Use the High Quality Print Preset to save as PDF but lost all my layers!

[Kuderx]

I'm a macOS user. And this problem occurs recently:

I selected the "Layers" option and "Preserve Photoshop Editing Capabilities" (use the High Quality Print Preset and didn't change a thing). But when I re-open it, all my layers merged together?!

I tried to re-install but it didn't work.

I know I can still save as PSD format, but it's my habit to save as PDF.

PLZ HELP!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I know I can still save as PSD format, but it's my habit to save as PDF.

In my opinion that is a bad habit and the sooner you abandon it the better.

Nonetheless it should be possible to save a layered psd file in a pdf, so which exact and complete settings do you use when you get the faulty result?

Could you please post screenshots to illustrate your workflow.

[Kuderx]

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Did you change anything further or hit »Save PDF« right away?

Like a Standard for example?

Can you provide the two files?

[Kuderx]

NO, I didn't change anything! I just clicked "save", "save PDF".

(How can I upload .psd and .pdf? )

[Dan Rodney]

I don't think that it's a good habit to always save Photoshop files as PDF. There are PDF options that you have to be careful of (that can change the file in undesired ways) that I don't think it's a safe thing to do as a standard method of saving Photoshop files. For example the High Quality Print preset will downsample files to 300ppi. If you had a higher resolution file, oops some information is now good!

There's a reason InDesign and Illustrator can import native .psd files! A better practice is to use .psd and only save as PDF if required for specific reasons.

That said, I just tested it out on my machine (macOS as well) and layers were saved. Weird.

[Kuderx]

It used to work very well!!! I could save as pdf with all the layers, but something went wrong few days ago.

At first, after saving as pdf, a window came out: Could not complete your request because of a program error. (The files can be previewed and can be opened with Illustrator.) After I re-installed PS, the Program Error issue solved but all layers of .pdf merged. If I open the previous pdf that I saved (before the issue occurs), all layers are there. However, I tried to change something and pressed "Command + S", the Program Error window came out again.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

What have you done for trouble-shooting so far?

Restoring Preferences after making sure all customized presets like Actions, Patterns, Brushes etc. have been saved might be a good starting point:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/basic-trouble-shooting-steps.html

[Kuderx]

I tried. The issue still exists...

[c.pfaffenbichler]

(How can I upload .psd and .pdf? )

Not on this Forum directly you’d need to use some file transfer service.

[Kuderx]

Here are the psd and the pdf

WeTransfer

Thank you so much!!!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Thanks.

Sorry, I still cannot reproduce the issue even with your file.

If you have run through the general trouble-shooting list (link in post 7) and can reproduce the issue reliably you may want post a report over at

Photoshop Family Customer Community

At least one report on a similar sounding issue exists, but for some of the people there ignoring the »As a Copy« setting seems to have been the problem, so it might not apply to you exactly.

Photoshop: I save a PSD file with layers, save as a PDF, reopen the PSD file, and all my Layers are ...