PSE 5 Save Options

[guntoter]

Group,
I have PSE 5 and when I make changes to an image in "Quick Fix" and then try to save it, it simply ask me to replace the image (overwrite it). That is good. That is what I want it to do.
However, in "Full Edit", I make a new layer and do some editing. Then when I go to save it, it trys to save as a .psd file (35MB, you got to be kidding):confused:. When I change it to a .jpg file, you would think it would simply overwrite the old file, but no, it changes the name to a "copy of" file:(.
Is there some setup I can do to make it not automatically try to go to a .psd file, and also, automatically overwrite the old file instead of changing the name to a "copy of file".
Thank for any help,

[Jeff Perry]

Gun, when you are working in Quick, all of the adjustments that get applied by PSE are done wothout the aid of new layers/adjustment layers, in otherwords, when you are done tinkering with it, you have one layer, and when you doa a File Save, you get the dialog that defualts tothe original file name, and if you hit return it reminds you that you are about to overwrite (hence destroy) the orginal with the new version. You are working on a COPY of your photo and never, never, never (did I say NEVER) work on the original image. All this while you are still working "in the JPG world" of a single layer image.

If you work in the full Edit mode, and likewise apply all your adjustments to the single layer, typically by using all the goodies in the Enhance menu, without ever creating an adjustment or duplicate layers, and you do a Save, you will see exactly the same dialog box, with the default file name being what you started with.

It is only after you create a new layer that you leave the world of JPGs formated files and shift to a PSD or other format (e.g., TIFF) that you are now presented with a different Save dialog with the default assumed to be PSD (since you now have a layered image that can not be saved as layers in a JPG format). You can of course change the format in the dialog to JPG, and PSE will flatten the file for you, save the JPG and return you to your layered file.

The default name with "copy" appended is to just try and save you from making an unwanted error in overwriting the original. If you DO want to overwrite it, just click in the name field in the Save dialog in front of the word "copy" and hit your delete key a few times to erase the word "copy" from the name, and then OK, and you will again be warned that you are about to overwrite your file.

Jeff

[guntoter]

Jeff,
That is good information. I didn't realize some of the things you explained. I am new to the Elements world. I have some tutorials, and am finding that Elements is quite amazing with what you can do with a photo. The layers are very powerful (seems to me).
Thanks again for your input.

[guntoter]

Hey Jeff,
Because of the info you gave me I tried to Flatten the image before trying to save. Worked perfectly. Thanks for the info. It really helped me.

[Jeff Perry]

Gun, keep in mind that once you have flattened your layers, and then saved the flattened file, and exit the editing session, all the interim work is lost. Until you actuuall quit the editing session you can always UNDO to get something back. Once flattened, you have the final product, and assuming you started with a copy of the image, you still have the original, but all the interim steps, layers, adjustments, everything you did, is lost to only a memory. That's why many people will save the PSD version, just in case they want to go back next time and make a new modifcation to one of the layers, etc.

I know the PSD files are "huge" compared to JPGs but the amount of editing you do is also huge and some times deserves to be preserved, so you go back and redit the image in it's native form.

Jeff

[JonE]

As mentioned, never overwrite your original. You always want that to go back to. For best results, always save as a PSD file. It will save all your layers, etc., and you can go back and change those or change the adjustments at will. You can open and save a PSD file as many times as you want and never lose any quality. When you open, edit and save a JPG file over and over, you lose quality with each save operation due to image compression.

[guntoter]

Again, more interesting facts about this program. Since I have a 500Gig external to do all my storing into, I might start doing as you both suggest and save the PSD file. Sounds like the most prudent thing to do.

[Jeff Perry]

Gun, if I'm working on an image, and a quick levels adjustment and crop is all I need to do to make it "perfect", then I would do it, print it, and probably not save the PSD, not even save a JPG. If I need another copy, I simply do the little work over again. If I KNOW I will need more exact copies, I will frequently save as JPG, but not the PSD.

If on the otherhand, I plow an hour's effort into adjusting, cloning, dodging and burning, color enhancements, collaging, adding text, etc., I may easily end up with ten or more layers, and in that case I would save as a PSD.

Another trick, when making adjustments, applying filters, etc., I will often try to rename the layer to the adjustment that has been made, that way I can see at a glance the next time the file is loaded up, what layer did what. Works well if you are trying to recreate a sequence of adjustments a month after you first did it.

Jeff

[guntoter]

mmmh.........you can rename layers?........more good info. Elements just keeps on giving.
Thanks.

[Jeff Perry]

Yes, just double click on the layer name, and retype whatever you want.

Incidentally, when you open a new image, the "main" layer is named Background, and some editing functions will not work, or have different results, unless you rename the layer.

Jeff

[guntoter]

Thanks for that little tid-bit Jeff.
You guys are being very helpful to this New-bee to elements.