Ok, I tried to search the forums, and couldn't get my EXACT question answered. I'm pretty new to this, and getting the hang of it, however...I just finished my first LO and here are my specifics: I scanned three ultrasound pics, at 300 dpi. my background paper was not overly high file size and then my addition of journaling was nothing either.I added a fourth photo as a background, which was also low file size (OK since I faded it out anyway) SOOOO, it doesn't seem like I have TOO much stuff to this lo, but it is still a gazillion MB high and my DIP 9 sometimes crashes. OK, it's really 12 in by 12 in in size, 3600 x 3600 in pixel dimensions and 300 dpi. I do want to eventually print this out, but is it normal to have it 4,570 KB in file size??? That seem's too high and that I can alter it somehow???? Am I making sense? Help! - AMY

oh girl that's nothing my Layouts are at least 50 mb and i have one i'm working on that's 223 mb right now. That's as a psd file and not flattened. i don't flatten them though in case i need to make a correction or change. i just save them to disc. but about it being 4 + mb yes that's fine! and normal. when i make backround papers for elements they tend to be around 2- 3.5 mb and that's with nothing on them. just the paper. just save often if it crashes. You also may want to check out if there is a way you can manage the memory usage by the program to optimize your program settings. ANY DIP users that know can you help her with that? I don't use DIP but in ps you can set a scratch disc and the amountt of memory the program can use.

and a word abotu resolution between scanners and pixels. dpi is measuring dots and ppi is measuring pixels dpi and ppi IS NOT the same thing. I posted an explanation on resolution in terms of pixels here
HELP! Photoshop Print Problem....

I hope that helps you out!

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Hi Amy
Tanya gave you a good explanation ..a 4MB file is nothing, some of the backgrounds I create are that alone.
If you are having problems there are a few things you can do though

In Tools>Options> Resolution and Compression options you can make adjustments

Make sure that DIP is the first thing you open so it has the "right of way" when using memory. Don't try and run other programs when working with DIP.

Close things from the file list as you no longer need them.

Disable your virus program when working in DIP - especially Norton which plays havoc with the program and will often crash it.

Run Scandisk and Disk clean up frequently.

Save your projects to another folder other than My Pictures > create your own folder in My Documents and save them there.

You could also try working at a lesser canvas size ..size 8x 8 ( I work at 8x8) or 6x6. When you want to print the layouts you can then resize them to 12 x 12.

Hope some of that helps

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Thanks ladies. Those suggestions should help. And now I know what I can expect once I add more things to my LO's. Shellyrae, won't my quality change if I work in a 8X8 format and then resize bigger???? Thanks ~ Amy

If I increased the size from 8x8 to 12x12 [i.e ratio of 2:3] then I would decrease the resolution from 300 to 200 dpi [i.e. ratio of 3:2]. This keeps the quality consistent.

On many printers, the difference between 200 dpi and 300 dpi is imperceptible.

[I make 8x8 inch layouts at 300 dpi which is 2400 by 2400 pixels. This is the same as a 12x12 inch layout at 200 dpi]

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Thanks thanks thanks. I feel much more informed!!! ya just gotta love this site! Happy scrappin' gals. ~ Amy

There's my girl Jacqueline! Spouting math like a genie spouts wishes!

Amy, everthing above is true. My files normally range 150-300 MB at 12x12 and 300dpi, fully layered. Yes, going to 8x8 an printing 12x12 will lose you quality, but the human eye and most inkjet printers aren't going to notice much difference between the 2. I'd say give a couple LO's the test and see if you can tell a difference.
tonya

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Tonya, that is too funny! As you know, math is my first language English is second... tee hee

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