This document contains unknown data which will be discarded to keep layers editable CC 2018

[coolspyguy]

Hey, I'm getting an error when I open a particular psd in CC 2018, stating

If I click keep layers, photoshop loads the file, but still flattens it anyways. I've tried to open the file on Windows 10 and MacOS, and in CC 2018 and CC 2014, with no avail. Since the file was saved on a usb, I can't seem to use Window's previous version to try to recover the file that way. I used a file recovery program to recover a previous version of the file, but unfortunately cannot open it, getting the error " Could not complete your request because it is not a valid Photoshop document." I've also tried resetting photoshop preferences and reinstalling Photoshop CC 2018, but no hope there either. The file is decently large, being 1.66 gb, however another psd I was working on at the same time and in the same session, which is also around the same size, received the error when being opened, yet it was able to actually keep it's layers. As the work was for a customer with a due date, would suck if I would have to redo the artwork for the file, so I'm willing to try any suggestions the adobe community may have!

Thanks

[Sahil.Chawla]

Hi Coolspyguy,

We're sorry to hear about the unknown data error, this error lets you know that the version of Photoshop the designer has is more advanced than yours. For this matter, some features included in the designer’s version are not recognized by yours. This can be exemplified by 3D layers or Smart Filters. You can try updating to the most recent build of Photoshop which is 19.1.5

Regards,
Sahil

[coolspyguy]

I am the designer and I opened the file in the same version of Photoshop, so that shouldn't be what's causing the problem. Any other reasons why this problem might happen? Would love to narrow it down.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Can you provide the file for testing?

Did the composition include Smart Objects, if so which kinds?

But personally I suspect it may actually be damaged.

[coolspyguy]

Here's a link to the file in question: Dropbox - Untitled-2.psd

Only smart objects I used are 6 colored boxes with rounded corners and a blending mode stroke applied on it. Unfortunately, yeah I guess the file is damaged too, but would still like to see if I can recover anything

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Thanks, unfortunately I get the same result (file opens flattened despite »Keep Layers«).

Is this the only affected file?

If not you might file a report over at

Photoshop Family Customer Community

Otherwise you could try one of the tools for recovering damaged Photoshop files, but I am not optimistic.

Sahil.Chawla,the file fails to open with Layers on Photoshop 19.1.5, too.

[coolspyguy]

Yeah, that's the only affected file. I did try to recover a previous version of the file through EaseUs data recovery, but photoshop couldn't open it. Thanks for actually downloading that file and trying though, I really appreciate it man

[c.pfaffenbichler]

At the bottom of this page

Troubleshoot file recovery in Photoshop

some recovery tools are mentioned (but not endorsed).

Not sure if they are worth the trouble but who knows?