Today’s Question: I frequently use the Beta version of Photoshop and Camera Raw, but currently the Beta version does not offer me the choice of saving images as JPEG. I am offered JPEG 2000, TIFF, etc., but not JPEG. What is a good work around for this problem?
Tim’s Quick Answer: This is not an issue with the public beta version of Photoshop, but rather involves the need to use the “Save a Copy” command rather than the “Save As” command when you want to be sure you can save an image as a JPEG file.
More Detail: Some time ago Photoshop was updated to include a new “Save a Copy” command. While the change is aimed at helping ensure you don’t lose information related to your image files, it has also caused considerable confusion for photographers.
If you use the “Save As” command in Photoshop, you will only be able to select file formats that support all the features represented by the image you’re saving, such as layers, bit depth, and more. If you use the “Save a Copy” command, you’ll be able to choose any file format supported by Photoshop.
So, to be able to save the image as a JPEG you need to do one of two things. You can either change the file to support the JPEG format, or use the “Save a Copy” command so you can save an additional file as a JPEG. However, assuming you want to preserve the maximum potential for the source image, I recommend using the “Save a Copy” command in this case.
Based on today’s question the source image is likely in the 16-bit per channel bit depth, which is supported by JPEG 2000 images but not JPEG images. Thus, when you use the “Save As” command the JPEG option is not available. Simply choosing the “Save a Copy” command will enable you to save a copy of the image as a JPEG file.
It can be important to understand the differences between the various “Save” commands in Photoshop.
The “Save” command will update the current file with all the current settings and options. However, this is only an option if the current file format supports the features. If, for example, you open a JPEG image but then add layers, using the “Save” command will automatically invoke the “Save As” command, so you can save a copy in a file format that supports the updated features, such as layers.
The “Save As” command enables you to save a copy of the current image, but only in a file format that supports all features of the file. For example, the “Save As” command won’t offer JPEG as an option for an image with layers or that is set to the 16-bit per channel bit depth.
The “Save a Copy” command allows you to choose any file format that is supported by Photoshop, even if the file format you choose doesn’t support all features used for the image. For example, if you use the “Save a Copy” command to create an additional JPEG file, that JPEG won’t contain layers even if the source image has layers, since JPEG images don’t support layers.
