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Participant
October 30, 2025
Answered

Losing Information in Photoshop

  • October 30, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 185 views

Since the latest update, each time I go to export my file, I'm told that if I export it as a jpeg, I will lose information. This happens whenever I open the export window. It started to happen after the latest update so I am now in Photoshop v 27.0 and I'm running on Windows 11. 

Correct answer D Fosse

The jpeg specification does not support 16 bit depth, layers of any kind, transparency or alpha channels. If you're starting with a file that has any of these properties, they will have to be stripped out. 

 

There is also the fact that jpeg is a destructive format, and every resave will degrade the file slightly. This degradation is cumulative and non-reversible.

 

Now, I can't recall ever seeing that message, but maybe I just clicked "don't show again" as it's a fairly straightforward and obvious message. Or maybe it's new. Either way, there is the possibility that you may overwrite the original if you started with a jpeg, so just something to be aware of if you're not already.

3 replies

Participant
July 25, 2026

L.A. Clawson / Phila PA

OK...but you don’t say a JEPG will lose info

Or that ANY compression is the source of a loss

You just say “saving wll lose infio”.

Its confusing. And you could get you message 

across -once- versus constantly saying same thing.

and if you wanted to be helpful you’d offer ideas

for the vast number if images we prep for social media

each one compressed.

Lastly, how about all the MP4 files we create ???????

 

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 25, 2026

@LACayman wrote: And you could get you message across

 

Learn about the limitations of the jpeg file format here:

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/file-types/image/raster/jpeg-file.html

 

Also, who is the “you” that you are addressing? The volunteers who have been on this thread do not work for Adobe.

 

 

Jane

Conrad_C
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 30, 2025

The message is new, but it’s confusing because the wording is vague and doesn’t offer a solution.

 

It’s trying to warn about when, for example, someone started by opening a JPEG file and then added all kinds of Photoshop features that can’t be preserved when saving as a JPEG file again, like a lot of the things D Fosse mentioned. That part is nothing new. But I think in this release Adobe was trying to explain why Photoshop wants extra steps when saving what was originally a JPEG but now needs to be saved as a Photoshop (PSD), Photoshop Large Document (PSB), or TIFF file to preserve all of the features used.

 

quote

Since the latest update, each time I go to export my file, I'm told that if I export it as a jpeg, I will lose information. This happens whenever I open the export window.

By @Monica23106099kccw

 

The word “export” is used there, but are you sure that it happens when you specifically use a command on the File > Export submenu, such as Export As or Save for Web? Because I only notice the alert message when using the File > Save or File > Save As commands, that’s where Adobe wants to warn people away from saving an original as JPEG when it contains non-JPEG features. 

 

In other words, it shouldn’t warn when truly exporting, it should warn only when using the Save As or Save commands with non-JPEG features.

 

That also points to one workaround. To avoid the message, use a command on the File > Export submenu because those always create a copy that doesn’t overwrite the original. Or, if you want to preserve Photoshop layers, transparency, Smart Objects, etc., save as PSD, PSB, or TIFF format.

 

But again, I think their alert message wording is unhelpful and they need to edit it so that people know what to do.

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 26, 2026

@Conrad_C I agree, change the wording, just state that JPEG only supports 8 BPC, flattened (no) layers and no alpha channels. Perhaps a reminder about Save a Copy or the Legacy Save As preference/setting?

Conrad_C
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 26, 2026

I was just working on a lesson where this disruptive alert message got in the way again. I realized the problem was that the lesson steps say to open a JPEG, then add layers, then Save As, so I could write the lesson to avoid the alert by doing the Save As to Photoshop format step before adding any layers or other features that JPEG can’t save.

So until Adobe fixes this disruptive message, the list of things we can do to avoid it now include:

  • Do the Save As to Photoshop before adding any features JPEG can’t handle.
  • Use Save a Copy instead.
  • Use any command on the Export submenu instead.
  • Click “Don’t Show Again” the first time it comes up.

 

That doesn't change the fact that Adobe has to improve this situation.

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
October 30, 2025

The jpeg specification does not support 16 bit depth, layers of any kind, transparency or alpha channels. If you're starting with a file that has any of these properties, they will have to be stripped out. 

 

There is also the fact that jpeg is a destructive format, and every resave will degrade the file slightly. This degradation is cumulative and non-reversible.

 

Now, I can't recall ever seeing that message, but maybe I just clicked "don't show again" as it's a fairly straightforward and obvious message. Or maybe it's new. Either way, there is the possibility that you may overwrite the original if you started with a jpeg, so just something to be aware of if you're not already.