that you can undo any changes if necessary. By default, the program will save 20 history states.
This can use up a lot of memory, especially if you’re working with large files. To change the number of history states, open Photoshop and go to Edit > Preferences > Performance. From here, you can use the “History States” slider to adjust the number of history states that Photoshop saves.
If you find that the program is running slowly, you can try decreasing the number of history states.
Turn Off History Logging
History logging keeps track of all the changes that you make to a file.
This information is then saved to a separate file. This can be useful if you want to track your progress or revert to a previous version of a file. However, it can also use up a lot of memory, especially if you’re working with large files.
To turn off history logging, open Photoshop and go to Edit > Preferences > Performance. From here, uncheck the “History Logging” box. This will prevent Photoshop from tracking your changes and should help to improve performance.
Turn Off Layer Effects and Styles
Layer effects and styles are a great way to add creative flair to your images.
However, they can also use up a lot of memory, especially if you’re working with large files. To turn off layer effects and styles, open Photoshop and go to Edit > Preferences > Performance.
From here, uncheck the “Layer Effects and Styles” box. This will prevent Photoshop from applying any layer effects or styles to your images and should help to improve performance.
Knowing How to Manage Memory on Your Mac Can Seem Complicated
However, it’s much easier to manage memory than most people think. By following the tips above, you can easily improve the performance of your Mac when using Photoshop. You’ll also likely find that you improve performance in other areas, as well.
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