photoshop question

[danchez]

I will try and ask this question as best I know how to ask it without creating too much confusion..... and here.. we.. go.

Sorry, Dark Knight flashback. LOL

OK, when I am working on my pp, after each "project" I work on I save it as a PSD file. So I start with correcting blemishes, save as psd1, then I work on skin smoothing, save as psd2, work on eyes, save as psd3, convert to sRGB, resize, add my logo then save as a jpg.

Now if I wanted to go back and work on just one of those sections, such as skin smoothing. I know I could open that section back up, but let's say I was really happy with the actions I took after the skin smoothing. How could I add those back to the picture after I have made changes to skin smoothing?

Does that make sense?

Thanks in advance for you help.

[texxter]

I work with layers. Each change goes on its own layer. I may end up with a dozen layers, but only one PSD file. If I need to go back I make a copy of the PSD and work on the layer that needs modfication. Why do you save mutiple files instead of using layers?

[danchez]

I use a ton of layers also, I just keep saving after I make significant changes to each layer. Maybe I am not asking this question correctly.... My brain is pretty fried right now, been working in CS3 for about 14 hours today.....

[MicWayWal]

Dan,
Paco is correct. There is no need to save multiple psd files. PS was designed to do in one file, just what you are trying to do with multiple files.
At each major step, action, or progress, create a new layer by copying the previous layer, and then continue with your work. If something you don't like along the way you can go back to that layer and start over. If you don't like what you did on a previous layer, hide it, then go create a new layer by copying the layer that you do like and then continue. Then you can compare the two to see if it was improved.
Even better use adjustment layers so you can change the adjustments later on without affecting the previous work.
Thousands of way to do it. Work what suits you the best.

[danchez]

I think I save frequently in case, god forbid, computer crashes or CS3 stops responding and goes down. I name them different so therefore I end up with multiple psd files.

[MicWayWal]

Originally Posted by danchez

I think I save frequently in case, god forbid, computer crashes or CS3 stops responding and goes down. I name them different so therefore I end up with multiple psd files.

computer crashes - you are going to lose all your files anyway if they are on the same physical drive, one file or a hundred files.
CS3 stops responding - what you are doing would still not help you. Any unsaved information from the last file save will be lost. You can save a psd at any point in time to save your work completed at that point. When you would have saved a new file, save the current psd. If you were putting things on different layers you are covered. On critical work I save my work about every 10-15 minutes. If PS stops I only go back to my last save.

To protect yourself, before you start any work, save a copy of everything on a different physical drive or backup.
As you save each file save a copy as well on another physical drive or backup.
When you are finished save everything again on a permanent backup drive or disk.
When you are finished you will have three copies of all original files and two sets of completed work.

[danchez]

I need to buy some bigger hard drives.... LOL

[MicWayWal]

I bet you do. Saving multiple files of the same work will clog any drive.