Skip to main content
B
BO_Impero
Participant
November 27, 2013
Answered

There was a problem reading the layer data. Read the composite data instead?

  • November 27, 2013
  • 13 replies
  • 52195 views

I can't open my psd with properly in Photoshop, it keeps showing :There was a problem reading the layer data. Read the composite data instead? 

Photoshop cc

Help please

      Correct answer Harpan & Stuket Studio AB

      Discovered this issue today as well... Big file with lots of layers and folders, most of them duplicated so maybe that is the problem. Scary. It's my main design file for the work I'm doing and would die if that file died... Will keep copies in the future for sure!

      Anyway, the www.photopea.com really helped for me at least. You just upload the file and save it again and you have everything back!

      Close call that one... Really hope Adobe will look into it. Having stuff like this happen without a warning is scary af.

      13 replies

      Show previous replies
      S
      Sercan-y8VgtO
      Participant
      November 28, 2014

      Hello,

      I have run into the same mistake! I don't want to lose my file! Is there any solution for it? Please help me

      Cheers

      M
      Michael Goss
      Participating Frequently
      November 30, 2014

      Hi sercan,

      I was not able to revive the file. Had to recreate it from scratch. ,(

      Cheers!

      Michael

        B
        BECreativeHK
        Participant
        March 29, 2014

        I just discovered this issue. Apparently if your PSD document has a tonne of layers, it will save normally. Then suppose you are working on it one day, and create lots of new additional layers...saving that will then corrupt the PSD file, as apparently the number of layers exceeds some hidden limit. You will not be able to load that back in, as Photoshop doesn't appear to allow you to do that.This issue appears for both PSD & PSB files. I lost a few weeks of updates, but recovered thanks to a few backups.

        One clue you can use to ensure you don't inadvertently save over the file (thereby corrupting it), is to try duplicating a layer or a group of layers. You will not have the option to do so. If you encounter that, immediately open a new file, and drag a few groups of layers to the new document (and deleting them in the original document). You should then go back below the 'limit', allowing you to save normally.


        As for the original corrupted file, well I tried repairing it with a whole host of tools. But nothing worked ....

        MacReady: Any way we can we fix it?

        Garry: It's gone, MacReady.

        JJMack
        Community Expert
        JJMackCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        March 29, 2014

        Your theory does not hold up.   Yes Photoshop has many limits you can not exceed.  For example Photoshop only supports up to 53 Alpha channels try to create the 54 Alpha channel and Photoshop will let you know you can't.   Photoshop supports something like up to 8,000 layers you can not exceed that try and Photoshop will let you known that you can not make more layers..  A PSD file has a file size limit you can not exceed 4GB.  If you layered document would exceed 4GB in file size Photoshop would inform you that you can not save the document in PSD file for it would require more then 4GB of data.  You would at this point save in PSB file format.  You can not exceed limits. Limits are not hidden they also may not be published however if you try to exceed a limit Photoshop will let you know. 

        Read what the message states.  There is a problem reading some layer data.  There is either corrupt data a file error a layer data did not write correctly or was written correctly by a newer version Photoshop which has some option not supported in this release of Photoshop.   So Photoshop can not correctly make that layer in the document its trying to open.  Photoshop is giving you the option to either have it use a raster layer for the layer it can not process or or just open a single composite layer for the entire image. So you don't completely loose your image.

        JJMack
        M
        Michael Goss
        Participating Frequently
        June 5, 2014

        No theory about it. I just tested it on a 60MB file, and was able to replicate the issue on a completely different system, but still running Photoshop CC. Basically load any PSD or PSB file with a gargantuan tonne of layers, duplicate groups of those layers until it passes the threshold & doesn't let you do any more. Then, saving that as a separate file will be successful, but attempting to load that back in will not. It will inform you to either "Read Composte Data" or "Cancel". Heck, I just created a brand new 3.45MB file with nothing in it but crazy numbers of layers, and it still wouldn't load.This only happens if you duplicate the layers to go past the threshold. Drag-dropping layers to an already layer-fat file will not be successful, Photoshop will give you a warning in that instance.

        I don't believe the data is lost though, it's still there, but won't load due to PSCC restrictions. Should Adobe lift those restrictions in the future, the file should be able to load.


        Hi Guys,

        Just wanted to say that I totally agree with BECreativeHK

        I have not spent any time testing their theory, but I had a PSD (32mb) with a ton of layers and I was duplicating folders to revise certail screens for a UI and Photoshop decided the file was now corrupt. Such a bummer. The file can't be opened and I had to go through and make a full day+ of revisions again.

        In the past I would have been nervous about large file sizes with PSDs, but not layers.  Now I'll be cautious with the amount of layers too.

        Definitely sucks when you have to rely on an incredible program like Photoshop and poof, some BS happens with zero warning.  And I'm running the latest version. (14.2.1)

        I recommend the PSD team build in smarter alerts so that actions like duplicating folders doesn't cause your hard work to disappear.

        Cheers!

        Michael

          JJMack
          Community Expert
          JJMackCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          November 27, 2013

          If you created the document and save the file you having a problem opening with CC then either the file is corrupt or you have run into a CC bug. If the file was save by some other version of Photoshop you may have run into a compatibility issue. See if the file will open in CS6 without a problem if the file was not saved written by CC.

          JJMack
          T
          tyunus419
          Participant
          June 23, 2021

          (Link removed by moderator)

          open your file here and re-save as photoshop

          Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
          Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices