Very long time to load a simple JPEG image in Photo

[jlow]

I don't really worry about the time it takes to load the program, but what makes me wonder is why the program takes so long to load an image.

Simple JPEG image 1,500x724 pixels.  In the same machine running Photoshop elements, the image loads in about 1 second.  The same image in Affinity Photo takes 7 seconds.

I should clarify, the image itself loads very fast i.e. in 1 second or less, but something obviously is happening after it loads as the first image is low res and cursor is very non-responsive and the histograms in the right window does not show up until 7 seconds at which time the cursor is working normally.

Can someone tell me why?  and more importantly what I can change to make it load faster?

[thomaso]

Can you upload this .jpg?

[NotMyFault]

And provide the exact specs of your PC

[jlow]

It's been I while since I wrote this and originally posted this on the board as an add on to another post - no response so I reposted this here so I am not sure which image.

But the problem is affecting every image so here is another example.  This image is a JPEG 49.9KB 800x400 pixels.  Load time was about 6 seconds from clicking "Open" to when the histogram appears and the mouse is responsive. Load time in Element <1 sec.

Dell XPS 13 9350, Intel Core i7, 2.20 GHz 16 Gig RAM.  

Sorry, I get the following when I drag file to attach or via choose file... 3x with same results.

"Sorry, an unknown server error occurred when uploading this file.

(Error code: -200)"

 

Edited June 5, 2022 by jlow

[NotMyFault]

The histogram is rated as low priority, it may show up any time later, sometimes does not update (open bug report)

[jlow]

Retry image load - still same error message. What gives?

[jlow]

I don't care about the histogram, the problem as I mentioned in the OP is the program is very un-responsive until the histogram loads....  Basically the program will not do anything until that happens....

[thomaso]

12 minutes ago, jlow said:

(Error code: -200)"

Oh, I forgot you are a new user for the forum's software. Not sure but I vaguely remember there are some limitations up to a certain number of posts or days. Maybe uploading files is one of them? Have you read something about your first posts when registering?

– Unfortunately I can't find any hint, but this wise note: 😇

Quote

Briefly

3. This is a tech forum …

[NotMyFault]

Well you mentioned the histogram with direct relation to load times at least twice.

Affinity has some background activity activity during startup and image opening, the actual duration could depend on multiple factors (number of installed fonts, assets, 3rd party software etc).

[jlow]

As you can see, I can post just fine.  Just cannot post images....

[jlow]

1 minute ago, NotMyFault said:

Well you mentioned the histogram with direct relation to load times at least twice.

Affinity has some background activity activity during startup and image opening, the actual duration could depend on multiple factors (number of installed fonts, assets, 3rd party software etc).

Yes I did, but the only reason is the time when the program becomes responsive is when the histogram loads.  That is the ONLY reason.

[NotMyFault]

16 minutes ago, jlow said:

Yes I did, but the only reason is the time when the program becomes responsive is when the histogram loads.  That is the ONLY reason.

Got it. Will use this formerly unavailable information to train my ML model to improve second sight module.

Back to topic: Unless the delay increases, just live with it. Affinity is a photo editor, not a fast preview / screening app.

There is no single magic settings to remove delay. Possible causes and cures are widespread, often fruitless.

I just upgraded my iPads from 2017 to 2022, this removed 20 second delay almost any app start or website loading.

Your dell probably uses an integrated intel gpu, which earned a reputation of being slow (vs nVidia / AMD) and causing OpenCL issues in Affinity Apps.

 

[thomaso]

3 minutes ago, jlow said:

As you can see, I can post just fine.  Just cannot post images....

Don't worry about that for the moment. Maybe uploading works only after a certain number of posts … could be various limits or reasons.

[ The "error -200" is a known event in the forum software, but not specific to new users, nor does it have any discernible reason for other users (and maybe not for the moderators, too). ]

[thomaso]

1 hour ago, jlow said:

Simple JPEG image 1,500x724 pixels. 

Is it this specific image only while APh works with others as expected? – If yes, please try the upload again in a few days.

6 minutes ago, NotMyFault said:

Unless the delay increases, just live with it. Affinity is a photo editor, not a fast preview / screening app.

Serious? – A jpg of larger size loads to me in less than 1 second, even in APub's Photo Persona. If placed (not opened) it is displayed immediately when the mouse button is released and shows the histogram ~1/4 sec later. – Accordingly 7 seconds sound too much and should find a way to get fixed.

[jlow]

2 minutes ago, thomaso said:

Is it this specific image only while APh works with others as expected? – If yes, please try the upload again in a few days.

Serious? – A jpg of larger size loads to me in less than 1 second, even in APub's Photo Persona. If placed (not opened) it is displayed immediately when the mouse button is released and shows the histogram ~1/4 sec later. – Accordingly 7 seconds sound too much and should find a way to get fixed.

This very slow image loading happens with every image.  I've used this program now for a few days and many images, same problem with every image, every time.

Yes exactly....  This incredibly slow loading time is at least for me a "show stopper" for this program which I frankly find excellent otherwise.  It is clearly doing more than loading the image, like it is processing it.  Like I said in the OP, I used Photoshop and Photoshop Elements and they can load these images faster than you can click the stopwatch.

[thomaso]

3 minutes ago, jlow said:

This incredibly slow loading time

• Does it make a remarkable difference whether you open an image or place the same file?
• Does the delay increase remarkable with larger images?
• Are the images stored on an external disk or a network volume (cloud, NAS)? (Affinity doesn't like this)
• Can you use any tool to check what processes in detail are running during an image becomes loaded by APub to possible limit down the culprit?

[R C-R]

55 minutes ago, thomaso said:

• Are the images stored on an external disk or a network volume (cloud, NAS)? (Affinity doesn't like this)

@jlow, just as a test, try copying one of your slow loading files to your desktop, & try opening it from there.

[jlow]

1 hour ago, thomaso said:

• Does it make a remarkable difference whether you open an image or place the same file?
• Does the delay increase remarkable with larger images?
• Are the images stored on an external disk or a network volume (cloud, NAS)? (Affinity doesn't like this)
• Can you use any tool to check what processes in detail are running during an image becomes loaded by APub to possible limit down the culprit?

• Define "Place the same file" do you mean save?  If so, no saving is fast as in all other operations on the file - fast.
• No the delay does not appear to be file size dependent.  It happens to all files but the delay cannot be predicted by file size.
• No it is on a fast internal drive. Like I said, the SAME file load faster than you can blink if I was using Elements.
• I don't know how to check what prossess is causing it.
  
  RCR - like I said above, it is not delay by location. 
   

[carl123]

36 minutes ago, jlow said:

Define "Place the same file" do you mean save? 

No, use the File > Place command to place the JPG image into a new blank document. (Is this operation immediate or do you get the same delay?)

Also, please upload a screen shot of your performance settings in Edit > Preferences > Performance 

...and whilst you are in that screen switch off (untick) Hardware Acceleration, if currently enabled, and try again loading a JPG

[thomaso]

9 minutes ago, jlow said:

Define "Place the same file" do you mean save?  If so, no saving is fast as in all other operations on the file - fast.

No, "Place" is not at all related to "Save", but it is in the menu "File", too. "Place" and "Open" are two methods how a file gets created within Affinity and they get handled different, e.g. can cause different layer types in the Layers Panel. For instance placing a .JPG creates a layer of type "(image)" while Opening the .JPG creates a layer of type "(Pixel)". Or with a .DNG file "Place" creates a layer without switching to the Developer Persona, while "Open" forces the Developer first. Container file formats like PDF or Affinity documents are even more different in the Layers Panel after being placed versus opened.

21 minutes ago, jlow said:

No the delay does not appear to be file size dependent. 

That indicates in my view that not the file is causing the delay but any process which gets triggered by the open or place command. That is why I asked for a tool to check hidden processes. In macOS there is an according app by default (the ActivityMonitor.app), I am not experienced with Windows but a quick research implies that the "Task Manager" would allow to observe processes or at least get running processes listed.

The delay could be caused, for example, by a background task that seems to be stuck looking for something (a particular folder or file) or repeatedly trying unsuccessfully to complete a subtask for some reason. For instance corrupted access rights or unexpected paths to preference or temp files … Also "hardware acceleration" was reported quite a few times for Affinity apps as culprit of odd issues, on both mac and Windows. A forums search might shed some light on this, or just try to set it OFF in the app preferences > performance panel.

[v_kyr]

1 hour ago, thomaso said:

... I am not experienced with Windows but a quick research implies that the "Task Manager" would allow to observe processes or at least get running processes listed.

Make that Process Explorer from MS Sysinternals !

• Process Explorer - (see a description on Wikipedia)

It's a very powerful tool, which allows to analyze and delve into processes with all their dependencies (like process loaded DLL, handles for ps used named mutants, events, sockets, files, registry keys etc.) and much more.

But honestly I doubt a plain user can make any use of it, since it's not easy to use/handle without any knowledge around common application processing tasks, debugging and certain involved materia. Further it's usage, filtering & search modes after all the relevant parts of a certain process (which goes far beyond of what the Win TaskManager only offers) is not easy to handle if someone is not used to & experienced with this tool. - Thus without reading about it's capabilities & how to use it ...

• "Troubleshooting with the Windows Sysinternals Tools" (book)

... it might be hard to use at all for mere mortals.

[NotMyFault]

3 hours ago, v_kyr said:

Make that Process Explorer from MS Sysinternals !

I’ve tried to run into this rabbit hole more than once. Just Opening any Affinity App will produce 100.000 lines of events (file, registry keys, almost no network io).

In OP Case it is probably gpu related.

. I finally ditched Windows completely and switched to Mac M1.

[jlow]

Look guys, I know you are trying to help but my problem has nothing to do with my hardware or other software for that matter.  The problem lies clearly with Affinity Photo. It seems to be doing a whole bunch of process when I try to open any images.

I know this because first I am no computer newbie having owned and build computers since the 1980s, with lots of software experience and is currently using lots of other software, NONE of which is having any problem opening and using any files, even files which are large like 200 MB in size.  ONLY Affinity photo is having this problem and only when I am opening images, other than that, everything including Affinity photo works fine and works fast.

[PaulEC]

14 hours ago, jlow said:

I don't care about the histogram, the problem as I mentioned in the OP is the program is very un-responsive until the histogram loads.... 

Sorry if this has been mentioned already (I skipped through most of the thread!), but have you tried closing the Histogram tab to see if the file then opens faster.

[jlow]

And how do you do that?