Why are PSD files so large?

PSD files store each layer separately and use lossless compression. A 4000 x 5000 px file with 20 layers can easily reach 1 GB. Flatten unnecessary layers and purge clipboard history to reduce file size.

What format gives the smallest file size?

JPEG at medium quality gives the smallest files (about 8% of uncompressed) but loses detail. PNG is lossless but smaller than TIFF. For working files, PSD/Procreate with native compression offers good size-to-quality balance.

How does bit depth affect file size?

16-bit files are exactly twice the size of 8-bit files at the same dimensions. 32-bit files are four times larger. Most digital art is done in 8-bit — use 16-bit only when you need smooth gradients or heavy editing.

How much storage do I need for digital art?

A typical digital painting at 4000 x 5000 px, 8-bit RGB with 10 layers is about 200-400 MB. If you create one painting per week, budget about 20 GB per year. Use external SSDs for archive storage.

Does colour mode affect file size?

Yes — CMYK has 4 channels versus RGB which has 3, making CMYK files 33% larger. Greyscale has only 1 channel and is a third the size of RGB. RGBA adds a transparency channel, matching CMYK in file size.

ArtCalcs

File Size Calculator — Digital Image File Size

Estimate the file size of a digital image based on resolution, bit depth and format.

Pixel Width

Pixel Height

Bit Depth

Colour Mode

File Format

Number of Layers

How We Calculate This

How File Size Calculation Works

Uncompressed = Width x Height x Channels x Bytes per channel

The uncompressed size is multiplied by a compression ratio for the chosen format (e.g., PSD 0.85, PNG 0.4, JPEG high 0.15). Multiple layers multiply the file size, with a 15% overhead reduction for layer compression.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.