First: thanks! That answered a different ? I'd had: why do large file nodes appear as PSD default image in hypershade!

Unfortunately, that is inconsequential in light of the fact that I can not do what I must do: applying an 8k to a file node crashes maya with a "Low Free Memory" error in MEL status bar and a popup "The app* has requested to close in an unusual way..." box. I closed photoshop while trying to apply the tex.