Do you save your .psd files?

[Wes]

I'm getting crunched on hard drive space. I don't really have the money to buy additional storage at this time so I'm trying to determine what I actually need to save on my machine, and what I can lose. I've read a couple of articles that suggest that many photographer's don't save their .psd files. I'm a pack-rat and hate to delete anything (which is a big part of my problem) and I'm not sure how wise it would be to get rid of my .psd files.

What do you guys do?

[srwatters]

I used to delete them before I got the Mac Pro. Now with plenty of space, I do tend to keep them. Usually if I know prints will be needed, I'll save the layered 16bit files as masters. For images that I know will never see paper, I keep 8bit flat tiff files in uncropped and cropped forms. YMMV.

[AndrewCCM]

Yep. I pretty much save everything.

I archive to DVD RAW files.

[andyz]

I save my original RAW or JPEG, and I most certainly save the PSD. It has all the post work and allows you to make minor tweaks if you want later, without recreating the wheel.

I save that final JPEG off the PSD and keep it on my harddrive. The original file and PSD go onto two DVDs. One is on-site storage, the other is off-site. A contact sheet is printed allowing me to go back to the DVDs easily if I want to.

[Roy]

I don't save all PSD files but have some where I spent some time working on the photo. Just depends on how important the shoot was to me. I expect I have plenty no one will care less about so I have deleted RAW files where I didn't think it mattered but I still at least keep the JPG. There's a lot of RAW files I save too though. I just ordered a 100 pack of RiData DVD's from Newegg.com today for only $21.99. That will save quite a few files.

[bondarnes]

About eight weeks after the final order is delivered I archive the entire client folder including .psd files to a DVD. It is filed with the original camera files in the client session envelope and the client folder on the computer is deleted.

[Duffy Pratt]

I save RAW and finished files of all pictures worth keeping. I periodically go through the collection and throw at as many pictures as I can. I don't save .PSD files. Technology is changing too fast, and my skill at post processing is improving. If I need to make a "tweak," its just as easy to start from scratch, and its likely that my results will be better. I might make an exception for a picture that saw a ton of PP work, but there aren't enough of them to make it a space issue.

BTW, my collection currently resides in three copies, on three separate external hard drives. Soon, I will also migrate most, or all, of it online.

Duffy

[Detonate]

I save my PSD files because I do a lot of custom masking. It would take too much time to redo the masking layers for Sharp and Smooth layers, as well as some of the eyes, and teeth brightening....

I'd say my in depth workflow is at least 10 minutes per image, well worth the minor storage space requirements if I ever need to go back to it.

[SaundraU]

I keep the PSD and original RAW. I delete any JPEG images I have that were used to post to the web.

[DeLeon]

Thanks for this thread..it has really gotten me thinking.

[adirty1]

I am pretty much like Don. However, my client folders also live on the raid5 and back up disk as long as possible. Only problem with dvd's is that you have to have a fire safe that is rated to keep a temp below 120 degrees for 2 hours. The backups on the HDD travel home with me just like a backup of the DVD's that live in the cheap fire safe at the house. Not as worried about client images as I am worried about my personal images.

[haysfour]

Another "thank you" for this thread. Everybody's got a different way of handling things for different reasons. I really like all the different input. Helps me alot.

[MicWayWal]

Wes,

With each session I start a new client folder on my RAID5 server in my LAN.

The client folder contains the following folders:
Creative Ideas - unique ideas I have to present to the client
Deleted Files - files are NEVER deleted (too many mistakes)
Final Images - Where finished PSDs and Final JPGs
Marked Previews - Previews that are marked with Logo watermark
Previews - JPEG files that are used for selling
Raw Files - Original image files
Web - where I put a webpage if needed for the client

I save everything I do for this client somewhere in their folder. If I need to delete a file I don't really delete it, I just move it to the Deleted Files folders. You never know when it can be used to assist on other images. I save every thing and every file.
When I am finished, or after delivery, I simply burn the entire client folder TWICE on DVDs, CDs or both. I then store one copy onsite and the other offsite.
When the folder is "archived" and the files are verified I remove the client folder from my server to free up space.

If you are low on Hard Drive space you are going to run into more problems with you computer than where you are going to put some image files. Computers need Hard Drive space to run efficently.

Do you have another computer you can use to network together and gain some more space?

[wjmphoto]

I save everything. Back up to multiple hard drives and then to DVD with the originals, then I go through the culling and editing process and save those files using sync toy. After that, I do one last backup and kill the files from my main disc.

If you are going to shoot a lot, especially for clients, you will have to invest in external storage eventually and keep them in storage as you fill them up. It's part of the cost of using digital.

[UberPhLuBB]

I save 'em only if there's more than a few minutes PP. Anything that involves more than moving sliders.