Let's begin by stating what File Browser isn't. File Browser isn't a
replacement for Windows Explorer or the Apple Finder. In other words
"asset" or "file management" are not File Browsers intended use. In a
sense you could think of the File Browser as a Digital Light Box, but
then that would ignore the fact that it does much more than allow the
digital Photographer to preview a batch of images prior to editing. The
File Browser is a workflow tool, which has been designed so that digital
photographers can, amongst other things: view, rotate, search, sort,
flag, rank and annotate digital image files directly from within Adobe
Photoshop. File Browser also provides you with the facility to automate
Photoshop processes such as: renaming images; insert metadata; convert
camera raw files; build contact sheets and web photo galleries; and
create PDF presentations. However, all of this flexibility comes at a
price with some users finding that it has an unwelcome impact on the
overall performance of the application. Nevertheless, with careful setup
and a better understanding of how File Browser processes and caches
images you should realise significant improvements in your Photoshop
workflow.
A printer friendly version of this tutorial 790 Kbytes) is available
for those who would prefer to read this tutorial in a more conventional
format. Click the following Icon to download it
Figure 1 - File Browser Layout
(Default View)
Part 1 - Configuring the File Browser
Preferences
The key to maximising File Browser performance is for you to ensure
that the special preference settings are optimally configured to meet
your needs. The File Browser preferences can be configured from the main
Photoshop Preferences dialog box (found at the bottom of the Edit
menu on PC's or Photoshop menu on the Mac) or from the Edit menu of the
File Browser itself. Actually, where you choose to configure File Browser
from really makes no difference; the important thing is to do it right.
So, what do the various options mean, when should you deviate from the
defaults, and should you even be concerned?
I'll take the last question first. OK then, the answer to our last
question is YES you should be concerned because configuring the File
Browser preferences wrongly has the potential to slow your computer to a
virtual standstill. Figure 2 below shows the default File Browser
preferences and to be perfectly honest I find little or nothing actually
wrong with these settings. However, since some users have been quite
vociferous in their criticism of these defaults I thought it might be
helpful to offer up some of my own thoughts on each. Hopefully the
following explanation will also shed some light on why some users have
observed a significant reduction in performance since upgrading from
Photoshop 7. I've also added a few tips along the way.
Figure 2 - Default File Browser
Preferences
Do Not Process Files Larger than: ------- MB. The value you
choose here determines the file size below which the File Browser will
create Thumbnail and Preview; images. The larger the file size the longer
it will take to create the thumbnail and preview images. In a folder with
many large images (especially images with multiple layers) it is possible
that File Browser will take many minutes or even hours to automatically
generate all the Thumbnail and Preview images. Therefore, if your work
typically results in many larger multi layer files you should stick with
the default value or lower.
Tip: Creating the previews and thumbnails for the large or
multilayered images can be done later by simply clicking the image icon
in File Browsers thumbnail palette.
Display: ---- Most Recently Used Folders in the Location Popup.
The default is 10 and I see little reason to change it. For those who
haven't already established where to find the Location Popup I've
identified it (red text) in Figure 1 above.
Custom Thumbnail Size: ---- px Wide. The default size for
custom thumbnails is 256 pixels wide and many users will find this to be
more than adequate. Choosing a larger size may be beneficial when using a
large display or for when you create a customised File Browser layout
with the focus on thumbnails (e.g.
Figure 11 on page 3).
Options
Allow Background Processing. This option is Off by default and
generally it's recommended that you leave it Off. When this option is
set to On it will: collect the metadata, generate the thumbnail images,
and preview images whilst letting you do something else in Photoshop.
The problem with allowing File Browser to work in the background is that
it uses processor cycles and can slow down everything else in Photoshop.
This slow down can be very significant and has the potential to bring
even the most powerful of computers to a virtual standstill. At best
you'll see some screen or tool anomalies such as: the Healing Brush
and Clone Stamp tool becoming very slow or unresponsive, and
screen is slow to redraw after zooming or applying filters. Unless you
have very good reason for doing otherwise it would be prudent to leave
this option at its default setting.
Tip: Photoshop users who are in the habit of minimising the
File Browser are in fact allowing it to operate in Background
Processing mode, which may explain why they experience lower than
expected performance, even when this option is Off. You should always
CLOSE File Browser when you're not using it or at least be aware
that when minimised it's still working away in the background.
High Quality Previews. The default On option means that File
Browser generates relatively high quality images that enable you to view
large fully colour managed preview images. Setting this option to Off
will mean that the previews will not be accurately colour rendered and
possibly pixelated, but they will be generated a lot faster. It's also
worth noting that when generating thumbnails/preview images for digital
cameras File Browser derives a lot of information relating to each image
from the Camera Raw database or individual XMP (Extensible
Metadata Platform) sidecar files. This means that as you alter
the white balance or otherwise edit the image within Camera Raw then it
will be the result of these edits that will be previewed.
Figure 12 on page 3
shows a customised layout with the focus on large high quality previews.
Render Vector files.
As the name implies this option allows File Browser to create or not
previews for Vector based formats such as PDF and EPS. Unless you have
very good reason to enable it then it's best left in the default Off
state.
Parse XMP Metadata from Non-Image Files.
This option enables File Browser to extract metadata from non-image
files such as the sidecar files that are created by applications such as
Adobe Illustrator. The default setting is Off and currently I see little
reason to enable it.
Keep Sidecar Files with Master Files.
This is without doubt the most important setting within the File
Browser preferences dialog, and if I had no more time or space to
explain what it does then I would simply say - "LEAVE IT ON". Why
do I say to leave it On? Simple, doing so should ensure that everything
you do with or to your images (e.g. keywords, flags, metadata,
etc.) within File Browser will be recorded and stored in a sidecar file
that travels with the original image. This workflow can be further
improved by configuring the Camera Raw preferences to also store
individual image settings in the sidecar file (see figure 3 below).
Figure 3 - Camera Raw
Preferences
Page 1 of 3
