Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 6/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: I am running WIN XP Pro with 2 x 200 Gig hard drives and one 40Gig hard drive which is a dedicated scratch drive for both Illustrator and Photoshop.  The scratch drive has 38 Gigs of memory free for use.  I have 4Gigs of RAM.  I use CS3 Extended.

I am currently working with a rather complex line drawing in .ai format that has about 30 layers in it. The file is 5000px X 2100px and comes in at 1.66MB.  When I try File>Export>as a PSD file with layers intact, Illustrator starts the process and then tells me it has insufficient memory to carry out the task.  I don't think so!  I have checked for stray points and there do not appear to be any.  Am I missing something?

ANSWER: Hi David,

Believe it or not, 4 gigs of RAM may not be enough! The issue that most people don't realize that it is not about the total RAM you have, but the available RAM.

Windows uses quite a bit of RAM before you even open an app, as does the number of loaded fonts you have in your HD. Antivirus apps, plug-ins, etc. all take away from your total RAM and it adds up.

I would start by taking all normal precautions (turn off everything but AI, check to see how many active fonts are running, etc.) Open your memory manager in windows and watch for spikes and the actual memory usage once you open AI and start the process.

Exporting a complex drawing with layers intact, really does tax your active memory. Once you know how much active memory you have and have viewed the memory usage when you run the export, you may be surprised at how much it really needs.

One easy workaround is to export without layers or to just import this directly into Photoshop without exporting. (In PS File>Place)

Hope this helps. If you still have issues let me know what you find out and write back!

Thanks

Kevin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Exporting the file to PSD format without the layers is pointless.  Why do you think I'm going to all that trouble in the first place on a b&w line drawing?  I wasn't aware fonts were running when you weren't using them and I have about three times the normal amount.  How do you shut them off?

Answer
Hi David,

First, please do not be rude when responding.

As for your font problem. You will need to locate them and remove them from the font folder in your system. I create an a folder called "inactive" on the desktop and drag them there. The better option if you can is to purchase a font management software package that will turn them on and off as needed so you do not have to do this.

Linotype.com has a free one that is very stable. Otherwise you will have to keep doing this manually.

Thanks

Kevin