Most designers do well with 1–2 TB fast SSD for active work, plus 2–6 TB for archives and backups, depending on project volume.
Storage planning shapes speed, reliability, and your day-to-day flow. The right mix keeps apps snappy, files organized, and backups painless. This guide gives a clear sizing plan for photo, brand, layout, and UI work, with simple rules you can apply to any setup.
Storage Needed For Graphic Design Workflows: Quick Sizing
Design projects vary. A layered poster, a logo set in vectors, or a batch of RAW shots all pull space in different ways. Start by sizing the active workspace, then plan for long-term archives and backup copies. Photoshop also uses scratch space, so leave headroom on the fast drive for caches and temp files. Adobe lists 20–100 GB free plus fast SSD and extra scratch disks for smooth use.
What Drives Matter Most
Speed on the working drive pays back every minute. NVMe SSDs open files, place assets, and export faster than SATA SSDs, which still beat HDDs by a wide margin. For bulk archives, spinning disks are fine if you don’t need instant edits; pair them with a fast SSD scratch/work disk.
Typical File Sizes You’ll See
Layered raster files can balloon as artboards, smart objects, and history states grow. PSD tops out at 2 GB; larger layered work goes to PSB. Vector brand files stay compact; linked images drive size. Camera RAW varies by sensor and compression. As one anchor point, Apple notes ProRAW at 12 MP near 25 MB and at 48 MP near 75 MB.
Common Design Assets And Space Planning
The table below summarizes everyday assets, realistic size ranges, and how to plan space for them in a design workflow.
| Asset / Format | Typical Size Range | Planning Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Layered Raster (PSD/PSB/TIFF) | PSD up to 2 GB; PSB for larger | Use PSB on huge canvases; keep links external to trim PSD size. |
| Vector Brand Files (AI/SVG/PDF) | MBs to tens of MBs | Size depends on embedded vs linked images; prefer links for large rasters. |
| RAW Photos (12–50 MP+) | 25–75 MB each | High-MP shoots stack up quickly; cull early and compress where needed. |
| Placed Assets (Stock, PNG, WebP) | Hundreds of KB to 50 MB | Keep a separate linked-assets folder for reuse across projects. |
| Scratch / Caches | 10–200 GB+ | Photoshop needs free space and scratch disks; fast SSD helps. |
| Exports (PDF, PNG, JPG) | 1–500 MB per project | Keep final exports in a “deliverables” folder; purge old versions monthly. |
Simple Method To Size Your Drives
Use this four-step method. It works whether you run big print layouts, brand kits, or photo edits.
Step 1: Count Active Projects
Estimate the largest set you’ll keep “open” in the next 60–90 days. Include linked RAW folders and placed art.
Step 2: Add Scratch And Safety Margin
Add 25–40% on top of the project sum for scratch space and temp files, with a fast SSD as the scratch target. Adobe’s guidance calls out fast SSDs and extra drives for scratch.
Step 3: Plan The Archive
Decide what you keep long term. Use a cheaper high-capacity drive or a NAS for archives. Move finished work there after delivery.
Step 4: Add Backup Copies
Follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 off-site. CISA endorses this model for resilient backups.
Recommended Drive Layouts
A clear layout makes your file paths stable and keeps edits quick. Here are proven patterns.
One-Machine Setup
- Internal NVMe SSD (1–2 TB): OS, apps, “Work-In-Progress” projects, scratch.
- External SSD (1–4 TB): Hot archive and transfers.
- External HDD or NAS (4–12 TB+): Cold archive and Time Machine/File History.
USB4 and Thunderbolt links help keep external SSDs fast. USB4 Gen 3×2 reaches 40 Gbps; USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 hits 20 Gbps.
Two-Drive Laptop Kit
- Portable NVMe SSD (2 TB): Current jobs and caches.
- Rugged External SSD or HDD (4–8 TB): Field backup; mirror at day’s end.
Top USB4 portable SSDs now push multi-GB/s on ports that support the full 40 Gbps link.
Realistic Size Targets By Designer Type
Pick the closest profile, then tune up or down based on how many projects you juggle and how many RAW or large raster files you carry.
Brand And Layout Designer
Workload: vector logos, style guides, brochures, packaging, and social assets with linked photos.
- Active SSD: 1 TB minimum; 2 TB if you embed many high-res images.
- Archive: 2–6 TB per year if you keep full project folders with linked photos.
- Backup: Mirror the archive plus a cloud copy per the 3-2-1 rule.
Photographer-Designer Hybrid
Workload: brand and web deliverables plus heavy RAW batches; culling and retouching inside the suite.
- Active SSD: 2 TB to keep current shoots and edits snappy.
- Archive: 6–12 TB per year for RAW-heavy catalogs.
- Backup: Off-site copy or cloud vault at set intervals.
UI/UX And Product Designer
Workload: vectors, components, many iterations; linked brand imagery; lots of export variants.
- Active SSD: 1 TB is enough for most teams; go 2 TB if you swap many device mocks.
- Archive: 2–4 TB per year unless you store full photo libraries.
- Backup: Routine cloud sync plus periodic disk image.
Sizing Examples You Can Copy
Solo Brand Designer
You handle 8 active client folders. Each holds 4 GB of layered raster work, 1 GB of vectors and exports, and 10 GB of linked photos. That’s 15 GB × 8 = 120 GB. Add 40% headroom and you need ~170 GB on the fast drive. A 1 TB NVMe SSD leaves loads of space for scratch and temp files, while an 8 TB HDD covers a few years of archives.
Studio With Photo-Heavy Work
You keep three shoots live, each with 1,200 RAWs at 50 MB each (≈60 GB per shoot), plus layered comps at 5–10 GB. Round to 80 GB × 3 = 240 GB. Add 40% and aim for ~340 GB free on the fast SSD. A 2 TB NVMe SSD is a safe pick; archive rolls to a RAID or NAS after delivery, mirrored to cloud per 3-2-1.
Make Your Working Drive Feel Instant
Install apps and keep live jobs on an NVMe SSD. Keep at least 20–30% of that drive free to avoid write slowdowns and give apps room for caches. Photoshop benefits from fast scratch disks and extra free space.
Scratch Disk Tips
- Put scratch on the fastest drive with the most free space.
- Keep large temp writes off the archive drive.
- Purge temp files and old previews after big deliveries.
Adobe’s system pages call out fast SSDs and extra scratch disks for best results. You can read the current guidance on the official Photoshop system requirements.
External Drives And Ports That Won’t Bottleneck You
When you move art to an external SSD, port speed sets the ceiling. USB4 Gen 3×2 links can carry up to 40 Gbps; USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 peaks at 20 Gbps. Pick enclosures and cables that match your port labels.
Some new portable SSDs now match or beat many internal drives when paired with a 40 Gbps port. Recent tests on USB4 models show multi-GB/s transfers. CISA’s backup guide also pairs well here, since fast externals make off-site copies painless.
Table Of Ready-To-Use Storage Plans
Use these presets as a starting point. You can shift each size one notch up or down based on project load and camera megapixels.
| User Type | Active Fast SSD | Archive + Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Student / New Freelancer | 1 TB NVMe | 4 TB HDD or NAS + cloud copy (3-2-1). |
| Brand / Print Generalist | 1–2 TB NVMe | 6–10 TB total across HDD/NAS + cloud per client year. |
| Photo-Heavy Designer | 2 TB NVMe | 12–24 TB per year across RAID/NAS + cloud. |
| UI/UX With Many Variants | 1–2 TB NVMe | 2–6 TB per year; keep exports trimmed and rely on cloud sync. |
| Small Studio, Mixed Work | 2–4 TB NVMe (per seat) | 24 TB+ NAS with RAID, snapshots, and an off-site copy. |
Folder Practices That Save Space
Link Images Instead Of Embedding
Keep a “Links” folder per project. Name images with a short slug and a sequence. Linked assets keep your AI files lean and speed up saves.
Cull And Convert
Pick selects early. Batch-convert heavy PNGs to modern formats when possible. Archive RAW and keep only final exports in the live project.
Versioning Without Bloat
Use a Versions or “_old” folder. Zip older rounds. Keep the latest source files at the top so teammates don’t guess.
When To Step Up To PSB
When a canvas or layer set grows past PSD’s size limits, swap to PSB. Adobe’s format guide and docs confirm PSD caps at 2 GB, while PSB handles massive dimensions up to 300,000 pixels.
Minimum Free Space For Smooth App Use
Keep at least 100 GB free on the main drive when working on large files. Adobe’s current pages flag free space needs, fast internal SSD for app installs, and extra high-speed drives for scratch.
If you also run Illustrator, check its current spec page and match the same fast-SSD approach for assets and previews.
Picking Ports, Enclosures, And Cables
Match the enclosure to the port on your machine. A USB4 or Thunderbolt NVMe enclosure on a 40 Gbps port offers headroom for fast transfers; a 20 Gbps port halves that. Check the fine print on cables and hubs to avoid slow links.
Backup That Survives Bad Days
The 3-2-1 model is simple: three copies, two media types, one off-site. CISA explains this rule in plain terms for small businesses and solo pros. It also suggests mixing local disks with a cloud copy, which fits design shops well. Back up business data.
Quick Checklist Before You Buy
- Fast Work Drive: NVMe SSD, 1–2 TB minimum.
- Headroom: 25–40% free for scratch and caches.
- Archive Tier: High-capacity HDD or NAS.
- Ports: USB4/Thunderbolt where possible.
- Backup: 3-2-1 across disk and cloud.
Bottom Line For A Smooth Design Setup
If you handle light to medium brand work, a 1 TB NVMe SSD for live projects plus 4–8 TB of archives covers a year with room to grow. Heavy RAW editors should bump the active SSD to 2 TB and plan 12 TB+ per year across RAID or NAS with a cloud mirror. Keep ports fast, keep scratch on SSD, and keep one copy off-site. Adobe’s current system pages and the 3-2-1 rule are your guardrails.