After I saved my file, the final result is different from what I see on the Photoshop screen. Why?

[Yujie_Qui]

Hello! I'm Yujie, and I'm using Photoshop 2022. I've been troubled by this issue for a while now.

Whenever I save the file as a JPEG or PNG, the effects on the image disappear. I tried merging the layers with (fx) icons with other layers, but the issue remains.

What should I do to fix this problem?

(Note: If this is a basic question I am really sorry, but I've searched for solution for a long time.)

 ▲(The effect I want.)

 ▲(The effect disappears after saving as a JPEG.)

[Yujie_Qui]

I cropped the first photo a bit, so the contrast is clearer.

 ▲(The effect I want.)

  ▲(The effect disappears after saving as a JPEG.)

[D Fosse · Accepted solution]

You need to view this at 100% to get a reliable preview. 100% is a significant number - it means one image pixel is represented by exactly one physical screen pixel. There is a lot of texture here, so any screen resampling will affect the result you see.

All adjustment and blending previews are calculated on the basis of the on-screen image, for performance reasons. With a zoomed out image, textures and noise are softened, producing intermediate values that aren't really there in the actual data. So the calculations are inaccurate, and what you see on screen inaccurate.

You avoid this by viewing at 100%.

Also, with dark images like this, color management is important, even for brightness and contrast. Most monitors have a native dip in the shadows, which is corrected and compensated in the monitor profile. But only applications that support color management will actually use the monitor profile to display the image.

[NB, colourmanagement · Accepted solution]

As @D Fosse wrote" only applications that support color management will actually use the monitor profile to display the image."

This means that to see a match to Photoshop [which gives you an accurate preview] you need to open and view images in a colour-managed application.

AND view at 100%

If you are using adjustment layers and blending effects, are you making a copy [archiving the original layered version] and flattening the before saving as a JPEG? 

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[Yujie_Qui]

I followed your instructions and did it again (View → 100%). Indeed, the image now looks like how it would appear when saved as a JPEG file. Thank both of you!

Also, when I mentioned "save the file as a JPEG or PNG" I meant (File → Save a copy → JPEG \ PNG).
So, yes, I am saving it as a copy, and the original file is saved as a PSD file.
I apologize for any confusion I have caused.

[NB, colourmanagement]

@Yujie_Qui Thanks for letting us know the tips worked and marking as correct. 
No need to aplologise. We are here to help. 

neil