Save A Layered File
What good is creating a project if you can’t save it? In this lesson I’ll show you exactly how to save a layered file, like the one you created in the last lesson.
Note: If you have Photoshop Elements 2020 or earlier, skip this video and watch the one further down the page.
Video 02-03: Save A Layered File (4:10)
Once you composite more than one layer into a single document, you have two choices: you can close the document without saving it and lose all your work. The layers you so carefully put together will disappear, and you won't be able to access them again without creating another document from scratch. The second option is to save your work, which is what we'll do right now. In the Menu Bar, choose File, Save. The Save As dialog box comes up. Since this is the first time I've saved this document, choose a name for your document. I'll choose the name patchwork. Next, choose a location for your document. I'll navigate to the desktop where I created a folder called My Practice Files. I'm going to save all my practice files and put them in here.
In the Format menu, choose Photoshop, because this is the format that will save all the layers. A TIFF format will also save layers, but since we're using an Adobe product, we'll use Adobe's proprietary file format, which is Photoshop. You can choose to also include your file in the Organizer, which is Photoshop Elements' companion software that helps you organize your photos and files. I won't do that for this file, but I will make sure that Embed Color Profile is checked.
And also, I want layers to be checked. Click save and your document is saved. You can close this file and open it back up at any time to make any adjustments you want. Now let's save a JPEG version of this file. JPEGs are a lot easier to share with others because they have a much smaller file size. And anyone can view a JPEG on their computer or email program. Unlike my layered PSD file, a JPEG doesn't need a program like Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to view it. To save as a JPEG in the menu bar, choose File, Save As. When the dialog box comes up, I generally keep the same name and location. But you'll want to change the format to JPEG. Photoshop Elements tells me I'll have to save as a copy, because remember, the JPEG format doesn't support layers, so that's fine. And then check embed color profile.
Click Save, and the JPEG Options dialog box comes up. Enter the quality you want. I rarely go above 10 and I get great results. The quality you choose will display how large the file is on the right. At a quality of 10 the JPEG will be around 730 kilobytes. If I change this to the highest number, which is 12. The file size goes up to 1.4 megabytes. So let's go back down to 10 which is excellent quality.
Under format options choose Baseline Standard. If you were saving for the web, or to send an image by email, you would choose baseline optimized. I never choose progressive. It harks back to the old days of the web where images would load a section at a time. So for this file, I'll choose baseline and click OK. When I navigate to my desktop and look in the folder called My Practice Files, there they are—the two files I just saved. Now you can save your practice files as you work through these lessons.
Photoshop Elements Versions 2020 and Older
What good is creating a project if you can’t save it? In this lesson I’ll show you exactly how to save a layered file, like the one you created in the last lesson.
Note: If you have Photoshop Elements 2021, skip this video and watch the first video on the page.
Video 02-03: Save A Layered File (3:47)
Once you composite more than one layer into a single document, you have two choices, you can close the document without saving it and lose all your work. The layers you so carefully put together will disappear, and you won't be able to access them again without creating another document from scratch. The second option is to save your work, which is what we'll do right now.
In the Menu Bar, choose File, Save. The Save As dialog box comes up. Since this is the first time I've saved this document, choose a name for your document, I'll choose the name Patchwork.
Next, choose a location for your document. I'll navigate to the desktop where I created a folder called My Practice Files. I'm going to save all my practice files and put them in here.
In the Format menu, choose Photoshop, because this is the format that will save all the layers. A TIFF format will also save layers, but since we're using an Adobe product, we'll use Adobe's proprietary file format, which is Photoshop. You can choose to also include your file in the Organizer, which is Photoshop Elements' companion software that helps you organize your photos and files. I won't do that for this file, but I will make sure that Embed Color Profile is checked. And also, I want Layers to be checked. Click Save and your document is saved.
You can close this file and open it back up at any time to make any adjustments you want. Now let's save a JPEG version of this file. JPEGs are a lot easier to share with others because they have a much smaller file size and anyone can view a JPEG on their computer or email program. Unlike my layered PSD file, a JPEG doesn't need a program like Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to view it. To save as a JPEG, in the Menu Bar, choose File, Save As. When the dialog box comes up, I generally keep the same name and location. But you'll want to change the format to JPEG.
Photoshop Elements tells me I'll have to save as a copy. Because remember, the JPEG format doesn't support layers, so that's fine. And then check Embed Color Profile. Click Save and the JPEG Options dialog box comes up. Enter the quality you want. I rarely go above 10 and I get great results. The quality you choose will display how large the file is on the right at a quality of 10. The JPEG will be around 730 kilobytes. If I change this to the highest number, which is 12, the file size goes up to 1.4 megabytes. So let's go back down to 10 which is excellent quality.
Under format options choose Baseline Standard. If you were saving for the web, or to send an image by email, you would choose Baseline Optimized, I never choose Progressive. It harks back to the old days of the web where images would load a section at a time. So for this file, I'll choose Baseline and click OK.
When I navigate to my desktop and look in the folder called my practice files, there they are: the two files I just saved. Now you can save your practice files as you work through these lessons.