when I'm done working on an image

[Ian5E48]

Hello,

I'm a beginner woking with photoshop so please excuse any incorrect term usage.

What I'm wondering is when I get to a point with working on an image where I feel that it is done and I have 10 layers, should I reduce or combined them together before saving the image?

Thanks,

Ian

[davescm]

Hi

I always save a master copy, complete with layers, as a PSD (or PSB if the file is large). That way I can go back and make edits in the future.

If I want to send a copy onwards I use Export (save for web) to make a flattened copy in a compressed format (for example jpeg).

Dave

[Ian5E48]

Fantastic! Thanks so much!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

As @davescm  already mentioned: It is generally recommendable to keep the layered files. 

One might merge some things but especially things like Adjustment Layers, Smart Objects, Smart Filters etc. help maintain an editability that might prove useful later on, for example if one has to adapt an image for different page formats or re-use elements for different layouts. 

[Ian5E48]

Excellent! All info is a big help.
Thank you!