Photoshop: How did I get a flattened PSD after saving PDF?

I think there is some user confusion here. When you have a layered PSD, then choose File>Save As... and select PDF, and UN-check "Preserving Photoshop Edibility" the open file is not flattened at that point.

If you go back to the File menu, Save is disabled. You have to choose "Save As..."



When you do, the format is set to Photoshop PDF (Note that Save: "Layers" is unchecked with a ! warning symbol):



If I change the Format pop-up to "Photoshop" note that Save: "Layers" is still unchecked with a ! warning symbol:



If I save the file now, yes, the resulting PSD will not have layers. If you address the options/warnings, and check "Layers" then save the file, the resulting file will retain the layers.

Are you saying, that if you ensure that "Layers" is checked at this point and save the file the resulting file has no layers? I haven't been able to reproduce that.

It doesn't "turn into a PDF", Photoshop just displays that last filename you saved the document to. Nothing changes about the document except the filename/path.

When you saved the PSD, you had to have chosen to not save layer data, or you flattened the document and forgot about it before saving.

Saving as PDF doesn't flatten the document, nor does it change the document.

I have the same Problem. I can choose to save the PSD first and then save as PDF after and close the tab. Then goto to open the PSD that I SAVED WITH LAYER DATA, and wammo its flattened. Or I can save as pdf first, then SAVE as PSD and Close the tab, reopen the PSD and Wammo its messed up again. So Saving a PDF without Preserving Photoshop Edibility in the PDF and saving a PSD before or after saving the PSD will in turn automatically do the same in the PSD no matter which way you go about it. Its the stupidest thing ive ever seen, i have ruined so many jobs trying to fix this issue its not funny, PHOTOSHOP Has cost Thousands of dollars and ticks me off!!!
Edit: I also forgot to explain that the reason i have to UN-check "Preserving Photoshop Edibility" while saving a PDF because it makes a smaller file size for uploading to print services who have file size limits.

I've had this issue for years, probably since Photoshop CS3. I'm on CS5.5 now and the issue still persists.

There's only one guaranteed solution that works...

1) Before saving to a PDF, duplicate your PSD file
2) Open the PSD duplicate
3) Save as PDF
4) Close
5) Delete PSD duplicate

I've had this issue for years, probably since Photoshop CS3. I'm on CS5.5 now.

There's only one guaranteed solution that works...

1) Before saving to a PDF, duplicate your PSD file
2) Open the PSD duplicate
3) Save as PDF
4) Close
5) Delete PSD duplicate

I had the same issue. However, it is completely user error. When you save as PDF. The PSD file essentially closes and the file then becomes filename.PDF. You save that file without layers. Then if you Save as PSD because you thought you erased it, you accidentally leave layers unchecked. This then replaces the closed PSD into a PSD with no layers... aka flattened, also know as useless. I suggest opening the flattened image, add a layer with large font that says "DUMB" on it. Print it out, tape it right above your workstation. Then you will always remember what not to be. Alternatively, you should do the same thing but tape it to your chest for 1 hour after you have made this mistake. This way people will understand how you feel because it really is user error. The save as dialog box doesn't reset every time you use it.

If this was too harsh for you I'm sorry, I have another Idea that you will actually like. Every time you are going to save something as a PDF, go to your history panel of your PSD. Take a snapshot and then save. Also, every time you are finished with an awesome photoshop file, take a snap shot with your history menu camera. Name these snapshots as "pre-PDF" and "post-awesomeness". This way if you open your psd and it's flattened, you can click one of your snapshots and get back to work with layers. It's unfortunate that there isn't a magic genie to turn a flat psd or pdf into a layered file, but hey, you can never have too many snapshots. I hope this helps

OK, I have a different scenario.

The following does NOT have to do with saving as a PDF.

It pertains to basic saving a PS file as a PSD.

Over the last few years with PS CS 3, I have had this problem on a periodic basis: when re-visiting a saved PSD file, the layers have mysteriously flattened. The age of the files does not seem to matter. Whether they are several years old or recent files, this flattening of layers can happen.

Here are my questions:

1. Can my PS possibly be corrupt? If so, is the best solution to delete the program and re-install?

2. Could my computer have a glitch? Perhaps it's not sending proper
signals to PS to save with all layers remaining intact?

FYI: I have had multiple problems with my MacBook Pro over the last 4 years. The problems included multiple freezing / crashes and repetitive / sticky keys. Many times, the problems would occur after intensive PS editing. The Apple folks could never figure it out. After I got a new battery, things seem to have improved. I also run my Disk Utility more regularly now.

3. Please review the steps for careful saving so that the PS layers
really do remain intact. Maybe I have carelessly skipped an important step when I have saved certain images.

4. Please provide troubleshooting tips regarding which Dialog box items
to UNcheck, to make sure that the layers stay intact.

Thanks ahead of time for your assistance.

I had this issue as well. But before I get started I just want to say Aaron your a tool! People come here for help. So help! Now to the issue at hand. After some trial and error this is what I've come up with. The issue only arises when your working on a file and you save it as a .pdf first, then after save it as a .psd. So before you save your file as a flattened .pdf make sure you save it as .psd first. That's it. Happy designing.

Jeffry, I dont think it's user confusion, this is a user interface problem Adobe could address easily. Photoshop has a pop up to warn us of trivial things (comparatively) such as fonts or to maximize compatibility but there's NO pop up to ask if i want to KEEP my layers?! I think there's something wrong with their priority system for warning it's users about how the file is saved. A tiny ! triangle in the middle of the save dialogue is not much of a warning. After all, we're talking about LAYERS here. Obviously there are lots of people who's logic is to check their file extension before closing the file they spent so much time working on. Once we discover we are working under the wrong extension we try to correct it. Now that I think about it, I've even gotten pop ups that warn me when I'm saving layers saying it will increase the size.

I totally agree with KenJyi Yos.....I mean, without functional layers, Photoshop would be completely useless. There absolutely needs to be a blatant warning about this issue when you are about to lose your layers. I don't think I ever encountered this before using CS6 (or whatever the newest one is...I use the cloud service)...I'm not sure how though, since it appears that it has happened to others using older versions, just as I have.

Seriously, if I'm saving a psd and I'm about to lose my layers, Photoshop should punch me in the skull before it lets me do that. When would I EVER want to lose all my layers in a psd?

So how do you create a multi-page PDF from a PS file?

I've had the same problem and I now have to redo everything.

Isn't that the function of "Save As"? To create another file of another type???
You're saying that it doesn't flatten the psd file automatically but here's the thing:

-I SAVED AS pdf, with the Editing Capabilities unchecked because I intend to have a separate working PSD file for that.
-After that, with all the layers still visible (and seemingly untouched in my Layers window), I SAVED AS again, this time as a PSD file to make sure I have a workable file with workable layers.
-At this point I assumed I already have a separate PDF and PSD file, in different locations in my computer.
- Then it showed a dialog box saying I haven't saved the file with layers something something and if I would like to save the file in a workable format. I chose NO because, less than a minute ago, I saved a PSD file of my work (needless to say the layers WERE there in the Layers window when I did).
-Now when I opened the PSD file...tah-dah! IT'S FLATTENED.

So what the f-ing h is going on?

This is a horrible UI implementation. If I save as jpg, gif or almost any other format, when the save is complete, the PSD is intact, my layers are fine. Is there anyone out thee who purposely would want to change the format of the PSD and loose layers, just because you have to save a copy as PDF to send to others (since most of the world does not have Photoshop).
I have had this issue before, and always try to keep the files separate, but I'm not a machine...I expect the software I'm using to not put me into this position.

This is a travesty... I get prompted for all manner of inconsequential things, but destroying 25 hours of work on a PSD happens just like that?

I get reminded that something will save with COPY appended to the file name. I get asked if I want to maximize compatibility... And someone above has the temerity to lead with the comment "it is user error"?

Bad on me for not realizing that everything is protected with redundancies and warning prompts EXCEPT for the nifty feature where the Save as PDF and Self Destruct functions go together into one button with NO prompt...

Terrible job allowing this to occur.

Thank you to the consumer advocate saying there is some confusion here.. there sure is. I truly hope some one in development makes certain this never happens to anyone again...

RB I am having the EXACT same issue word for word and it has NOTHING to do with user error or at least not in regards to "Layers" being unchecked. Mine is, was, and always will be checked. I've been using Photoshop for about 10 years now, doing this same exact action in the past has never yielded this problem even with different installs of CS6, but now on this new install of it I am getting this problem.
After some testing it is clear that it has to do with saving a psd as a pdf and unchecking "preserve editing capabilities" then wanting to resave the file as a PSD again. This is frustrating to say the least. I'm glad it happened on something I can recreate within half an hour but saddened to see there is no fix or a way of restoring a previous copy.