Can PKC be used with reduced files?

[malland]

I've tried PKC on a friend's machine and find, as expected, with so many layers, the files rapidly become huge which is a problem on my 1GB RAM computer.

1. My friend suggested that one could reduce the file size to, say, 25% of the original size and, after running all the PKC actions, resize it gain to 100% and drag the final (adjusted) layer over to the 100% file. Are there any problems in working in this way?

2. Could one use PK Sharpener in the same way on reduced files, and then increase to 100% and drag the sharpened layer over to the original 100% file?

[Bruce Fraser]

You could do this with PK Color, but please don't try it with Sharpener!

If sharpener's layers become a huge problem, you can either

flatten the file, hence no size increase, or

merge all the sharpening layers to a new layer set to luminosity blending (create new layer, Option-Alt Merge Visible, then delete the sharpener layers) so you only add the overhead of one layer.

[Martin Evening]

It is not something that I would like recommend with PhotoKit Color and definitely would not advise with photoKit Sharpener!

I suggest you run PhotoKit Sharpener first and then merge the layers down by flattening the image. If you are running lots of PhotoKit Color effects then you could consider duplicating the Background layer and merging the effect result with this layer at the end of each so as to avoid acummulating lots and lots of layers. If you absolutely must follow the route you describe then try blending the merged effects layer that has been enlarged back up, using Color blend mode. this will help preserve the luminance information in the underlying image layers.

Martin