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How to Save a PSD File for Older Versions of Photoshop
Enabling backward compatibility works, but not always perfectly
By Sue Chastain Sue Chastain Writer St. Petersburg College Sue Chastain is a former Lifewire writer and a graphics software authority with web design and print publishing credentials. She's also skilled in WordPress administration. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 13, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Design Graphic Design Photoshop Animation & Video 3D Design What to Know
Go to Edit > Preferences > File Handling, select Maximize PSD and PSB File Compatibility, and set to Always or Ask.Turning this option on, however, results in larger file sizes. If you only need this feature occasionally, set it to Ask.When you open a newer PSD file in an older version, the new features don't carry over to a version that doesn't contain these features.
Learn how to save PSD files for older versions of Photoshop using all currently supported versions of Adobe Photoshop for Creative Cloud on Windows and macOS. How to Save a Photoshop File for an Older Version
Set the default option in Photoshop preferences called Maximize PSD and PSB File Compatibility (under menu Edit > Preferences > File Handling). This setting is persistent, so you'll only need to set it once. Ensure that the area at the bottom of the File Compatibility area is set to Always or Ask. Turning this option on, however, results in larger file sizes. If you only need this feature occasionally, set it to Ask. This way, Photoshop will ask you if you want to maximize compatibility every time you save a file. When this compatibility option is invoked, the layers are saved along with a flattened composite of the image. The easiest way to save a file for an older version is to flatten it by saving it as either a jpg, gif, or png image. The effects added with the newer version are included in the resulting file. Open Newer PSD Files With Older Software
When you open a newer Photoshop PSD file in an older Photoshop version, the new features of Photoshop don't carry over when the file is opened in a version that doesn't contain these features. If the file is edited and saved in the older version, the unsupported features are discarded. For example, some new blending modes were added to Creative Cloud since Photoshop 6 came out. If you use any of these in your file and then edit it in the older version, the image may look different. Other new features like smart objects, certain effect layers, layer sets or groups, and layer comps don't carry over. Make a duplicate of the file and simplify it as much as possible before opening it in an older version. The same applies when opening Photoshop files in other non-Adobe software that reads PSD files. Some programs offer a Save as PSD option. Each program saves a specific version of a PSD file. Unless you know specifically which version of Photoshop the PSD save as option was optimized for, you may encounter compatibility problems opening those documents in old versions of Photoshop. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire What Is a PSD File? How to Change Background Color in Photoshop PSP File (What It Is & How to Open One) How to Make Trees in Photoshop PSB File (What It Is and How to Open One) 10 Best Free Photo Editing Programs How to Make a Pattern in Photoshop How to Make a GIF in Photoshop The 5 Best Alternatives to Photoshop for Android ACV File (What It Is & How to Open One) What Is an ATN File? 10 Best Sites to Find Free PSD Templates for Photoshop How to Resize Multiple Files with Photoshop Elements Greeting Card Template and Instructions for Adobe Photoshop How to Reduce GIF File Size for Better Website Performance How to Move Your iTunes Library to a New Location Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies