Photoshop TIFFs with layer masks do not display correctly

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Level 1

24 points

Photoshop TIFFs with layer masks do not display correctly

I am sure other people must have this problem, but I cannot find any related posts so here goes:

I open an image using the "open in external editor" command (typically a RAW file converted to a TIFF), edit in Photoshop and save the file (as a TIFF, I do not use PSD format)

If the PS edit contains any layer masks or alpha channels (masks in the channel pallet) it does not display correctly when it reappears in Aperture. Only the top most mask will display, assuming I have multiple layer masks in the PS edit.

Not only will the TIFF only appear as the mask in Aperture, but Aperture will print or email the mask, not the PS edited file as it should appear.
It seems that Aperture only recognizes the layer mask (or alpha channel mask) as the image, and all the other layers etc are disregarded.

Is this a confirmed bug, or is there some setting I have not correctly configured or some other issue?

I love Aperture, but this problem is nearly a deal-breaker for my workflow, and would be for any serious photoshop user, I would imagine!

I cannot believe this is still a problem in version 1.5, which is the version I am using (thus my system is 10.4.8)

dual 2gHz G5, Mac OS X (10.4.7), 4.5 GB DDR SDRAM, Epson Photo R1800

Posted on Oct 12, 2006 11:49 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 12, 2006 12:05 PM in response to Sol Hill

Have you ensured that "maximize compatibility" is enabled for saves in Photoshop? This is a clear requirement specified in the Aperture documentation. This way the bottom layer reflects all the updates you've made.

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Answer 2

Sol Hill Author

Level 1

24 points

Oct 12, 2006 4:25 PM in response to William Lloyd

Yes, I have checked that "maximize compatibility" is enabled.
However I understand that is only for PSD files. I am using only TIFFs as I have Aperture set to generate TIFFs upon exporting the RAW conversion to Photoshop. And I save the files as such when done in photoshop. (I do not "save as", and change anything)

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Answer 3

Oct 12, 2006 7:46 PM in response to Sol Hill

Just worked with someone on a similar issue, only his was on a .PSD. We discovered the issue was Aperture (actually OS X CoreImage since iPhoto, Preview failed to render also) doesn't understand how to deal with extra Alpha Channels. Do you have the usual RGB-Alpha or RGB-Alpha plus another Alpha channel?

G.

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Answer 4

Sol Hill Author

Level 1

24 points

Oct 13, 2006 4:15 PM in response to David G Chapman

David,
I assume you mean in the edited PS TIFF file:

In different cases I have either:
A. A TIFF file with layer a layer mask
B. A TIFF file with multiple layer masks
C. A TIFF file with an alpha channel mask
D. A TIFF file with multiple alpha channel masks
E. A TIFF file with any combination of the above

the outcome is the same, they all do not display correctly in Aperture. It does not seem to matter if the file was opened in PS from Aperture via the open with external editor command or if it was worked on outside Aperture entirely then imported. I do have maximize compatibility in PS checked (though I understand this is only for PSD files, though perhaps I am wrong here)

any thoughts?

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Answer 5

Oct 13, 2006 4:47 PM in response to Sol Hill

Hi Sol,

Try opening the saved files in Preview.app. Do they render correctly (ignoring any slight color gamut variance)? If so, it points to issues in OS X / CoreImage. If not it points to Aperture.

Keep us posted.

G.

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Answer 6

Sol Hill Author

Level 1

24 points

Oct 15, 2006 7:22 AM in response to David G Chapman

OK,
many experiments later:

1. Only images with Alpha Channel Masks (masks in the channels pallet) seem to be the problem. If I have layer masks only, they display OK in Aperture.

2. Images with Alpha Channel Masks do not display properly when opened with Preview. So the conclusion seems to be that the problem is with OS X/CoreImage.

Drat, it is nothing I can fix... just something we can hope Apple addresses.

-Sol

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Answer 7

ADDA

Level 1

5 points

Oct 15, 2006 8:51 AM in response to Sol Hill

I presume that you are keeping your Alpha channel masks for the purpose of "saving" the selection (or the hard work taken to make the selection)?
Why dont you try saving the alpha channel as a layer instead and then make the layer hidden? (Make a new layer filled with white - convert your alpha channel into a selection and fill onto the white layer with Black (100% Black - no CMY). You can always just make the layer visible and then use your Black channel as the selection mask later if needed.
Then you can delete any extra alpha channels but keep your selections in the layer palette.
I hope this works for you.
Regards
Andrew

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Answer 8

Sol Hill Author

Level 1

24 points

Oct 15, 2006 12:21 PM in response to ADDA

Andrew,

Yes I am indeed keeping the alpha channel masks to preserve the hard work it took to accomplish certain techniques as a reference for the future, or in case I want to know just how I got an image to its finished point down the road. I like to think I can remember things, but I have only so much space in my head.

I will give your tip a try, perhaps if I make a notation in the layer name that it is the alpha channel mask preserved in a layer because of OS X's core image handicap so Aperture can display it correctly, then in 6+ months (or less) I might remember what the @#*&^$% I did and why there is this funny layer!

Thanks for the suggestion.
Sol

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