NEF file overwritten even if processed file is saved as PSD file after making changes in PS.

[Hoshedar23506794a7ay]

Hello all, I am facing an issue to which I have been trying to find a solution.  When I open an NEF file in PS after importing the pictures in Bridge(select image in Bridge, right click  and select Open with Photoshop), and then work on the image and finally use the File Save as option to save the image as a photoshop file, it also goes and overwrites my original NEF file.  This has now happened quite often, resulting in loss of my original NEF file. The file command for saving the file as JPEG works fine.  What am I doing wrong and is there anything that I must change in settings either in PS or Bridge or in my operating system?(I use an Apple Mcmini with the latest IOS.)  I have the latest updates on PS and Bridge.   Any assistance that anyone can provide will be hugely appreciated.  Thank you for your time and effort. 

[Willi Adelberger]

For workflows with Bridge and Photoshop I would suggest to convert raw files (like NEF oder CR2) to DNG. Changes done to the raw file are saved in the DNG file and not in a sidecar file like it  is done with raw from the camera brand. You can do it upon import from the camera in Bridge.

Normally NEF files could not be overwritten except if the file association in yur OS is wrong. I would suggest to do any processing output in a dedicated new folder.

[Hoshedar23506794a7ay]

Thank you Willi.  I will try what you have suggested.  What  baffles me is that this is pretty basic stuff and I am sure Adobe has thought about it and made provision to avoid having to adopt alternative work flows. Why does PS behave like this when the OS settings are pretty standard.  I am going to check that as well.  Thank you for your time and advice.  Much appreciated. 

[PECourtejoie]

Hi! Indeed, if you make some changes to a converted raw file, you can only save it as a new file. A PSD being different than a NEF should not overwrite it.

Can you record opening a (copy of a) NEF in Ps from Br, painting on it, saving to PSD so that we can see what goes wrong?

are you using save as, save a copy? 

[D Fosse]

As the other have said, I can't think of any scenario where it would even be possible to overwrite a NEF or other raw file.

NEF is a proprietary Nikon format and Adobe don't have the specification. They couldn't overwrite even if they wanted to.

Any raw file is treated as read only and there's no way to modify the pixel data. It is possible to save a new copy of a raw file, but only as DNG, and it will never overwrite the original.