Saved image as a JPG now all my layers are gone

[Rose5C4F]

I saved my work as a JPEG and then when I go to open it all my layers had combine into one and now i can't edit it because everything got put together. Is there anyway to open it as a JPEG, with all my layers seperate? 

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

No, that's not possible.  JPG is a flat file.  It does not support layers. To maintain layers, save images as native PSD (Photoshop) or TIF files.  Always keep your native files in case you ever need to edit them.  Make copies in JPG for use in projects requiring JPG.  Ditto for PNG.

[Moving from Using the Community to Photoshop.]

[Sheehan72]

This doesn't seem to be universally true. My students (high schoolers) seem to have found a way. They turn in a .jpg and when I open it, all of the layers are there. They are not tech savvy enough to be able to recreate their steps, but I have not been able to figure out why that happens. Thoughts?

[TheDigitalDog]

Can you provide us with an example of a JPEG with layers? Upload to something like Dropbox. 

[Abambo]

This doesn't seem to be universally true. My students (high schoolers) seem to have found a way.

By @Sheehan72

The redefined JPEG? Great. Get them high marks. The JPEG specs simply do not include layers.

[Nancy OShea]

I bet donuts to donut holes you're opening another file type without realizing it.   GIF and WebP images support animation frames.  I suppose if someone incorrectly saved an animated GIF as a JPG, it might maintain it's animation frames.  If you opened such a file in Photoshop's Timeline, the animation frames might appear stacked in the Layers panel.  But that's a really big "IF." 

Ordinarily, the only Layer supporting file types are TIF, PSD, PTD and some PDF files.  

Hope that helps.

[Nancy OShea]

Out of curiosity, I decided to test it. I renamed an animated GIF to JPG from my operating system's file manager.  When I tried to open the renamed file in Photoshop, I received a "could not complete your request" error.  So you can scratch that off the list. 😞

In all likelihood, you're opening a file other than JPG that actually supports Layers.

[Dan Rodney]

When saving a file, there's a Layers checkbox in the options. You'll notice for some formats (such as JPEG) that layers cannot be checked because they do not support layers (and it even puts a yellow alert icon as a warning). Only a few formats actually support layers. It's best to save your work file as a Photoshop document (PSD).

[Rose5C4F]

Is there anyway I can convert my JPG file into a photoshop file? 

[Dan Rodney]

When you open any kind of file (JPEG or other) and start working, creating layers, etc. you can then do a File > Save As and make it a Photoshop file (PSD). In your case if you have a flat JPEG, saving it as a Photoshop file will not magically bring back the layers you once had (they are not in the JPEG to begin with), but if you remake your layers you could at least keep them moving forward.

[Nancy OShea]

"Is there anyway I can convert my JPG file into a photoshop file? "

Sure but it won't magically create layers for you.  That data was lost when you saved as JPG. 

[Abambo]

You can open a JPEG file in Photoshop, but:

• The file will stay flat, until you add layers and save as either a PSD file or a TIFF file.
• The compression artefacts will stay and will be part of your file, whatever you try to do.

[Per Berntsen · Accepted solution]

Saving as jpg will not overwrite the original PSD.

Go to File > Open recent. It should be listed there if this happened recently.