PSE7 help!

[heartfeltgreetings]

I am moderately schooled in PSE7. However, I'm sure with the question I am about to pose you might scratch your head in wonder about that statement! I wonder what I am doing wrong and hope you can help me figure it out.

After I edit a new photo, I save it with a new version #. But recently, when I went in to re-edit the edited photo, there were no layers. Can I not re-edit an edited photo if it's been saved? How should I be handling this so I can go back in and re-edit if necessary? I feel like such a dorkess, having just noticed my little problem. I shoot in jpeg. Am serious about getting better in both my photographing skills and post-editing skills. I shoot with a Nikon D40, and this is my first time posting on this forum, so go easy on my dorkiness!!!

[Sarah in VA]

Are you saving the edited photos as .psd files? Saving as .psd files is the only way to maintain layers. Hope this helps!

[heartfeltgreetings]

No, I am saving them as jpegs. Should I be only saving them as psd files? Then I wouldn't be able to print them, would I? Thanks for the taking the time to respond to my plea!!!

[Maggie_M]

If you save as a .jpg in photoshop you will loose all of your layer information.They way to retain your layers is to save as a .psd.

[karen_s]

Originally Posted by heartfeltgreetings

Then I wouldn't be able to print them, would I?

I honestly don't know if a typical lab will take a .psd but jpeg is so widely accepted that it's probably the safest choice. It's also a great deal smaller (in file size) than a layered .psd file.

So, I'd say make two files, a .psd to retain the layers, and a .jpg to send to your commercial printer. My PSE is very old so I can't give you the exact steps, but you want to save the .psd first then look for the "save as" or "export" options and select jpeg.

And if you shoot in jpeg format, you may want to rename your new jpeg so you don't risk overwriting your original. If you shoot raw, this shouldn't be an issue.

Wish I could help more but I'm too cheap to upgrade :-)