File Organization Re. Cover Photos

[Connie]

I'm downloading a whole bunch of product images using Zazzle's FANTASTIC new option, which makes it so much easier to make cover photos. However, it's taking up a lot of space on my computer, and on my backup hard drives! Do you all keep the original images after you've made the cover photos? Any tips on file handling and organization are gratefully welcome, please.

If I'm using Smart Object mockups, I download the Artwork, but if I'm using flatlays or similar (like for cards), I download the Product Mockups, and then isolate the product itself. Once I isolate the first one with a layer mask, it's extremely easy to drag and drop all the rest of the same kind of products into the file, and copy the mask onto each layer. So if I save that Photoshop file with all the images, I really don't need the originals any more. Technically, I don't need isolated PNGs either, because I can just copy the relevant layers into whatever flatlay image I'm using. But I am undecided if it would be better to save at least the isolated pngs, if not the original files?

[Baylee]

I sure wouldn't bother saving all those files since it's so easy to go back and download it again if you really need it for something. When the product is just a simple rectangle or circle, I don't even bother creating a mask in photoshop, I just use the marquee tool to select the object and then copy and paste that to my cover image file. When it's a shape that's more difficult to isolate, I'll do it once and then save the selection in a file that I can access every time I need to select that particular product shape again. So basically I make all my cover photos by just copying and pasting the isolated product selection onto my backgrounds. That way there is no need to keep even png images cuz it's so easy to redo if I need that particular product isolated again.

[Connie]

Thank you. That's what I was thinking. I do use the masks even for rectangles, just to make sure I get the selection perfect every time. It's super quick to drag and drop all of the cards into the Photoshop file, copy the mask to all the layers, and then I can select each one and place it into the appropriate background. Of course, that means that Photoshop file is pretty big! But I found a good way to cut down drastically on the file size- just put a white layer on top.

[Lais]

I don't use Photoshop, I use Krita, which is similar. I create .kra files (similar to .psd files) in which I can just add the .png downloaded from Zazzle to create my mockup. Once it's done, I go to the export option and save it as a .jpg file with maximum compression. It's not needed to save as a new .png file cause it takes a lot of space and the image shown on Z marketplace will be very small anyway. I also don't keep the images (the isolated PNGs) inside my .kra file. 

As for the isolated PNGs, I keep them on my computer. If I need space I will just open them on Krita, export them as .jpg, and then delete the png.

As an example, the image below saved on my computer as a png has a 12Mb size. But, saved as a jpg has a 2Mb size.

[Connie]

Yes, I save the finished cover images as jpegs. My problem is saving all the downloaded pngs from Zazzle, whether before or after I isolate them. They take up a lot more space, and I'm not sure if I need them anyway, after I've made the cover photo.

BTW, that's a super cute cover photo!

[Marcia]

And then, there's me. I keep EVERYTHING! (lol) You never know when you'll need something you created. And if Zazzle goes down, you have nothing. I have a 4TB hard drive in my iMac. If I run out of room, I'll transfer my oldest files to an external drive. (Last year, my hard drive corrupted & I had to have this one installed. I also have an external drive that is used for time machine backups. Fortunately, I lost practically nothing when that happened.)

[Lais]

I once had a nightmare about Zazzle going down, that was terrifying. 

[Connie]

Yes, I'm usually like that as well, but I figure if Zazzle goes down, I won't need those product images anyway. I only have a 2TB internal SSD drive (plus a couple of small ones that the programs are installed on), and while that seemed like a ton a few years ago, it's rapidly diminishing. I have 3 2TB external drives and a 4TB that I use for backups, so I suppose I could just remove the screencaps folder from my computer and put them on a couple of the external drives for storage.

[Lais]

Wow, you have a lot of space! I have 2Tb internal HD and it's like "infinite space" to me. Maybe your files are not being compressed enough? This is the folder where I store everything related to Zazzle + other stuff: 

It has 31,963 files and occupies 171 Gb in HD. 

[Lais]

I think Photoshop should have a similar option as below, when saving your files try to use the maximum compression without quality loss.

The number '9' in the image above indicates that is going to be compressed the most. Also, I do not save the transparency when it's not needed because it occupies too much space.

[Marcia]

@Lais & @KeegansCreation yeah, 4TB! I was getting to the point where I was going to have to start offloading files to store since I had the Apple 2TB & then my hard drive died. So I had the option of buying a 3rd party drive & the repair place (not Apple) installed it. The stuff on my computer goes years back when I was in advertising & I also have my freelance design business. As well as I do have stores on S6, Redbubble & FineArt America (although I never work on them anymore & they don't make me any $$$). S6 files can be huge!

[KeegansCreation]

I only save the Photoshop files, not the isolates I made from the Zazzle downloads. And these Photoshop files I only save on external hard drives (multiple ones like you, so I have backups). Photoshop files get big fast so I decided that instead of using space saving workarounds so that all files could fit on my computer (an ultimately losing proposition) I would just have them on computer just long enough to build and upload them and once uploaded I'd copy/move them to the external hard drives and never worry about space on the computer itself.

Wait. What did I just read from Marcia? 4TB internal hard drive?!!! OMG I want that. I would still have backup external hard drives but 4TB. 4TB!!!! even the most layered PSD won't put a dent in that (yet).

[Deb]

You would be surprised how quick space gets used up with large files..  

4TB!!!! even the most layered PSD won't put a dent in that (yet).

That's what I thought .... my son just bought me last Christmas (have not been off my PC long enough to have him install it all yet  LOL ...)    Desktop Hard Drive 16TB  .. and an additional WD Red™ Pro 6TB NAS Hard Drive

You just cannot have enough HD space or ram for that matter.. IMHO