How to Empty Photoshop Scratch Disk
Are you experiencing slow performance in Photoshop? One common reason for this issue is a full scratch disk. The scratch disk is a temporary storage space that Photoshop uses to store intermediate files and cache data. When it gets full, Photoshop may slow down or even crash. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to empty the Photoshop scratch disk and improve your workflow.
1. Locate the Scratch Disk
First, you need to find out which disk is being used as the scratch disk in Photoshop. To do this, go to Photoshop’s Preferences menu:
1. Click on “Edit” in the top menu bar.
2. Select “Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
3. Choose “Performance” from the list of options on the left side.
In the Performance preferences window, you will see a section called “Scratch Disks.” Here, you can see the list of available disks and their current usage. The disk with the highest usage is likely your scratch disk.
2. Reset Scratch Disk Usage
Once you have identified the scratch disk, you can reset its usage by following these steps:
1. Still in the Performance preferences window, click on the “Reset Scratch Disks” button. This will clear the scratch disk and start fresh.
2. Photoshop will prompt you to confirm the reset. Click “OK” to proceed.
After resetting the scratch disk, Photoshop will start using the disk again for temporary files. It’s important to note that this process will delete all the existing files on the scratch disk, so make sure you have saved any important work before proceeding.
3. Change Scratch Disk Settings
If you want to change the scratch disk settings permanently, you can do so by following these steps:
1. In the Performance preferences window, click on the disk you want to use as the scratch disk.
2. Click on the “Set” button next to the “Scratch Disks” section. This will set the selected disk as the primary scratch disk.
3. You can also add more scratch disks by clicking on the “Add” button and selecting additional disks. Photoshop will automatically manage the usage of these disks.
Remember to choose scratch disks with enough free space to avoid performance issues in the future.
4. Monitor Scratch Disk Usage
To keep an eye on your scratch disk usage and ensure it doesn’t fill up again, you can periodically check the Performance preferences window. This will help you identify any potential issues and take action before they affect your workflow.
In conclusion, emptying the Photoshop scratch disk is a simple process that can significantly improve your software’s performance. By following these steps, you can manage your scratch disk settings and ensure that Photoshop runs smoothly.
