Photoshop: Any insights as to why I sometimes can't save a file as a jpg?

Hmm. Thats odd. Did you try flattening the image first? Also, I am assuming you’re using CS3, correct?

To be honest, I haven’t had this happen with CS3. Good that you brought this up. I’ve got one machine that still uses CS2.

Doesn’t seem to have anything to do with flattening the image, but again, I haven’t ever really dug into this issue. It always happens when there’s a deadline looming, and I don’t have the time/patience to hash it out.

Come to think of it, the last time this happened, I had created a psd file and then wanted to convert to a jpg to mail it as a proof. I wonder if it being a photoshop document has something to do with it.

Hmm. Have you installed any updates recently?

Anytime I have this problem I check Image > Mode and check if I’m in RGB and 8bit

I agree with Fallstand. Check to see what Image>Mode your in if it isn’t working. That can sometimes limit your options.

Save As… JPG works for me in:
– Grayscale mode,
– RGB mode,
– CMYK mode

Not in:
– Indexed color mode (if you’re editing a GIF, this is where you are),
– Lab color mode,
– Multichannel mode

my classroom has a computer that has this problem with saving PNGs. It does not have the option for this format in Save As. I suggest you select the psd format and where you type in the document name to save as, replace ”.psd” with ”.jpg” without the quotes. And as they said, make sure it’s in greyscale, rgb, or cmyk mode.

try that and see if it works. good luck!

Changing the three letter extension at the end when you save as another format simply won’t work… and will break an application’s ability to open the file automatically.

Hmmm, I’m thinking that @Fallstand maybe on the right track. I had this happen once, and it turned out that my photo was still in 16bit, and lab mode. When I changed it to 8bit and RGB mode it saved just fine.

While I don’t have a solution, I do admire the problem!