PSPX8 - Saved PSPIMAGE and it's now Flattened. Why?

[Grazie]

Ugh . . ..

I had +20 Layers with Adjustments Layers and Groups - y'know the thing - What did I do wrong?

[Jean-Luc]

Ugh . . ..

I had +20 Layers with Adjustments Layers and Groups - y'know the thing - What did I do wrong?

Let your Palette layers open and you will see if the image is flatened just after the save.
You may have saved in a layer merged format, like JPG, just before.
Or you added a border just before saving. Adding border merges all layers.
When working on huge image (many layers and adjustments) you need to save a copy of your work on a regular basis (in pspimage format).

[Grazie]

Let your Palette layers open and you will see if the image is flatened just after the save.

Yup, this is how I knew it was flattened.

You may have saved in a layer merged format, like JPG, just before.

No, I wanted to Save As a Project File, not a JPG.

When working on huge image (many layers and adjustments) you need to save a copy of your work on a regular basis (in pspimage format).

Oh yes! Been around PSP for 10 plus years. And vg advice!!

Or you added a border just before saving. Adding border merges all layers.

Nope, no Border added. But I'll take that on-board.

OK, reproed issue: Opening Proprieties to the PNG LAYER I added a Property GLOW. Seems straightforward enough? Yes? - Well this then FLATTENS the whole project file PSPIMAGE. Why would a Property Change to a Layer flatten the PSPIMAGE file?

[Grazie]

SOLUTION: Don't do it the way I was pursuing.

I've now generated a separate, exo-main Project, GLOWED-UP PNG and copy and pasted THAT into my Head project. Saved as a TEST.pspminage file closed and opened and all my layers are still there but I must start over reconstructing ALL my +20 Layers.

If anybody wishes to throw light on why I need to do it this way, and not just adjusting the properties of the single Layer, I'm all ears . . .

[Grazie]

Well, no, I was mistaken. Not even doing it with my SOLUTION worked. Going back to basics and seeing if PSP can save its own TEXT layer. And yes it can.

[hartpaul]

Tried to duplicate your problem. Using PSP X8 version 18.2.0.61

1. Prepared a transparent document 500 x 500 pixels and duplicated 4 times to give 5 layers.
2. Selected each layer in turn and placed a different picture tube on each.
3. Selected one of the layers double clicked to get Layer Properties Dialog.
4. Choose Layer Style tab and selected outer glow and chose a color and clicked OK.

Layers remained intact, no merging. Repeated with other layers selected and same, no merging.
Can you detail what you are doing to get this merging problem.

[Grazie]

I've done 1 thru 4 and I get the OUTER GLOW showing nicely on the live Project. However, when I close the Project I get a warning:

And when I reopen the Project ALL the layers are merged. If I don't use the Glow then it's ok. Is there a way to allow PSP to save this without flattening? If there is, where do I switch it OFF!

.

[hartpaul]

I've done 1 thru 4 and I get the OUTER GLOW showing nicely on the live Project. However, when I close the Project I get a warning:

Flattening with Glow.JPG

And when I reopen the Project ALL the layers are merged. If I don't use the Glow then it's ok. Is there a way to allow PSP to save this without flattening? If there is, where do I switch it OFF!

.

How are you closing the project? I have glowing text over an image and I do a Save As a .pspfile and when I reload it the layers are still there.
If you close it and save as a jpg then layers will be flattened. You must save as a .pspfile to keep the layers.

[LeviFiction]

PNG also does not support layers. The only formats that support layers are PSD (limited layers, text objects and vectors will be converted to RASTER images) and PSPImage file format. Which Grazie claims is the file type she's saving to.

It's important to note that simply adding "pspimage" to the end of a file does not change the file type chosen in PSP. You have to specifically choose the file type from the drop-down list of file formats. So if the drop-down says JPG or PNG but you've typed in the name as "image1.pspimage" it'll still save as "image1.png" ignoring the "pspsimage" portion. You have to specifically choose PSPImage from the drop down list. If that is what you are doing, are you saving to an older version of the PSPImage file format?

[Grazie]

PNG also does not support layers. The only formats that support layers are PSD (limited layers, text objects and vectors will be converted to RASTER images) and PSPImage file format. Which Grazie claims is the file type she's saving to.

This is how I am saving - done it a trillion times before:

BTW, I'm a bloke! -

It's important to note that simply adding "pspimage" to the end of a file does not change the file type . . . are you saving to an older version of the PSPImage file format?

Nope, I don't do that. Always use the PSPimage thing to retain a workable Project FIle - with Layers.

If that is what you are doing, are you saving to an older version of the PSPImage file format?

I'm, using X8; working in X8 and saving to X8


.

[hartpaul]

What version of PSP X8 are you using. Has it had all its updates? There were 2 service packs.
Does it happen in the 32 bit version and the 64 bit version.
I have just done some glowing text and saved it as a pspfile in both 32 bit and 634 bit and still get the layers retained when I reload.

Time for you to do some detective work. We need to locate exactly where the images are being flattened, forget your loading a png file for these exercises.
1. Make a document and have two layers, save it as pspfile , delete from workspace and reload. Does it keep the layers.

2. Document 2 layers. put some text on the second layer and apply. Should have 2 raster layers and a vector layer with text on it. Save that as a .pspsfile (all future mention of saves resume .pspfile). Delete and reload are layers retained.

3. Repeat 2. with text, but right click the vector layer and convert to a raster. You should have three raster layers. Then save , delete and reload. Does it still keep the layers?

4. Repeat 3, but double click that text layer (rasterised) and apply the outer glow and save, delete and reload. Does it retain layers.

5. Repeat 2 but this time apply the glow to the vector text layer . Save delete and reload Does it retain the layers?


In all the cases mentioned I still have the layers maintained.

You might also try resetting PSP X8 using the Shift key when you start . (This method of resetting to defaults also needs a sticky as it often has to be explained over again just like the difference between PSP and PSP Ultimate.)

[Grazie]

The quick Reply is that that PNG had/has to be pre-prepared for PSP and not only to be part of the PSPimage file it had/has to be contrived with the GLOW to be acceptable.

Thanks everybody for giving me direction on this. Couldn't have done it without you.