Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Mike's Software => Qimage Ultimate => Topic started by: ajn on June 18, 2011, 07:16:36 PM



Title: Problem loading 1.2 GB images
Post by: ajn on June 18, 2011, 07:16:36 PM
I am having trouble doing some test prints with Q.U. I think I know the problem but am not sure exactly how to go about fixing it. I read through the thread of the post started on May 22, 2011 ( "What's Qimage Ultimate max file size?" ) and it was helpful in identifying a similar problem but I admit I got lost in some of the tech speak.

I am getting the "Image Read Error" when I open a folder with a dozen images I'd like to print. These are 1.2 GB files ( 12 micron scans of 240 mm x 240 mm negatives ) that I would like to print at various sizes from 10" x 10" to 40" x 40". I am running Windows XP Pro and have 2.6 GB of physical memory available but when I do a Help/Shift/Analyze Current Settings I get Start:764MB, Addl:449, Now:344 MB. I can hear you saying "That's the problem!" I assume then that I simply need more RAM; I have a techie friend who generally helps me through these issues but I thought I would ask you experts some general questions. How much RAM should I need? There are no other programs running, and I don't know where or how to look for other programs using up memory in background. Will sufficient RAM allow me to process multiple 1.2GB files? I know I can compress these images for the smaller prints, but I would like to be able to use all of the data for larger prints.

Thanks for any advice!

Andrew


Title: Re: Problem loading 1.2 GB images
Post by: Fred A on June 18, 2011, 07:42:43 PM
Hi Andrew,
There are quite a few knowledgeable people on here with inside information of how much RAM XP can actually make use of. Then there was a switch that could be used to make Windows use more of the plugged in memory.
So hang in there until someone sees your post that knows the answers.
It is Father's Day weekend, so some may be celebrating their day.
Fred


Title: Re: Problem loading 1.2 GB images
Post by: BrianPrice on June 18, 2011, 08:39:32 PM
Andrew

I think you can safely reduce the size of your image before printing, 1.2 Gb is huge. A 40" x 40"  file at 300dpi is only 814Mb, and you won't see any difference in quality as the file will be reduced for printing anyway.

Brian


Title: Re: Problem loading 1.2 GB images
Post by: ajn on June 20, 2011, 02:39:45 PM
Thank you Fred and Brian,

I will be tweaking some of my settings to see if I can get away with not compressing any files ... I realize that I do have more pixels than I need. I may just get more RAM if that is the "easy" fix. I assume that QU allows you to batch many large ( 800 MB ) files, does it just process them sequentially as data flows to the printer? Thanks again.

Andrew


Title: Re: Problem loading 1.2 GB images
Post by: BrianPrice on June 21, 2011, 06:42:01 AM
Andrew

Windows XP is a 32 bit system and can only address a maximum of 4Gb ram and then only with a line added to the boot.ini file, and even with that you will often only see 3Gb of it.
My system has Vista 64bit with 4Gb ram and my QI 'Information' is 2000/1792/2000. I did a bit of experimenting - a 1.267Gb file shows up properly in QI, a 1.418GB one gives an 'Image Read Error'. I suspect there will be differences form machine to machine.

Brian