Prevent Photoshop saving 8-bit .PSD files

bmcent1

Hi!
New here. I do something too often that bits me in the digital darkroom...

My workflow is, import RAW to PS CS2 via ACR. Next, post process and saw as a .PSD (16-bit). Finally, if needed, crop, resize, and convert to 8-bit and save as a .JPEG to upload to SmugMug.

I like keeping a copy of the .RAW file, the post processed file (where I spend the most time), and the final version.

Too often, after saving the .PSD and then converting to 8-bit, I slip and hit Ctrl-S and overwrite the .PSD with revised 8-bit version. Sometimes I get into a rhythm didn't notice this until I've undone a couple hours of work

Is there a simple way to tell Photoshop: "Do not, under any circumstances, save a .PSD file that is not 16-bit?"

jfriend

Use Image/Duplicate

bmcent1 wrote:

Hi!
New here. I do something too often that bits me in the digital darkroom...

My workflow is, import RAW to PS CS2 via ACR. Next, post process and saw as a .PSD (16-bit). Finally, if needed, crop, resize, and convert to 8-bit and save as a .JPEG to upload to SmugMug.

I like keeping a copy of the .RAW file, the post processed file (where I spend the most time), and the final version.

Too often, after saving the .PSD and then converting to 8-bit, I slip and hit Ctrl-S and overwrite the .PSD with revised 8-bit version. Sometimes I get into a rhythm didn't notice this until I've undone a couple hours of work

Is there a simple way to tell Photoshop: "Do not, under any circumstances, save a .PSD file that is not 16-bit?"

I doubt you can tell Photoshop not to save an 8-bit PSD. But, you could do the following:

• Process your 16-bit image like you normally do.
• Save it like you normally do.
• Image/Duplicate (this will force you to give it a new name)
• (optional) - close the original
• On the duplicate file, do your crop, resize, convert to 8-bit

This will make it impossible to overwrite your original. It's really only one extra step (Image/Duplicate).

System

another suggestion-

if your workflow is fairly consistent step-wise what about setting up a workflow action with one step being a save as with a pause and instructions to rename file; or incor-porate jfriend's suggestion into a workflow action-

george

bmcent1

gefillmore wrote:

another suggestion-

if your workflow is fairly consistent step-wise what about setting up a workflow action with one step being a save as with a pause and instructions to rename file; or incor-porate jfriend's suggestion into a workflow action-

george

Thanks, these are both great suggestions. I created an action that does:
- save 16-bit version
- duplicate
- close orig 16-bit version
- flatten image
- convert duplicate to 8-bit mode

It works very well. Thanks for the tip!

DavidTO

I would use the Image Processor for this. File>Scripts>Image Processor.

There's a tute here.