Photoshop Elements or GIMP?

[Vurginian]

All is working well now with Bright.

I did run into another issue though. I was doing some work on a skin using GIMP. I got a strange error message when I saved it. Now the problem is I can't open the file. I get an error saying this file is not compatible with this version of Photoshop. I've tried opening it with Photoshop and also with GIMP. I get the same message. I had done a good bit of work too. I hate to have to re-do it all. Any ideas on how to get it fixed?

[turnipkiller]

Hmmm, can you give more details on the file m8? What kind of file it is, the error message you got when saving etc.?

[Vurginian]

I wish I could give you the error message I received when I saved it. But I don't remember it. Here are all the details,

The file started as a .PSD and remained a .PSD.
I made numerous modifications to it with Photoshop and some with GIMP. I made about 12 or 14 test skins out of it with no trouble. I've been using both Photoshop and GIMP. Since I'm just starting out with GIMP its easier for me to do some things with Photoshop since I know it. Placing outlined numbers is easier with GIMP.

So once the skin was complete I went in with GIMP and began adding numbers. I did about 8 variations (each number on a layer to be turned on and off). When I saved it I got an error message. Then when it all shut down I got one of those GIMP didn't shut down right messages from Windows do you want to report it to Microsoft. Since then I can't open the file.

That's about all I can recall. Any ideas???

Thanks!

[turnipkiller]

Unfortunately I have no ideas on how to rescue the file Vurginian.

The only thing I can think of causing the troubles is the switching back and forth from Photoshop to Gimp.
In theory it shouldn't matter, as the Gimp developers have tried to make everything a smooth transition between the two programs, but there are some smaller problems that won't work. For example, I've never been able to preserve separate Paths when opening a .PSD file in Gimp. A special layer mode (ie. Overlay, Dodge etc.) will generate a message from Gimp that it can't save with that mode to a .PSD file and so on.

The only advice I can give you is when you work on a file with Gimp, save it first as an .XCF (Gimp format) and then save it as your .PSD. This will at the very least give you a good copy of the file should it go bad.
I'd also do the same when in Photoshop; save it with a "good" name, and then save it again with a different name as a working copy to open with Gimp.

Sorry about the bad news m8.

[Vurginian]

Thanks. Fortunately I had a backup with all the paint. So it wasn't too bad re-doing the numbering. Gimp is great. Looking forward to learning to really use it.