Digital Light & Color

When I complete a procesing tree to my satifaction (momentary) and save the workspace script, I replace the top source image with another similar one by double click on it -> File Open -> Select Files -> I browse for a suitable image candidate -> then I click OK

If necessary I make some adjustments here and there and then repeat the procedure above. After some time, depending on the complexity of the transformations and/or number of repetitions I sometimes get a warning from OS that my memory is running low and that I should save my work, etc.

Last time it happened I ignored the warning, as I always do, but this time my PC was serious about it and colapsed. No harm done I just restarted the PC, loaded the last saved workspace script and went on with my work.

However this brings me to a question whether the memory used for building a tree is freed when the source image is replaced. I guess or rather my PC seems to be telling me that probably it is not.
If not, is there any reason why this could not be done? As soon as the image replacement is completed, there is no way to restore the previous tree with transformations and tool touches anyway, so dumping memory no longer needed would be beneficial.

Unless my guesses are wrong and everything is otherwise.

Replacing a source file does free up the memory from the previous image -- I routinely run memory leak tests that confirm that PWP is not gradually usurping more and more memory. Windows, however, is not always efficient are re-using memory that has been released since the available space gets broken up into smaller and smaller blocks over time (memory fragmentation).

You can increase your virtual memory settings, but once you start swapping, everything will slow down a lot.

PWP 8 generally uses a lot more RAM than PWP 7 since each transformation maintains its own copy of the image. Ultimately upgrading your RAM, if possible, is the best solution. Also, WIndows has grown a lot over the years and needs more and more memory for its own internal operation.

Yes I know. I have been in two minds for quite some time now whether to upgrade the RAM or buy a new PC. A new PC means Win 10 which, being still a faithfull Win 7 user, I strongly dislike for its foolish user interface, licence policy, and all.
Eventually I will end up with Win 10. It is inevitable.

"Every change is for the worse."
Joseph Heller, Good As Gold

I find Windows 10 pretty friendly to use, once I install Start10 - an inexpensive application that restores most of the functionality of the Windows 7 Start menu.

Thanks for the advice. I will try to upgrade RAM and hope this will cope with Win 10 when the inevitable step comes up. A new PC will be the uttermost option.