Use the High Quality Print Preset to save as PDF but lost all my layers!

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
January 29, 2018
2 replies
1448 views

I'm a macOS user. And this problem occurs recently:

I selected the "Layers" option and "Preserve Photoshop Editing Capabilities" (use the High Quality Print Preset and didn't change a thing). But when I re-open it, all my layers merged together?!

I tried to re-install but it didn't work.

I know I can still save as PSD format, but it's my habit to save as PDF.

PLZ HELP!

photoshop pdf

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Dan Rodney

Community Expert

I don't think that it's a good habit to always save Photoshop files as PDF. There are PDF options that you have to be careful of (that can change the file in undesired ways) that I don't think it's a safe thing to do as a standard method of saving Photoshop files. For example the High Quality Print preset will downsample files to 300ppi. If you had a higher resolution file, oops some information is now good!

There's a reason InDesign and Illustrator can import native .psd files! A better practice is to use .psd and only save as PDF if required for specific reasons.

That said, I just tested it out on my machine (macOS as well) and layers were saved. Weird.

— Adobe Certified Expert & Instructor at Noble Desktop | Web Developer, Designer, InDesign Scriptor

K

KuderxAuthor

Participating Frequently

It used to work very well!!! I could save as pdf with all the layers, but something went wrong few days ago.

At first, after saving as pdf, a window came out: Could not complete your request because of a program error. (The files can be previewed and can be opened with Illustrator.) After I re-installed PS, the Program Error issue solved but all layers of .pdf merged. If I open the previous pdf that I saved (before the issue occurs), all layers are there. However, I tried to change something and pressed "Command + S", the Program Error window came out again.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

What have you done for trouble-shooting so far?

Restoring Preferences after making sure all customized presets like Actions, Patterns, Brushes etc. have been saved might be a good starting point:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/basic-trouble-shooting-steps.html

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

I know I can still save as PSD format, but it's my habit to save as PDF.

In my opinion that is a bad habit and the sooner you abandon it the better.

Nonetheless it should be possible to save a layered psd file in a pdf, so which exact and complete settings do you use when you get the faulty result?

Could you please post screenshots to illustrate your workflow.