BeeHaven Designz - Digital Scrapbooking

Bright Sunshiny Day – New Kit From Sticky Kisses

stickykisses — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:26:27 PDT

Here is my latest release – Bright Sun Shiny Day – Tagger Size – $2.50

By Sticky Kisses Designs

Wacky $1 Sale on Now

missesbeehaven — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:09:59 PDT

Hurry on in for the $1 Wacky sale.. One day only!!

Optimize performance of Photoshop CS3 on Windows XP and Vista

missesbeehaven — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:10:55 PDT

Optimize performance of Photoshop CS3 on Windows XP and Vista

What’s covered

Adobe Photoshop options and plug-ins

Image files

Operating system software

Hardware

Resources

The performance of Adobe Photoshop CS3 is affected by available random-access memory (RAM) and computer processor speed. Other factors can also affect performance, such as the options you select, system configuration, and the built-in limitations of Photoshop. Photoshop CS3 supports new maximum image dimensions, and file sizes requiring increased system requirements. The maximum file size Photoshop CS3 supports is 300,000 x 300,000 pixels, except for PDF files, which are constrained by the 30,000 x 30,000 pixel limitation.

Photoshop CS3 has an increased file size capability for the following file types:

* PSD files: 2 GB

* TIFF files: 4 GB

Note: Most applications cannot work with TIFF files over 2 GB.

* PSB files: 4 Exabytes (4096 Petabytes, or 4 million Terabytes)

* PDF files: 10 GB (pages are limited to a maximum size of 200 inches).

Note: Large Document Format files (.psb) cannot be read by Photoshop 7.0.x or earlier.

Adobe Photoshop options and plug-ins

The options you select and plug-ins you use in Photoshop can affect its performance. The options and plug-ins that most directly affect performance include those covered in this section.

Setting scratch disks

The Photoshop scratch disk is similar to virtual memory. For the best performance, you should set the scratch disk to a defragmented hard disk that has plenty of unused space and fast read/write speeds (rather than a network drive or removable media such as a Zip drive). Photoshop requires at least 1 GB of free hard-disk space, but more is recommended. If you have more than one hard disk volume, you should specify additional scratch disks. Photoshop CS2 supports up to 64 exabytes (EB) of scratch disk space on a total of four volumes. (An EB is equal to 1 billion gigabytes.) RAID 0 partitions provide the best possible performance as Photoshop scratch disks.

Note: Adobe recommends that you set the primary scratch disk to a different hard disk than the one Windows uses for its virtual memory or paging file.

To set the scratch disk:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance.

2. Select the Active? box for each hard disk you want to contain a scratch disk.

Note: Unless you have a drive that has considerable space open, and is defragmented regularly, choose more than one drive, if one or more is available.

3. Click OK.

4. Restart Photoshop.

Adjusting the cache levels

Photoshop uses image caching to redraw high-resolution images faster. With caching, Photoshop uses low-resolution versions of an image to quickly update the image on-screen as you work. To enable the Cache Levels option, specify the number (1 to of low-resolution versions you want Photoshop to store (cache). The more versions of an image you have Photoshop cache, however, the slower it opens image files. In Photoshop, the default Cache Level setting is 6. Setting the Cache option to 1 disables image caching; only the current screen image is cached. Setting the Cache higher than 4 improves the performance when working on larger images by redrawing them faster. If you have performance issues in Photoshop CS3, set the Cache Level to 2 and then test your performance. If you are using small files, such as those to be used on the web, set your Cache Level to 1 or 2 to increase performance.

Note: Image caching may cause a less accurate preview. When necessary, view files at 100% to ensure an accurate preview.

To adjust the Cache Levels setting:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance.

2. Enter a value from 1 to 8 in the Cache Levels text box.

3. Restart Photoshop.

Do not automatically launch Bridge

When the Automatically Launch Bridge preference is selected, Adobe Bridge CS3 will open when you open Photoshop, increasing the time it takes to open Photoshop. Turn off this preference in the General preference panel to reduce launch time for Photoshop.

To turn this option off:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences > General.

2. Deselect the Automatically Launch Bridge option.

3. Click OK.

Set Maximize PSD And PSB File Compatibility to Ask

The Maximize PSD And PSB File Compatibility feature increases the size of your file by attaching a flattened copy of your image when you save your image. In earlier versions of Photoshop, you didn’t need to keep this option on. In Photoshop CS3, however, a small amount of extra data is included in the file when you choose this option that ensures that PSD and PBS files saved in Photoshop CS3 will open in earlier versions. Additionally, when this option is on, and you open a Photoshop CS3 image in a previous version with a feature in it that cannot be supported by the earlier version, Photoshop will display a warning message.

If you are saving files in Photoshop CS3 for use in earlier versions, then save them with this option on (that is, set to Ask or Always).

To change the Maximize File Compatibility option:

1. Choose Photoshop > Preferences > File Handling.

2. Change Maximize PSD And PSB File Compatibility to one of the following:

* — Ask: Prompts you to maximize file compatibility when you save.

* — Always: Saves with maximized file compatibility without asking.

* — Never: Does not save or prompt you to save with maximized file compatibility.

Minimizing palette preview thumbnails

Photoshop requires additional memory to display preview thumbnails in the Layers, Channels, and Paths palette. Photoshop updates the preview thumbnails as you make changes to the image itself. The more preview thumbnails Photoshop displays and the larger the thumbnail you select, the more memory Photoshop requires to draw and update preview thumbnails.

To minimize or turn off palette previews in the Layers, Channels, or Paths palette, select Palette Options from the palette menu. For Thumbnail Size, select the smallest thumbnail size or select None, then click OK.

Using the Extract command

When you run the Extract command (Filter > Extract) on a computer that has low RAM or disk space, Photoshop responds slowly or not at all. The Extract command can require more than the recommended minimum amount of RAM and disk space for Photoshop–if Photoshop responds slowly when you use the Extract command, increase the percentage of memory used by Photoshop, or free additional hard-disk space.

To increase the percentage of memory used by Photoshop:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance.

2. In the Memory Usage section, increase the Let Photoshop Use amount, and click OK.

Note: Don’t set the percentage to more than 75%.

3. Restart Photoshop.

16-bit and 32-bit functionality

Photoshop CS3 significantly increases the number of features that can be performed on 16-bit images and allows numerous operations to be performed on 32-bit images. However, if your resources are low, reducing your images to 8-bit can improve performance. Note that this reduction will permanently delete the extra bit data from your image.

Adjusted Refresh plug-in

This plug-in is not necessary for Photoshop CS3, because the new maximum tile size in Photoshop CS3 is 132 KB. The amount of space set aside for and displayed in the Scratch Sizes indicator in Photoshop CS was much larger than in earlier versions because the tile sizes were larger. The Adjusted Refresh plug-in reduced the initial scratch disk usage when you started Photoshop and also reduced the size of the Photoshop image tiles from the default size of 1 MB per tile to 64 KB per tile. The smaller tiles allow the display to redraw in smaller pieces, reducing the time needed to preview some filter updates.

Bigger Tiles plug-in

The Bigger Tiles plug-in, which is located in the Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3\Plug-Ins\\Extensions\Bigger Tiles folder, is disabled by default. When you enable it by removing the tilde (~) from the file name, you increase the image tile size in Photoshop. You should only enable the plug-in if you have more than 1 GB of RAM installed.

If you enable the plug-in, then Photoshop redraws more data at a time because each tile is larger, and each tile is drawn, complete, at one time. Photoshop takes less time to redraw fewer tiles that are larger than it takes to redraw more tiles that are smaller. Because Photoshop redraws more data at one time, each tile it takes longer to be redrawn; so bigger tiles can look like they are redrawing more slowly, but they are actually redrawing faster than if the image had more smaller tiles.

Image files

You can optimize your workflow to improve performance by minimizing file size, editing individual channels, and using image compression selectively. Additionally, because layers and channels add significantly to the size of a file, you can minimize file size by merging layers and deleting channels when you no longer need them. And finally, if you are preparing images for color separation, you can work in RGB mode until you are ready to print and then change the images to CMYK mode. When converted from CMYK to RGB, a file’s size should decrease by about 25%.

Minimizing file size

You can minimize the size of your files by reducing their resolution, measured in pixels per inch (ppi). Photoshop requires more memory and disk space to process high-resolution images, therefore increasing the time it takes Photoshop to display, process, and print them. Increasing the resolution of an image doesn’t always improve the quality of the image, and instead only increases its file size. You want the resolution of your images to be the highest value your printer can use. Resolutions higher than that only add information to your image that your printer can’t use, but must process, and thus increase print times.

If you plan to print continuous-tone images (for example, photographs), begin by using a resolution that is 1.5 to 2 times the screen frequency, measured in lines per inch (lpi), that you’ll use to print the image. For line-art images, such as drawings, use the same value as your printer’s resolution, measured in dots per inch (dpi). For example, if the resolution of your printer is 600 dpi, and you plan to print the image using the printer’s default screen frequency of 85 lpi, save continuous-tone images at a resolution between 127 ppi (85 lpi x 1.5) and 170 ppi (85 lpi x 2), and save line-art images at a resolution of 600 ppi.

Recommended resolutions for continuous-tone images:

Output Recommended resolution

Windows-compatible monitor 96 ppi

300 dpi laser printer 100 ppi

600 dpi laser printer 150 ppi

725 dpi inkjet printer 150 ppi

1200 dpi or higher imagesetter 2x the screen frequency (lpi) value you specified

To reduce the resolution of an image in Photoshop:

1. Open the image, then choose Image > Image Size.

2. In the Image Size dialog box, decrease the Resolution value, then click OK.

Purge Undo, Clipboard, or Histories

Undo, Clipboard, and Histories all hold image data. To free RAM, choose Edit > Purge to purge the Undo and Clipboard. Purging Histories can free RAM or scratch disk space depending on how recent your history data is. To reduce disk space usage, reduce the number of History States available in the General preference.

Reduce the number of History states

In Photoshop CS3, each history state that includes an operation that affects the entire image (for example, when you apply Gaussian blur or unsharp mask to the entire image) creates a full copy of your image at its original size. If your initial image is 500 KB, and you apply Gaussian blur to it, your image will need 1 MB of scratch space. If your history states consist of operations that affect only part of the image, such as paint strokes, only the size of the tiles touched by the strokes are added to the image size. If you count up the number of histories you have where operations have affected the entire image, and multiply your original image size by that number, you’ll have an approximate amount of scratch disk space needed by the image. If you have applied levels, a reduce noise filter, and an unsharp mask filter to your entire image 5 MB in size, the image will need 20 MB of scratch space. When you reduce the number of History states available, you potentially reduce the number of copies of your image using scratch space.

Reduce patterns and brush tips

If you need to reduce your scratch disk overhead, you can minimize the number of patterns and brush tips you use in each of your presets, and you can reduce the number of patterns you use in your image’s Layer Styles (as applied with the Bevel and Emboss Texture or in the Pattern Overlay). Each small pattern and sampled brush in the presets uses at least one tile for storage. Patterns used in Layer Styles use extra RAM as well.

Minimizing the number of layers

Layers are fundamental to working in Photoshop, but they also increase file sizes and redraw time because Photoshop recomposes each layer after each change in the image. After you have completed changes to layers, you can flatten (merge) them to reduce the size of a file. You should also make sure to remove blank layers from the file since they too increase its size. It is important to remember that Photoshop does not let you separate layers after merging them. Instead, you can either use the Undo command or you can use the History palette to reverse a merge.

* To flatten all layers in a file, choose Layer > Flatten Image.

* To merge a layer with the layer below it:

1. In the Layers palette, select the layer above the layer with which you want to merge it.

2. Choose Layer > Merge Down.

Flattening TIFF files

Photoshop allows layers to be saved in TIFF files. Layered TIFF files are larger than flattened TIFF files and require more resources for processing and printing. If you work with a layered TIFF file, save the original layered file as an Adobe Photoshop (.psd) file; then, when you are ready to save the file in TIFF format, save a copy without layers.

Using image compression

Although compressed files generally have small file sizes, Photoshop may take longer to open or save them. With the exception of images saved in Photoshop format, Photoshop must decompress a file to open it and then recompress the file to save it. The BMP, CompuServe GIF, JPEG, Photoshop, Photoshop EPS, Photoshop PDF, and TIFF formats all can be saved with compression. In addition, Photoshop enables you to specify a compression method for TIFF layers in the TIFF Options window. You can improve performance by saving your file in compressed Photoshop format (a compression format in which there is no data loss) as you work, and then save your file in the format you want when you are finished editing the image.

To save an image without compression from Photoshop, choose File > Save As, select the format you want, and then select the No Compression option in the format Options dialog box. For example, select the TIFF format, and in the TIFF Options dialog box, select None for Image Compression.

Editing individual channels

Photoshop requires less memory to apply a filter to a single channel than it does to apply a filter to multiple channels or to an entire image (composite channel). In a flattened image, each RGB channel is about one-third the size of the file; each CMYK channel is about one-fourth the size. To edit a single channel, select the channel you want to edit in the Channels palette.

Using the Filter Gallery and applying filters to individual channels

The Filter Gallery in Photoshop CS3 allows you to test one or more filters on an image before applying the effect(s), which can save considerable time.

Dragging and dropping between files

Dragging and dropping layers or files is more efficient than copying and pasting them. Dragging bypasses the clipboard and transfers data directly. Copying and pasting can potentially involve more data transfer and is much less efficient.

Operating system software

By customizing your operating system so it runs efficiently, you not only increase the amount of system resources available to applications, but also ensure that your applications run efficiently. Optimizing your hard drive and virtual memory, organizing or removing temporary files, and disabling unnecessary applications running in the background improves performance.

Note: Photoshop CS3 for Windows can only operate on computers running Windows Vista or Windows XP.

Allocating more memory to Photoshop with 32-bit operating systems and computers

Photoshop uses random-access memory (RAM) to process image information. The more RAM available to Photoshop, the faster Photoshop can process image information. Other open applications and startup programs decrease the amount of memory potentially available to Photoshop. Quitting applications or startup items you are not using makes more memory available to Photoshop.

To allocate more memory to Photoshop:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences >Performance.

2. In the Memory Usage section, increase the Let Photoshop Use percentage, and click OK.

3. Restart Photoshop.

Allocating memory above 2 GB with 64-bit processors

Photoshop CS3 is a 32-bit application. When it runs on a 32-bit operating system, such as Windows XP Professional and some versions of Windows Vista, it can access the first 2 GB of RAM on the computer.The operating system uses some of this RAM, so the Photoshop Memory Usage preference displays only a maximum of 1.6 or 1.7 GB of total available RAM. If you are running Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2, you can set the 3 GB switch in the boot.ini file, which allows Photoshop to use up to 3 GB of RAM.

Important: The 3 GB switch is a Microsoft switch and may not work with all computers. Contact Microsoft for instructions before you set the 3 GB switch, and for troubleshooting the switch. You can search on the Microsoft support page for 3gb for information on this switch.

When you run Photoshop CS3 on a computer with a 64-bit processor (such as a, Intel Xeon processor with EM64T, AMD Athlon 64, or Opteron processor) running a 64-bit version of the operating system (Windows XP Professional x64 Edition or Windows Vista 64-bit) and with 4 GB or more of RAM, Photoshop will use 3 GB for it’s image data. You can see the actual amount of RAM Photoshop can use in the Let Photoshop Use number when you set the Let Photoshop Use slider in the Performance preference to 100%. The RAM above the 100% used by Photoshop, which is from approximately 3 GB to 3.7 GB, can be used directly by Photoshop plug-ins (some plug-ins need large chunks of contiguous RAM), filters, or actions. If you have more than 4 GB (to 6 GB), then the RAM above 4 GB is used by the operating system as a cache for the Photoshop scratch disk data. Data that previously was written directly to the hard disk by Photoshop is now cached in this high RAM before being written to the hard disk by the operating system. If you are working with files large enough to take advantage of these extra 2 GB of RAM, the RAM cache can speed performance of Photoshop. Additionally, in Windows Vista 64-bit, processing very large images is much faster if your computer has large amounts of RAM (6-8 GB).

The default RAM allocation setting is 55%. This setting should be optimal for most users. To get the ideal RAM allocation setting for your system, change the RAM allocation in 5% increments and watch the performance of Photoshop in the Performance Monitor. You must quit and restart Photoshop after each change to see the change take effect.

The available RAM shown in the Performance preference automatically deducts an amount that is reserved for the operating system from the total RAM in your computer. You shouldn’t set the percentage of RAM to be used by Photoshop to 100% because other applications which run at the same time as Photoshop (for example, Adobe Bridge) need a share of the available RAM. Some applications use more RAM than you might expect. For example, web browsers can use 20-30 MB of RAM, and music players can use 20-50 MB RAM. Watch the Performance Monitor to view the RAM allocations on your computer.

Watch your efficiency indicator while you work in Photoshop to determine the amount of RAM you’ll need to keep your images in RAM. The efficiency indicator is available from the pop-up menu (choose Show > Efficiency) on the status bar of your image and from the Palette Options on the Info Palette pop-up menu. When the efficiency indicator goes below 95-100%, you are using the scratch disk. If the efficiency is around 60%, you’ll see a large performance increase by changing your RAM allocation or adding RAM.

Check your system for damaged fonts

If there is a damaged font on your system and you have WYSIWYG font preview turned on, your computer can slow significantly. If you turn off font preview and your computer performance improves significantly, test for a damaged font. See the Additional information section below for more information on how to troubleshoot fonts.

Temporary files

When you work in an application, a copy of your data file is stored temporarily on the hard drive. Many applications create .tmp files and then delete them when you quit the application. Crashes or system errors, however, may prevent an application from deleting these files. These files can build up over time, taking up disk space and causing problems. From time to time, you should quit all programs and remove all temporary files. To safely remove temporary files and any other files that are no longer being used, run Disk Cleanup.

To run Disk Cleanup:

1. Do one of the following:

* On Windows XP: Choose Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.

* On Windows Vista: Choose Start, and type Disk Cleanup in the Search text box. Select Disk Cleanup from the Programs list.

2. Choose a drive to cleanup, if appropriate.

3. Choose types of files to delete. You may select all file types to clean your system completely, but you must select Temporary Files at a minimum.

4. Click OK.

5. Confirm that you want to permanently delete these files.

Optimizing and defragmenting hard disks

Over time, the computer’s hard disk can become damaged or fragmented (unavailable in a large contiguous block). If there is not enough contiguous space for the system to save a file, it saves pieces of the file to different locations on the disk. It takes an application longer to read a fragmented file whose pieces are saved in several locations.

To optimize and defragment the hard disk: Use the Disk Defragmenter:

* On Windows XP: Choose Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter.

* On Windows Vista: Choose Start, type Disk Defragmenter in the Search text box. Select Disk Defragmenter under Programs.

Windows virtual memory and Photoshop scratch disk files

Virtual memory allows your system to use hard-disk space to store information normally stored in memory (RAM). Because it takes longer to access information on a hard disk than it does to access information in memory, using a portion of the hard disk as virtual memory can decrease performance. In addition, Photoshop cannot use the hard-disk space the system uses for virtual memory for its scratch disk files, which it uses to store image information as you work. If you need more memory to work in Photoshop, Adobe Systems recommends installing more RAM.

Specifying a fixed virtual memory setting helps prevent Photoshop scratch disk files from competing for the same space with virtual memory, especially if you set the virtual memory setting on a different drive than the primary scratch disk. For both kinds of virtual memory, be sure to use a drive with enough free, uncompressed space. RAID 0 partitions provide the best possible performance as Photoshop scratch disks.

In Windows XP:

1. Quit all applications.

2. Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel and double-click System.

3. Click the Advanced tab and then select Settings in the Performance section.

4. Click the Advanced tab, and in the Virtual memory section, click Change.

5. From the Drive list, select a hard drive that has 1.5 times the amount of your computer’s installed RAM. For example, if your computer has 512 MB of RAM, select a hard drive that has at least 1 GB of free hard drive space, or 768 MB for Windows XP. For best performance, choose a hard drive not used for the Photoshop scratch disk(s).

6. In the Paging File Size for Selected Drive section, select Custom size (Windows XP only), and in the Initial Size box, enter a value equal to the twice the amount of your computer’s installed RAM.

7. In the Maximum Size box, enter a value equal to four times the amount of your computer’s installed RAM.

8. Click Set and then click OK.

Note: For the best performance, the Paging File should be on a separate, empty, de-fragmented hard disk.

9. Click to close the System Control Panel Applet (Windows XP).

10. To restart Windows, click Yes in the System Settings Change dialog box.

In Windows Vista:

1. Quit all applications.

2. Choose Start > Control Panel, and double-click System.

3. Choose Advanced System Settings in the Tasks list.

4. Select the Advanced tab and click Settings in the Performance section.

5. Select the Advanced tab and click Change.

6. Usually it’s best to allow Windows to manage the paging file. However, for the better performance, the Windows paging file should be on a different hard disk from the Photoshop scratch disk. To manage the paging file manually, set it to a different drive from the Photoshop scratch disk by deselecting Automatically Manage Paging File Size For All Drives.

7. Click each hard disk letter to show the available space on that drive. Select a hard drive that has three times the amount of your computer’s installed RAM and that doesn’t contain a scratch disk.

8. Select Custom Size, and type the amount of your physical RAM plus 300 MB in the Initial Size box. Type 3 times the amount of your computer’s installed RAM into the Maximum Size box. Click Set, and then click OK. Continue to click OK to exit all dialog boxes.

9. Restart your computer: If you have applications open, select Restart Later, close your applications, then restart Windows. Otherwise, click Restart Now.

Applications running in the background

Some applications may compete for memory with Photoshop and cause slowdowns or system errors. Before starting Photoshop, disable other applications, including startup items (items that start automatically with Windows).

In Windows XP:

Disable startup items:

1. Quit all applications.

2. Choose Start > Run, and type msconfig in the Open box. Click OK.

3. Click the Startup tab, and click Disable All.

4. Select any startup items that are essential for testing the problem. If you are unsure whether an item is essential, leave it deselected (disabled).

5. Click OK, and restart Windows.

Note: Depending on settings in the System Configuration utility, a System Configuration utility dialog box may appear after the restart asking you if you want to continue in Selective Startup mode. If this occurs, click OK once to close the message dialog box. Click OK again to quit the System Configuration utility. Click Exit Without Restart.

6. Right-click icons in the Notification Area (called the System Tray in earlier versions of Windows) to close or disable any startup items that are still active.

Then, try to re-create the problem:

* If the performance of Photoshop increases, one or more of the disabled startup items is conflicting with Photoshop. Reenable startup items one at a time, testing each time until you determine which item conflicts with Photoshop. Then contact that item’s developer for an update, if available.

* If the performance doesn’t change, startup items aren’t the cause and you can reenable them.

To reenable startup items:

1. Choose Start > Run, and type msconfig in the Open box. Click OK.

2. Click the Startup tab, and click Enable All.

3. Click OK, and restart Windows.

In Windows Vista:

1. Quit all applications.

2. Choose Start, type msconfig in the Search text box, and press Enter.

3. Write down all unselected items under the Startup and Services tabs.

4. Click the General tab, and choose Selective Startup.

5. Click the Startup tab and select Disable All.

6. Click Apply, and restart Windows for the changes to take effect.

Note: Upon restart, you’ll be notified that the System Configuration utility has made changes to the way that Windows starts up. Click OK. When the System Configuration utility appears, click Cancel.

7. Right-click icons in the Notification Area and close or disable any startup items that are still active.

Then, try to re-create the problem:

* If the performance doesn’t change, startup items aren’t the cause and you can reenable them.

To reenable startup items:

1. Choose Start > and type msconfig in the Search text box, and press Enter.

2. Click the Startup tab, and click Enable All.

3. Click OK, and restart Windows Vista.

Hardware

Photoshop performance is limited by the hardware you use: faster the processors or hard disks allow for faster image information processing. Other hardware options, such as installing additional RAM, using a multiprocessor system, or using optimized and defragmented disks, can also improve performance.

Processor speed

Image information processing speed is limited by the speed of the computer’s processor, or CPU (Central Processing Unit). Photoshop requires a Pentium 4 or faster processor.

All Photoshop features are faster on a multiprocessor system, although some can take greater advantage of the multiprocessor system’s capabilities than others.

Installed RAM

Photoshop requires that the available RAM is several times the size of each image, depending on how you use the application. If Photoshop has insufficient memory, it uses hard-disk space (scratch disk) to process information. Because accessing information in memory is faster than accessing information on a hard disk, Photoshop is fastest when it can process all or most image information in memory (RAM), without using the scratch disk. Allocate enough memory to Photoshop to accommodate your largest image file.

To check use of memory for Photoshop, open the Efficiency Indicator by choosing Show > Efficiency from the pop-up menu on the status bar of your image. This indicator displays the percentage of time Photoshop spends completing an operation instead of reading or writing the scratch disk. If the value is less than 95-100%, then Photoshop is using the scratch disk and, therefore, is operating more slowly than necessary. If the efficiency is around 60%, you’ll see a large performance increase by changing your RAM allocation or adding RAM.

Hard disks

Since Photoshop reads and writes image information while working on an image, the faster the access speed of the disk containing your image or the scratch disk, the faster Photoshop can process image information. To improve Photoshop performance, work on files saved on disks with fast access speeds, such as an internal hard disk, rather than those with slow access speeds, such as a network server (hard disk accessed over a network) or removable media, for example, Zip disks. Removable media often have slower access times and are more easily damaged than nonremovable disks.

Resources

The following books and websites provide troubleshooting tips and general information about Windows.

Books

Microsoft Windows Resource Kits

Windows for Dummies books

Websites

Microsoft Support: http://support.microsoft.com

CNET: http://www.cnet.com

ArsTechnica: http://arstechnica.com/index.ars

MBH Newsletter

missesbeehaven — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:12:55 PDT

Each week we will be posting a digital newsletter for you.

The Misses BeeHaven Designz newsletter will include new products, feature designers, scrapbook layouts, freebies, challenges and lots more.

We will be posting the weekly newsletter each weekend.

If you would like to receive the newsletter a day earlier to get news of the sales before everyone else, please sign up for the MBH Newsletter here

Save The Memories Wordart

missesbeehaven — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:39:48 PDT

Preserve your photos and family memories one scrapbook page at a time, that was we are doing each time we finish a scrapbook layout page. This wordart freebie is about just that, Saving The Memories.

You can download the Save The Memories Wordart using the download link below.

This freebie will only be available for a short time be quick so you don’t miss out.
Please leave your comments, I love reading them and they do give me encouragement to make and share more freebies for you.

Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Welcome our Store Designers

missesbeehaven — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:35:05 PDT

A warm welcome to our store designers

Check back — with our designer team at MBH store because we are still growing!

Spring Garden Blog Train

missesbeehaven — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:56:50 PDT

Chooo Chooo!!! The sprin blog train has arrived and be quick to snap up this vibrant full size sprint kit.

This Blog Train Freebie will only be available for a short time be quick so you don’t miss out.
Please leave your comments, I love reading them and they do give me encouragement to make and share more freebies for you.

Click here to download

Don’t forget to stop by the other Train stations to pick up the rest of the train goodies

Gail http://aussiescraps.blogspot.com/
Rachel of http://rachelsexpressionz.blogspot.com/
Miriana http://littlecornerofscrapbooking.blogspot.com/
Susan http://tootypupscraps.blogspot.com/
Ang La Rue http://www.anglarue.missesbeehaven.com/
Lynne http://babycakesscraps.blogspot.com/
Ella http://foxyladycreation.blogspot.com/
Lena http://a-design-lena.blogspot.com/
Nicole http://irresistiblescraps.blogspot.com/
Jill http://created-by-jill.blogspot.com/
Caitlyn http://crazycakesscraps.blogspot.com/
Grazy http://grazythebeauty.blogspot.com/
Incognito http://www.incognito11967.blogspot.com/
Stacie http://www.cakescreations.blogspot.com/
Lou http://designzbylou.blogspot.com/
Charly http://perfectposers.blogspot.com/
Marieche http://scrappindsigns.blogspot.com/
Kara http://karasdesigns.blogspot.com/
Vicki http://geminicreationz-byvickig.blogspot.com/
Lorraine http://artlorsdesignshoppe.blogspot.com/
Connie http://conniescreativechaos.blogspot.com/
Darla http://darlajcapes.blogspot.com/
Terri http://terisscrappinplaytime.blogspot.com/
Steffy & Laura http://thefishqueenandtheprincessofpinkdopsp.blogspot.com/
Tina http://tinasmagicalscrapworld.blogspot.com/
Tammy http://this-n-that-by-tammy.blogspot.com/
Candy http://candystreasures.blogspot.com/
Jalee renee http://jaleerenee.blogspot.com/
Sashi http://sashi-backznscrapz.blogspot.com/
Spencer http://humbuggraphicsgalore.blogspot.com/
Melanie www.missesbeehaven.com/blog/

Wedding Bells Are Ringing

missesbeehaven — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:13:23 PDT

The bits and Bobs Blog train is departing and is filled with a gorgeous collection of wedding themed kits.

You can download the Touch of Ivory sampler kit for a short time during the Wedding Bits and Bobs Train.

Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Jump on board and pick up your next Wedding kit using the Blog Train Station links below.

Train station

Bits N Bobs
The cats meow
Digital blueprint
Digicats (and dogs)
Winters loft
BeeHaven Designz **You are Here**
Gothic inspirations
Tagging angels n scraps
Seachells scrapz
KNC Scraps

It’s Here…

missesbeehaven — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:13:04 PDT

180 designers set out to make a unique tagger kit, with 1 common color scheme.
The result was the LARGEST tagger collab in HISTORY!

All of your favorite designers, All of your favorite stores are hosting this One-of-a-kind multi-store collab!
Just look for the “Starving Artist” collab folder!

Here is a preview of the Artistic Nature kit,just one part of the 180 possible kits you can buy in this awesome “Starving Artist” collab

A list of stores are provided as well as a list of designers.
Be sure to check them all out to get one heck of colorful, unique tagger MASSIVE collab.

But Hurry!!! This collab ONLY runs through the month of July at a Low introductory rate per kit!

Check out the blog to find your favourite store & designers! And to get a peak at their kits!!!

40% Off Grand Opening Sale

missesbeehaven — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:27:00 PDT

Come and join the grand opening celebrations with 40% off store wide *
(* excludes Starving Artists Collab)

40% off products from your favourite designers:

Angel’s Designz
AngLaRue Creations
Boos Creations
Cazie
Digital Designs by Liz
Foxylady Creations
Ice Princess Scrapz
Kellys Kreation
LisaJo Creations
Morgaine Creations
Scrappin Wright
Sticky Kisses Designs
Stitchy Angel Creationz