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masons35645689
masons35645689
Participating Frequently
September 22, 2011

P: How did I get a flattened PSD after saving PDF?

  • September 22, 2011
  • 72 replies
  • 2255 views

So I'm not going to rage. I really want to. But I won't. I'm using Photoshop CS 5.5 (Windows). I was on the sixth version of a high fidelity Website mockup. The client asked that I provide them the design in PDF format. So from within the .PSD file, I select "Save As" and choose PDF as the format. I complete the PDF wizard and all seemed good.

No. Apparently, when you save as a PDF, it turns the PSD file you actively have open into a PDF? I noticed that the file type changed to PDF from PSD on the tab. "That's stupid," I thought. "I'll just change it back to a PSD, since I've made a few modifications since I saved it last."

You know, in Dreamweaver when you execute a "Save As", it opens the new file in its own tab. Just a thought.

Maybe my next choice was wrong, but it seemed instinctive to me. I decided to "Save As" again, but this time as a PSD file. I still had my layers in tact, so I didn't think there would be a problem.

I close out the file. When I open the PSD file back up just a few minutes ago, it's COMPLETELY FLATTENED. GONE. MY WORK IS GONE. Awesome. Thank you.

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    72 replies

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    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    February 4, 2013
    Please read the previous posts. You saved without layers, and then forgot to turn the saving of layers back on.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    February 4, 2013
    I've had the same problem and I now have to redo everything.

    Isn't that the function of "Save As"? To create another file of another type???
    You're saying that it doesn't flatten the psd file automatically but here's the thing:

    -I SAVED AS pdf, with the Editing Capabilities unchecked because I intend to have a separate working PSD file for that.
    -After that, with all the layers still visible (and seemingly untouched in my Layers window), I SAVED AS again, this time as a PSD file to make sure I have a workable file with workable layers.
    -At this point I assumed I already have a separate PDF and PSD file, in different locations in my computer.
    - Then it showed a dialog box saying I haven't saved the file with layers something something and if I would like to save the file in a workable format. I chose NO because, less than a minute ago, I saved a PSD file of my work (needless to say the layers WERE there in the Layers window when I did).
    -Now when I opened the PSD file...tah-dah! IT'S FLATTENED.

    So what the f-ing h is going on?
    masons35645689
    masons35645689Author
    Participating Frequently
    December 26, 2012
    It's been a year now, and I've finally cooled off. 😉 Actually, I only now realized there had been activity on this thread.

    While the potential flattening of a PSD is certainly an unfortunate outcome and arguably a less-than-intuitive user experience - I appreciate that you took the time to outline what was ultimately a (my) user error.

    I'm using Photoshop Extended CS6 now. I've done everything I can to replicate the issue in and I can't. The integrity of my PSD file and all of its layers stays in tact regardless of the PDF options I select during a "Save As".

    I've been using one version or another of Photoshop for more than a decade now, and I can honestly count on one hand the number of times I've had a legitimate gripe with the program. It's a great product, and Adobe's commitment to it and the rest of the Creative suite deserves recognition. Thanks.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    December 26, 2012
    So how do you create a multi-page PDF from a PS file?
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    December 26, 2012
    Layers cannot be preserved in Acrobat, because Acrobat has no idea how to work with Photoshop layers (which are more complex than what Acrobat works with).
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    December 26, 2012
    Correct, Acrobat does not know how to work with Photoshop layers.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    December 26, 2012
    Even if you check the "layers" checkbox, and save as pdf, the layers do not appear in the Acrobat Reader.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    December 24, 2012
    Many people want to save copies of their images without layers.

    And the choice to save layers or not has been in the save dialog for many years.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    December 24, 2012
    Another side but related issue is whether you are saving the layered file to open in PS or to open in Acrobat. The layers are not preserved when you open in Acrobat, even if they are preserved in PS.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    December 24, 2012
    This all goes back to "Save as copy" - it was always safer to "save as copy", then you would have preserved the first version (make sure you save it first.) The copy version will have "copy" in the name, but at least you will not have lost anything.
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