Skip to main content
L
larry45
Inspiring
October 15, 2025
Answered

How do you know the image is saved?

  • October 15, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 253 views

With most documents in Mac, you see a black dot in the upper red dot that shows the file needs to be saved while you are working on it. I don't see that with Photoshop. So if you do a save, how to you confirm or know the image is saved?

 

Also,  each image I bring into PS comes in tabs, ,to drag over a layer from one file to another i have to undo/ seperate tabs, fine. But then now both images sometimes go to (what call it when not it tabs and tucked into the grey backdrop?).. ie. How d o I get an image that is floating in it's own window back into the  (can't remmber terminology) the gray background?  How insert it back there. Thanks!

Correct answer D Fosse

A star at the end of the file name in the title bar indicates unsaved changes. Not that I ever look for that: If you can't remember, it's not saved.

 

I made keyboard shortcuts for "consolidate all to tabs" and "float all in windows" (ctrl+F and shift+ctrl+F in my case), and find myself switching constantly. Each has advantages and disadvantages. With "save in background" checked, look for the blue save progress bar in the status bar.

 

If I have to nitpick, there is far too little visual differentiation between active and inactive image windows, and it's easy to save/close the wrong one. You may have to grab it and drag it a little to make sure you have the right window.

 

 

2 replies

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
October 15, 2025

A star at the end of the file name in the title bar indicates unsaved changes. Not that I ever look for that: If you can't remember, it's not saved.

 

I made keyboard shortcuts for "consolidate all to tabs" and "float all in windows" (ctrl+F and shift+ctrl+F in my case), and find myself switching constantly. Each has advantages and disadvantages. With "save in background" checked, look for the blue save progress bar in the status bar.

 

If I have to nitpick, there is far too little visual differentiation between active and inactive image windows, and it's easy to save/close the wrong one. You may have to grab it and drag it a little to make sure you have the right window.

 

 

    L
    larry45Author
    Inspiring
    October 15, 2025

    D great answer, I've never know about the star.   Did not understand the rest, let me try again on Part 2

     

    You see screenshot is locked in to my workspace?

     

    I pull it off the tab, floating, but how do you get it back, locked into tab  locked in there again, if you want that?

     

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 15, 2025

    This is controlled by a couple of checkboxes in Preferences (if I remember correctly, called Settings in Mac):

     

    The first one just controls how the image opens, tabbed or floating. It has no bearing on behavior after it's open. Your choice how you want them to open.

     

    The second is the one you want. This lets you tear loose to a floating window, but also lets you re-dock to a tabbed window, just by dragging the title bar straight upwards to the option bar. When you see a blue line, it docks to a tabbed window. Just like when you dock panels.

     

    Next, look in the Window menu. All the commands here can be assigned custom shortcuts. As you can see here, I've made shortcuts to float all windows or tab all windows:

     

    This way, tabbed or floating can be switched on the fly as you work.

    L
    LAMY2017
    Legend
    October 15, 2025

    How do you know the image needs to be saved?

    Brother Larry, I honestly hadn't noticed that the red 'close app' icon in the "traffic signal" even had a black dot in its center. So, yes, that's one way you are notified that the document hasn't been saved. The other ways are 1. the doc title might still be unnamed 2. and "—Edited" is to the right of the doc title.

    How do you know the image is saved?

    1. "—Edited" will change to doc_title.ext, e.g., test document,rtf.

    2. the black dot disappears.

    3. File>Save is grayed out.

     

    Photoshop is pretty much the same.

     

    I don't use tabs; someone who does will have to answer the question about dragging. 

    [In Settings/Preferences>Options, I have Open Documents In Tabs and Enable Floating Document Window Docking boxes unchecked. I don't have much dexterity with my trackpad (I'm mouseless).]

     

    Larry
      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices