Email keeps flattening the layers on my psd and tiff files

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Level 1

5 points

Email keeps flattening the layers on my psd and tiff files

Hi,

My friend and I both have macs that run Leopard 10.5.6, and we both have Photoshop CS3. When she sends me a psd file through email, I can open it in photoshop, and see all the layers. When I create a psd file with multiple layers, I double check that it's saved properly by reopening it, and still see the layers. When I send it to her through email, she gets a flattened image with just the background layer. Same thing happens with tiff files. I don't think the problem is with the photoshop because the layers are all there and fine until I send it through email. Does anyone have any ideas on this one?

Soma104

imac, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 4, 2009 5:11 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Matt Clifton

Level 7

29,975 points

Apr 4, 2009 5:40 PM in response to soma104

Make an archive of the file (right-click in the Finder, choose "Create Archive of...") and send the ZIP file through email.

Matt

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Answer 2

soma104 Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 4, 2009 10:35 PM in response to Matt Clifton

Thanks Matt,

You're solution worked. Two things though... first of all, I wasn't given the option to "Create Archive of", but what I get is "Compress". The other thing that still nags at me is why given the same program, same operating system, and same file size, my friends comes through with layers and no need to compress, and mine doesn't.

Thanks again
Soma104

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Answer 3

Apr 5, 2009 6:48 AM in response to soma104

Ah yes, I think the option changed from "Create Archive" in Tiger to "Compress" in Leopard.

I'm not sure why the original problem only manifested one-way for you. It may not even be your computer - there could be a process in your outgoing mail server, or your colleague's incoming server, which affects the attachment. I've seen corruption with binary files before when sent through email, and converting them into ZIP files did the trick.

Also, if you're regularly transferring large files, you might want to look into an alternative to email, such as a shared file server (eg an iDisk, or a third-party hosting site, using FTP) or a professional file transfer service such as YouSendIt, or even sending through IM.

Matt

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Answer 4

Apr 5, 2009 7:40 AM in response to soma104

Hi soma104: With a little experimenting, I think I may have a solution to your querry. Try this experiment: Create a new PSD file with several layers. Compose your email and attach the new experimenatal PSD file. At the bottom right of the mail compose window there is an option to select "Image Size". Sending it as Actual Size will leave layers intact. Selecting another size option will "flatten" the image. Note: The multi-Layer PSD will be quite large.

Hope this helps
Stedman

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Answer 5

soma104 Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 5, 2009 7:57 AM in response to stedman1

Thank you Stedman1,

The zip thing that Matt suggested worked, but it was still bugging me that the images was being changed only on my end. You're suggestion fixed it. I was using the paperclip to attach my image, and sometime ago, I had set it up so that the images I sent where at medium size. Once I did it your way with the drag and drop method, I was again given the size option. I set it to actual size, and it worked. I then ran another test with the paperclip method of attaching the file, and it came through with all the layers. That was driving me nuts.

As for Matt's suggestion about uploading to iDisk or my server, I think that's probably a good option as well.

Thank you
Soma104

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Answer 6

Apr 5, 2009 8:07 AM in response to soma104

Hi soma104: It sounds like we are using the same, paper-clip method to attach the file. Your question had me scratching my head as well. Glad it worked, and thanks for the Star.

Stedman

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