Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd?

David · 15th March 2007

Just wondering.. As part of your workflow in Photoshop, do you keep or save your edited images in Photoshop format or even TIFF?

In the past I don't, but now it's become my "habit" to keep the .psd files cos I realize sometimes I will call up old images and wish to "add on" or modify the editing. Without the .psd I have to re-do my past hard work.

But wow... no joke man. All the files are sucking up my HDD space real fast. I can't image if they are in TIFF. Even worse.

Pls share your experience...

lumpyme · 15th March 2007

i keep in psd.

tiff is too big to keep, if u muz try eps.

i only go tiff when i send for print.

zac08 · 15th March 2007

It all depends on what you are doing with it.

PSD would be good if you are still working on the images and may still want to try editing it further.

TIFF is for large prints and when you're satisfied with the image already.

Jpeg, that's for the instant preview and posting off the web... small prints (8R or smaller) can also be made off this...

Dan · 15th March 2007

Originally Posted by David

Just wondering.. As part of your workflow in Photoshop, do you keep or save your edited images in Photoshop format or even TIFF?

In the past I don't, but now it's become my "habit" to keep the .psd files cos I realize sometimes I will call up old images and wish to "add on" or modify the editing. Without the .psd I have to re-do my past hard work.

But wow... no joke man. All the files are sucking up my HDD space real fast. I can't image if they are in TIFF. Even worse.

Pls share your experience...

Even in PSD file... it will also be big. But it depends on the number of layer used.

espion · 15th March 2007

None of the above.

They are for different purposes. In fact I use both and also JPEG.

TIFF is the format used after conversion from RAW. The rationale is that since you captured in RAW you ought not to be throwing away data with a lossy compression. For if that is OK then you might have captured in JPEG right from the onset.

PSD is the format used for a Photoshopped file. You can save your edited file with all its layers and so on as TIFF, but I think there will be certain features of Photoshop not available in TIFF or saved inefficiently. I do not know what are these but I just suppose PSD is most efficient for Photoshop.

And to minimise PSD file size never never maximise PSD and PSB file compatibility. If you do your PSD file balloons very very rapidly. Also try not to duplicate layers. There are ways to do blending without layers duplication.

And JPEG is used when I post it to the web, and I will further lower the resolution to 72 dpi, make the picture smaller, and optimise the JPEG compression for a slow modem, ie I am deliberately throwing away data when I save as a JPEG.

Rich-Page · 15th March 2007

Originally Posted by David

Just wondering.. As part of your workflow in Photoshop, do you keep or save your edited images in Photoshop format or even TIFF?

In the past I don't, but now it's become my "habit" to keep the .psd files cos I realize sometimes I will call up old images and wish to "add on" or modify the editing. Without the .psd I have to re-do my past hard work.

But wow... no joke man. All the files are sucking up my HDD space real fast. I can't image if they are in TIFF. Even worse.

Pls share your experience...

I depends on the final use of the images, I shoot raw then save a copy, press work I save as 30 +MB Jpg other-wise Tiff for better magazines

Rich

XC Pictorial · 16th March 2007

TIFF for prints.

PSD for storing.

highspeed · 18th March 2007

I shoot RAW most of the time. During PS, I'll choose the photos that I like, edit and print it before converting it to jpg for web displaying purpose. The purpose of doing printing(A4 or A3 size) during RAW processing is to prevent lost of data before converting it to jpg. Since I only print those photos that I like in one time, I'll not save it to Tiff or psd but keep it in RAW format.

DeSwitch · 18th March 2007

I shoot in RAW and just keep a copy of the RAW files in DVD roms just in case I need them. Then I convert to Jpeg and edit them for web and print in 4R only. Seldom i print in bigger format.

theRBK · 25th March 2007

just save in TIF...I have yet to find, and nobody has as yet been able to point out to me any feature that can be saved in PSD but not in TIF...also, by using compression (use lzh compression which is lossless), the files are significantly smaller than PSD...the only minus point is that it opens and saves slower than PSD...but for everyday use not that noticeable unless your files are REALLY huge (>400mb compressed TIF saved size)...

zac08 · 25th March 2007

Originally Posted by theRBK

just save in TIF...I have yet to find, and nobody has as yet been able to point out to me any feature that can be saved in PSD but not in TIF...also, by using compression (use lzh compression which is lossless), the files are significantly smaller than PSD...the only minus point is that it opens and saves slower than PSD...but for everyday use not that noticeable unless your files are REALLY huge (>400mb compressed TIF saved size)...

Simple... you can retain all the layers and edits you have made on PSD.
You can't do tat for the TIF

Incastasman · 26th March 2007

Of cos i would.

theRBK · 26th March 2007

Originally Posted by zac08

Simple... you can retain all the layers and edits you have made on PSD.
You can't do tat for the TIF

er...you can save layers, even layer groups, masks and paths in TIF...

zac08 · 28th March 2007

Originally Posted by theRBK

er...you can save layers, even layer groups, masks and paths in TIF...

I see what you mean... just did a test. But the file size??? I think I'll stick to PSD when I save with layers.

theRBK · 29th March 2007

Originally Posted by zac08

I see what you mean... just did a test. But the file size??? I think I'll stick to PSD when I save with layers.

you use compression?...not that big what...

AenTan · 1st April 2007

PSD definitely. But when I do print and editorial, I will output as a flattened uncompressed CMYK tiff. I don't like EPS. Although you can hold images in it, it's essentially a vector format.

theRBK · 3rd April 2007

for output, it really depends on the client... I have had clients who have wanted tiff, eps or pdf, in RGB or CMYK...

jbma · 30th April 2007

I normally save in Tif only. I shoot in RAW. Once editing is completed then save to Tiff.

yanyewkay · 30th April 2007

you can try PNG, it is lossless compression.

Octarine · 16th December 2008

None of them, LR uses the RAW file and the history of all changes applied. If I need to change I just go back to where I have left the picture. Export is done into jpg or tiff when needed.

View Poll Results: Do you keep your .psd or .tiff files after editing?
Definitely, I keep in .psd so that I won't have to repeat my editing again next time	37	37.76%
Definitely, I keep in .tiff cos they are lossless files	16	16.33%
No! Too much space. jpg will be fine.	50	51.02%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 98. You may not vote on this poll

15th March 2007	#1
David Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,152	Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? Just wondering.. As part of your workflow in Photoshop, do you keep or save your edited images in Photoshop format or even TIFF? In the past I don't, but now it's become my "habit" to keep the .psd files cos I realize sometimes I will call up old images and wish to "add on" or modify the editing. Without the .psd I have to re-do my past hard work. But wow... no joke man. All the files are sucking up my HDD space real fast. I can't image if they are in TIFF. Even worse. Pls share your experience...

15th March 2007	#2
lumpyme Deregistered Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 113	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? i keep in psd. tiff is too big to keep, if u muz try eps. i only go tiff when i send for print.

15th March 2007	#3
zac08 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: East Posts: 10,952	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? It all depends on what you are doing with it. PSD would be good if you are still working on the images and may still want to try editing it further. TIFF is for large prints and when you're satisfied with the image already. Jpeg, that's for the instant preview and posting off the web... small prints (8R or smaller) can also be made off this...

15th March 2007	#5
espion Deregistered Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,533	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? None of the above. They are for different purposes. In fact I use both and also JPEG. TIFF is the format used after conversion from RAW. The rationale is that since you captured in RAW you ought not to be throwing away data with a lossy compression. For if that is OK then you might have captured in JPEG right from the onset. PSD is the format used for a Photoshopped file. You can save your edited file with all its layers and so on as TIFF, but I think there will be certain features of Photoshop not available in TIFF or saved inefficiently. I do not know what are these but I just suppose PSD is most efficient for Photoshop. And to minimise PSD file size never never maximise PSD and PSB file compatibility. If you do your PSD file balloons very very rapidly. Also try not to duplicate layers. There are ways to do blending without layers duplication. And JPEG is used when I post it to the web, and I will further lower the resolution to 72 dpi, make the picture smaller, and optimise the JPEG compression for a slow modem, ie I am deliberately throwing away data when I save as a JPEG.

16th March 2007	#7
XC Pictorial Advertiser Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: 91120589 Posts: 4,865	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? TIFF for prints. PSD for storing. __________________ Wholesale Accessories Vintage Nikon Lens

18th March 2007	#8
highspeed Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 314	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? I shoot RAW most of the time. During PS, I'll choose the photos that I like, edit and print it before converting it to jpg for web displaying purpose. The purpose of doing printing(A4 or A3 size) during RAW processing is to prevent lost of data before converting it to jpg. Since I only print those photos that I like in one time, I'll not save it to Tiff or psd but keep it in RAW format.

18th March 2007	#9
DeSwitch Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 1.45N 103.83E Posts: 2,745	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? I shoot in RAW and just keep a copy of the RAW files in DVD roms just in case I need them. Then I convert to Jpeg and edit them for web and print in 4R only. Seldom i print in bigger format. __________________ NPX Multiply

25th March 2007	#10
theRBK Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,807	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? just save in TIF...I have yet to find, and nobody has as yet been able to point out to me any feature that can be saved in PSD but not in TIF...also, by using compression (use lzh compression which is lossless), the files are significantly smaller than PSD...the only minus point is that it opens and saves slower than PSD...but for everyday use not that noticeable unless your files are REALLY huge (>400mb compressed TIF saved size)...

26th March 2007	#12
Incastasman Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: central Posts: 1,282	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? Of cos i would.

1st April 2007	#16
AenTan New Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 26	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? PSD definitely. But when I do print and editorial, I will output as a flattened uncompressed CMYK tiff. I don't like EPS. Although you can hold images in it, it's essentially a vector format. __________________ Design Consultant AEN UI \| normal bookmark \| My Flickr stream

3rd April 2007	#17
theRBK Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,807	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? for output, it really depends on the client... I have had clients who have wanted tiff, eps or pdf, in RGB or CMYK...

30th April 2007	#18
jbma Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Tampines Posts: 3,315	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? I normally save in Tif only. I shoot in RAW. Once editing is completed then save to Tiff.

30th April 2007	#19
yanyewkay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cons digger. Posts: 4,046	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? you can try PNG, it is lossless compression. __________________ “How fortunate for leaders that men do not think.” - Adolf Hitler

16th December 2008	#20
Octarine Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pasir Ris Posts: 3,554	Re: Do you save your final images in .tiff or .psd? None of them, LR uses the RAW file and the history of all changes applied. If I need to change I just go back to where I have left the picture. Export is done into jpg or tiff when needed.