Should I rasterize a layer or flatten an image but keep the quality?

[i-graphya]

Should I rasterize a layer or flatten an image but keep the quality?

I want to save the PSD as a PDF for printing, but I want it to keep its high quality.

I don't know what the difference is between a rasterize layer and a flatten image.

I know preserving Photoshop editing capabilities will make PDF editable, and I don't want them to edit it.

I'm saving my PSD in the cloud, as it's very large.

So how do you save it in pdf but keep high quality?

I was thinking of either rasterizing a layer or flattening an image, but I have no idea what the difference is between them.
I want to save to PDF with high quality for printing.

Any sugestion, What should I do as I want to send the file to another country so they can print it, but I don't want to send the actual original file because I don't want them to edit it because I have no idea who will be doing the printing?

Thank You

[jane-e]

@i-graphya 

If you have a Type layer (vector) or Shape layer (vector), then rasterizing the layer converts the layer to raster (pixels). Rasterizing a smart object removes it from the smart object and combines whatever layers are inside into one.

Flattening combines all layers into one Background layer.

If you do either, make a copy first in case you need to make edits to the PSD.

Jane

[Leslie Moak Murray]

Came here to say this. Listen to @jane-e! It's always a good idea to save the unflattened version. You never know when you might want to make a change, or sometimes you might notice an error or maybe just something you wish you'd done differently. Save it as a .tif (which is still a large file) if you want to avoid artifacts.

[i-graphya]

I always save two copies after I finish my design and never flatten or rasterize my designs so I don't lose the original work.

That's why I have no more space in my PC.😅😂

[i-graphya]

So flattening is better than rasterizing to keep the design in better quality.

I was thinking of saving to PDF without checking to preserve Photoshop editing capabilities, so it can't be edited.

But should I use bicubic downsampling in pdf or use do not downsample?

My PSD resolution is 300 dpi

[Bojan Živković]

"So how do you save it in pdf but keep high quality?"

Save using High Quality Print preset. Do not Rasterize vector shapes and Type layers although rasterizing will prevent editing.

[jane-e]

PDFs can be locked to prevent editing using Adobe Acrobat.

Jane

[i-graphya]

I'm not flattening or rasterizing the design.

But should I use bicubic downsampling in pdf or use do not downsample?

My PSD resolution is 300 dpi