Photoshop Saving with/out layers

[RobbieW]

Hi

This is probably very obvious to most people, but...

1) when you have a PS images with several layers, if you want to save it as a JPG is it best to select save for web, or to flatten the layers first, or select merge down or merge visable?

2) When saving TIFF I have various options, relating to Image and Layer Compressions whats best?

Thanks

Rob

[Glen]

The way I work is to save an original layered version, then once happy, flatten the whole lot then do your saving to where/whatever :) Then once your happy all round flatten the layered version again and keep as high res original.

[Grendel]

I always save my Photoshop (psd) file with all layers intact. Then I flatten the layers and sharpen & add a border if I want one and save as a TIFF. Then I resize and downsample to 72dpi and save a lo res jpg

[inophoto]

2) When saving TIFF I have various options, relating to Image and Layer Compressions whats best?


To be safe I choose no compression. At least you know that you are getting the highest quality possible.

[HIMUPNORTH]

Only other thing to add is that "save to web" strips out your exif data where "Save as" doesn't.

[Marcel]

I save all my processed shots as full size, layered TIFFs, with no compression.
It means a standard 1 layer shot from my 30D, without cropping is about 48 meg in filesize, but I live by the mantra, mistakes are costly, space is cheap.

I know at least this way, should I ever find out my monitor is hugely in need of calibration, or as I get much better at processing (this has happened a few times,.....) where I can go back and re-edit every single step of my shot, from all the adjustments made. Peace of mind really.

As for saving as a JPEG, I think when you save to a JPEG it flattens it for you anyway, although if youre creating an action, it might be wise to just flatten the layers.

[RobbieW]

Thanks for the tips and advice, I like this photography thing that we do, means you get to learn new things every day :)

[oldgit]

As said before... I save as PSD with all the info intact. TIFF is OK too, but tends to be bigger for no gain, except that other tools than PS will read it.

I JPG only for web and posting on CD's to peeps.

[Grendel]

To be safe I choose no compression. At least you know that you are getting the highest quality possible.

LZW compression (the standard way of compressing a TIFF file) is actually a lossless compression algorithm, so you can use it with no loss of quality ;)