I'm at work trying to open a 1.4GB (not a typo) tif file, and its just not happening. I have a Dell PWS670 Workstation with a 3.60 Ghz Xeon processor and 3.25 GB of RAM, running WinXP. Either the computer isn't capable of opening and editing it, or the admittably basic imaging software isn't going to open it, and AutoCAD 2005 won't open it. Its an aerial for a water pipeline covering three counties, so I need to be able to open it in AutoCAD if at all possible.

Any suggestions?

(Situation resolved, the file that was sent was somehow corrupted when it was exported from its original format to a georeferenced tiff...now it opens in Photoshop beautifully, and in about 4 seconds...goddamn I love this computer!)

Obviously the problem is that you have WAY too much RAM in your computer. Take about 2GB out and send it to me. THat should solve most or all of your problems.

You're welcome.

Try using ACDSee and be prepared to wait a very long time.

1. Give RAM to Paradigm
2. ????
3. Profit and accesible file!?!

Somehow I don't think that'll work.

I haven't tried ACDSee yet...at this point I'm willing to try almost anything.

Any and all suggestions welcome, even sarcastic ones.

Find some liberal arts majors, give them a big piece of paper and have them draw it for you.

try photoshop?

its obviously going to take a long time to load, so xp is going to see it as not responding but let it go.

I work with large images a lot, not that big but my computer isnt that fast either so i guess its the same thing. Just give it time

Would the programs I'm working with simply have a maximum file size that they can work with? I'm certain they weren't written with the idea of editing 1.4 gig images in mind. Where would I go to find that sort of info?

Might try the Gimp and save it as PNG

You'd probably have to email whoever makes the program. I'm a bit suprised that autocad would have a filesize limit less than 2gigs, but who knows. Your best bet is to reduce the color depth and re-save it as a different format that's supported by autocad.

I rescind my suggestion, and cast my vote for CatYourAss's idea. It's far superior.

use google earth instead....

Do you need all the image data or are you planning on resampling it to a more usable size?

Wow dude, just wow. I don't care what you do it will take a long time to load.

Does AutoCAD tell you it fails to load or just lock up?

Until you answer FattyBuddha's question, check the following:

*Make sure you have a large amount of free and de-fragmented disk space.
*Set your program to use as much of that space as possible, Photoshop calls it a 'Scratch Disk' but it's basicly a swap-file, you'll need the space. If you have a RAID array, this is a good time to use it.
*Have a stack of your favorite movies handy, you'll need a lot of patience to work with an image that big. (move cursor, wait, click, wait, drag, wait, wait, wait more, hurry up and wait, unclick, wait, get the idea, wait for it...)

Fattybuddha, I do need all of the image data. It was originally a series of smaller aerial images, but we had it orthographically rectified into one large image that takes into account the curvature of the earth and other similar problems. Basically the same thing GoogleEarth does with its satellite images, just better, and with much higher resolution. At this point though, I'll settle for getting the main image and breaking it into usable pieces to plug into AutoCAD.

WhtHawk, AutoCAD simply gives me a fatal error message complaining about lack of memory, it doesn't just lock up. I'll try the Photoshop thing as soon as I can get my hands on a copy. Does AutoCAD have a similar "Scratch Disk" that I can change as well? Alas, for all the great things about this computer, it doesn't have a RAID array, just a 250 GB 7200RPM HD.

Thanks for the ideas guys, keep them coming.

No matter what program you use, xp will prob. say Not responding. Out of curiosity how much video memory do you have?

EDIT::spelling