I'm pretty sure you can change the memory size for sai somewhere in the settings. o vo But I think it only allows you to go up to it's recommended settings.

Others > Options > Workspace Usage

that is my point too

Yeah, you can change the maximum canvas size, but I already had that maxed out and I don't think it actually effects the reserved memory. :c

Ah, well okay. :c I don't think there's much else you or anyone can do since it is 32-bit. Just wait for a sai2 as a 64-bit.

And 32-bit only reads 4gb of ram

Is there an updated SAI coming out?

I have no idea. It was more of a "I hope there will be a sai2" xD

Aw, jeez...
I might just have to find another program to use.

I recommend manga studio, corel painter or fire alpaca.

I'll have to try them. Maybe if any of them are similar enough and have a rotate canvas feature they'll be viable solutions for me.

Opencanvas has a rotate function. It may still have the memory problems but I don't know since I never tested it that hard yet.

I can work on 10k X 10k canvases, sooo no idea, if I find something I'll let ya know~

Yeah that memory thing is a real bitty....
Thank you to lexi up there I can work higher ^^;

Thats odd :s 16gb should be more than enough haha I really hope you find a fix, wish I could help :x

SAI does have a limit...however you can trick it by closing out of any and all programs that could be running up your computer memory such as the internet browser, Skype, and any other programs that run in thebackground that could be causing SAI to trip out.

you can also change the settings under Workspace Usage and set the maximum allowable canvas size.

that may help. try working with SAI being the only program you have running.

Having multiple canvases open while your working can also jack up the memory load, so make sure you don't have more than one or two canvases open at once.

I've tried it but it makes no difference how many programs are running in the background, because my computer itself has 16GB, and it's just that SAI won't allow itself to use more than 4GB.
Making sure not to have multiple open canvases in SAI itself helps, though. Unfortunately it still doesn't solve my problem. :c

I had the exact same problem before when I was working on a large illustration for a class.
I can't quite remember how I fixed it since since I had it after I changed it at the max canvas size.

I know closing out anything that's not necessary helped a bit.
Also I saved it as a Photoshop file, and that for whatever reason helped a bit.

trying to remember what I did exactly to fix it x.x

I tried turning my maximum canvas size down to the smallest possible size while still allowing the canvas I was working on, and that helped enough that I could merge some of my layers. I don't know if it'll be enough for me to finish the illustration, but maybe if I complete the background, then export it as a PNG and import it as a single layer into a new canvas, then complete the characters in the foreground and HOPE TO GOD that I don't need to tweak the background at all after that point... maybe that'll do it because it will be keeping the number of layers to an absolute minimum.

But that's only a fix for this one illustration, and I need to do more at larger resolutions in the future. :c

Hmmmmmm yeah that might work if you do it like that. I know it comes down to needing to merge layers and what not but yeesh. You think it would allow more, and not have this problem like this. I don't know if it did it with you but it came to a point where it wouldn't even let me save it. I hope to god it doesn't x.x

I think someone mentioned it above that if it comes down to you getting a new program to do larger illustrations. Manga studio is quite lovely and you can work with some LARGE files in there. Friend of mine got it and they primarily used Sai before and said it was similar in ways.

If you are going to do that, just work on background and foreground in seperate files entirely, merge and paste in as a new layer any time you want to see how they look together. That is horribly inconvenient but at least youd be able to tweak background if you needed to. My prof who worked in a crisp cartoony style used to use Sketchbook pro before I showed him SAI and he now uses both. I've never used that program but I get the feeling it might be quite similar to sai just from seeing him draw in it, so that's another option for you.

Do you know how much memory it is actually using? If it is only using 2gigs which is supposedly all it can use on a 32 bit system then I think tere is a way to give it 3gigs, but Im not at my computer to see what it uses on a 64 bit system.

Yeah this is what I was gonna suggest, I've had to do it a couple times myself. Just save the working file for the bg with all the layers intact so if you decide you don't like something you can go back & change it. Good luck! Maybe there's like a help number you could call or something, sorry I don't really have an answer for ya.

What version operating system are you using? That can also play a factor, as OS have limitations on RAM that they can effectively use.

It's definitely not that. I'm running Windows 7, and the computer itself is recognizing and using the full 16 GB. It's just a software issue, which is TERRIBLE, because I can fix the computer but the software... I might just have to find a new program to use.

What was the memory usage (according to Task Manager's processes list) when SAI trips out?

Apparently, 3,795,684K .

Sadly SAI Is super limited. I Kinda cheat with my Lineart by making a massive Canvas and Shrinking it down, And sometimes when I'm working on the lineart, It crashes. ; v ;
I'd Try FireAlpaca! It's Free and Works Lovely~

Do you know if it has a rotate canvas feature like SAI does? And does it have the same capabilities? When I took a look at it, albeit briefly, it looked like an extremely limited program as far as brushes and tools. I did some sketching in it and it was nice for that, but when I got to linework... blugh. The brushes really weren't up to much.

It does have its mess ups sadly ; v ;
It's rotate is very limited, And so are the brushes.
However! I think it's stabalizer/Correction works sooo much better then sais. <3
Plus My tablet's Pressure is really sensitive, So the lineart always comes out weighted which I love <3
also! It supports Transparency, Which my SAI Never did, Even though it is supposed to. ^ v ^

SAI totally supports transparency! You have to save your finished image as a high-quality PNG. Then it'll have a transparent background, if you've left it blank. Otherwise it'll just show up as a white BG. c:

As of right now, the current SAI cannot handle anything of 3 GB (because 1 GB is taken up with all the pre-loaded brushes and what not). Though, they are currently working on a beta of SAI in Japan (http://systemax.jp/ja/sai/devdept.html) that would resolve the limitation of space of RAM. (Sorry the site is in Japanese, I used google translate on it). But it does look like they are attempting to resolve the issue.

That is REALLY promising! I hope they do come up with a solution! In the meantime, I'll probably just have to find a different program to use. Any suggestions?

I don't use anything but SAI and Photoshop at the moment. There is the possibility (if you have a legitimate license) to actually try the beta version of SAI 1.2 version 5. From what I have seen there is the full version of the beta and a copy paste version. If you just copy the primary SAI file from the version 1.2 copy paste file (which is the second download file on the link I sent you) then supposedly you have access to the beta version. I would back up your original SAI first if you do try this.

Dude. Thank you so much, I'll give it a shot!

Let me know how it goes! :3

I'm having a heck of a time with it, I don't have a legitimate license, and I can't really justify buying one for a program that may or may not work. (I can't read any of it, so I'm really not sure if it's a viable solution.)
I think I might just try some alternative programs. Apparently there's a patch for GIMP that changes the interface to mimic SAI, and I'll see if I can find that. I'll also see if I can get a trial of Sketchbook Pro for the PC, since I have that on my android tablet and it's an AWESOME program.

I also use sketch book pro but I miss a lot of the tools on SAI. But definately try the Gimp skin, it may be the best solution. I don't have a legit copy of SAI either so I wasn't able to test it.

:( Wish I could offer some helpful insight but I can't really. I hope ya can figure something out, though!

I can't offer anything more than what others have already said, but I can sympathize. Photoshop freaked the unholy fuck out on me while I was colouring a bunch of adoptables and I about died. I really hope you find a solution or an alternate program.

The out of memory error you're getting is based on your OS as well as your ram.

Are you running a 64bit OS? IF not, that 16 gigs of ram is still only 4 Gigs of ram. You can update/upgrade to a 64bit version of windows for free if you go to a website (I'll find the link in a bit here, don't worry) that microsoft has setup to download re-install/repair disks.

If you ARE running a 64bit OS, then it actually might be dud ram cards.

Specs on your PC? I might be able to help a bit more.

ALSO, Extra little tidbit - SAI has limiters in place designed to 'prevent' a memory overload and will actually give this error about 25% BEFORE memory is actually full.

Try lowering the DPI to around 65 at that canvas size, see if that helps. Also, ramp up the 'maximum allowed' of everything as best you can.

Lowering the DPI will just make the printable size huge at that resolution... I'm not sure how that would help. Also, when you ramp up the maximum allowed canvas size, it limits the number of layers it can handle without issues, for whatever reason. I actually sort of found a "quick fix" that might let me sneak this illustration through, by lowering the maximum allowed canvas size to the smallest possible res while still allowing the current res I was working with. It was enough that I could merge a few layers, which is something.

Merging a few layers at a time over merging them all at once. That was my next suggestion. Also, Save-save-save. hope you find a fix man. Also, there is an unofficial patch right now for 64bit systems to bump it up. A little digging might turn it up for you.

Is there a patch? I'll dig like crazy for it, man. That's exactly what I'm looking for.

Alright, try running the .exe with Disable Display scaling on high DPI settings, when it's open, right click the .exe in task manager and set priority to Real-Time, Ensure as MANY background processes are closed as possible. There /was/ a 'patch' that turned GIMP into SAI (at least, as close as physically possible to SAI) that works for 64bit memory. If you can't get SAI to work, see if you can find that patch (Or I'll PM you if I can find the patch myself, my EX used it to do my original reference image of my fursona, because she couldn't afford SAI. )

ALSO: What's your screen resolution? If you're much larger than 1280x1024, SAI has known issues running. Trying lowering your Screen res whilst doing things. You may need to get used to it, but it might help. I dunno what else to tell you here. If you can find that patch for SAI or the GIMP2SAI clone thing that my Ex used, those might work better.

I'm not having any issues running SAI aside from it not recognizing more than 4GB of RAM, which is really just a normal limitation of the program. So I don't think changing my screen res or anything along those lines will make any difference, except that it won't be much fun to look at. I'll definitely see if I can find that GIMP2SAI patch, though! That sounds promising! I have GIMP on my computer, and really the only reason why I don't use it more is because I hate the interface.

"Because I hate the interface" is the same reason I use it as my last resort. I honestly prefer MSpaint's GUI over GIMPs.

If worse comes to worse, try re-installing SAI, for whatever reason that seems to work for some people. I assume key files might be corrupted if that works, due to fragmentation and failing to properly drop files out of RAM when the program closes for various reasons if that is what fixes it, so I'd keep a .rar'd copy somewhere in case. If it happens again unarchive over the broken version and viola, hopefully it'll be fixed again.

I'm a biology student, so I don't know shit about this sort of thing lol. But I do hope this gets fixed soon, I was looking forward to using part of my next paycheck to commish ya again since I haven't been able to afford to do so for several months now. :c

I've run into this problem many times before- it might've already been mentioned, but saving the file as a PSD and working on it in that format has always solved the issue for me.

Do you get any loss of quality, or weird... tweaks? I'll totally try this, but I remember having some weird compatibility issues the last time I worked with PSDs in SAI. Ultimately, I might just have to try out some new software and find a new go-to program. :c

I've never seen any difference in quality/loss of awesome. I regularly switch between the two programs as I work on a piece and having it set to a PSD has never given me any trouble.

I'll try it, man. Thanks! :D

np, hope it solves your problem!