Two Defaults

When you save a file for the first time, two defaults are encountered.

Default #1 - Save As

Go to File > Save, or press Ctrl + s.

When you save a file for the first time, by default, Photoshop Elements will open the Save As window.

Default #2 - Photoshop File

If you don't make any changes in the Save As window, Grand_Canyon.jpg will be saved using the Photoshop file format.

You'll probably save it using the Photoshop file format.

The extension for this format is psd.

You'll have two files on your hard drive.

Original File	Grand_Canyon.jpg
Edited File	Grand_Canyon.psd

Then, if you need a JPEG version of the edited photograph, save it using the JPEG file format.

Saving the file as a JPEG will be explained below, after a discussion of the Photoshop file format.

Photoshop File Format

The Photoshop file format has two advantages and one disadvantage.

Advantage #1

There is no loss of image detail.

Every time you edit and save a JPEG file, some of the image detail thrown away.

The JPEG file format is called a lossy format because image detail is lost due to compression.

The quality of the photograph degrades each time you edit and save it.

When a photograph is saved as a PSD file, there is no loss of quality no matter how many times the file is edited and saved.

Advantage #2

The layers are preserved when a file is saved using the PSD file format.

You can go back, at anytime, to make changes to the layers.

Photoshop files have one disadvantage.

Disadvantage

Photoshop files are large.

However, memory is inexpensive.

If your hard drive is filling up, use an external hard drive.

Save as a Photoshop File

1) Go to File > Save, or press Ctrl + s.

As described, when you save a file for the first time, by default, Photoshop Elements will save the file using the Photoshop file format.

2) Check the Format box to make sure Photoshop (PSD) is selected.

If it isn't selected, change the format.

3) Click OK.

After saving the file using the Photoshop file format, you can easily save it as a JPEG.

Save as a JPEG File

If you're going to print the photograph, or send it in an e-mail, you'll need a JPEG file.

Do the following.

1) Go to File > Save As, or press Shift + Ctrl + s.

The Save As window will open.

2) Locate the Format box in the Save As window.

3) Change the file format from Photoshop to JPEG.

4) Don't save the edited version of Grand_Canyon.jpg over the original file.

Append _copy or _edited to the file name.

5) Click Save.

6) A JPEG Options window will open, prompting you to select a quality level from 1 through 12.

Use 12 to preserve as much image information as possible.

Use a lower quality level, such as 3, to reduce the file size for e-mailing and websites.

7) Click OK.

You may encounter the TIFF file format.

The TIFF File Format

The TIFF file format is used by some photographers for printing.

As described above, all JPEG files are compressed.

During the compression, information is discarded.

In contrast, the TIFF file format has two modes, uncompressed and compressed.

There is no loss of information when using either the uncompressed or compressed TIFF modes.

When using the TIFF compression mode, the TIFF algorithm looks for patterns, such as the repeated pixels of a white wall.

The white-wall pixels are deleted when the file is saved, compressing the file.

However, the deleted pixels are recreated by the TIFF algorithm when the file is reopened.