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masons35645689
masons35645689
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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
    January 26, 2012
    I have the same Problem. I can choose to save the PSD first and then save as PDF after and close the tab. Then goto to open the PSD that I SAVED WITH LAYER DATA, and wammo its flattened. Or I can save as pdf first, then SAVE as PSD and Close the tab, reopen the PSD and Wammo its messed up again. So Saving a PDF without Preserving Photoshop Edibility in the PDF and saving a PSD before or after saving the PSD will in turn automatically do the same in the PSD no matter which way you go about it. Its the stupidest thing ive ever seen, i have ruined so many jobs trying to fix this issue its not funny, PHOTOSHOP Has cost Thousands of dollars and ticks me off!!!
    Edit: I also forgot to explain that the reason i have to UN-check "Preserving Photoshop Edibility" while saving a PDF because it makes a smaller file size for uploading to print services who have file size limits.
    F
    FeedbackCommunityMember
    Inspiring
    September 22, 2011
    It doesn't "turn into a PDF", Photoshop just displays that last filename you saved the document to. Nothing changes about the document except the filename/path.

    When you saved the PSD, you had to have chosen to not save layer data, or you flattened the document and forgot about it before saving.

    Saving as PDF doesn't flatten the document, nor does it change the document.
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