Can I save versions for .ai files?

Hi all,
I do lots of minor tweaking for my image files and there are named (very creatively) 2110-x-a-1, followed by 2110-x-a-2 for a minor tweak. Sadly, the minor tweaks can take a while.... so there might be 2110-x-a-6 by the time i'm happy.

Apparently CS2 has this great function where I can use the same file name and have a different version?

Can someone give me a quick run through about it?

googling "adobe versions" isn't particularly helpful.

Also, I interchange illustrator and photoshop but they don't share a common file name? What's that about? so now i have 2110-x-a-1.ai and 2110-x-a-1.psd

I'm going to run out of hard drive space sooner than I thought.

Oh, and I'm not a creative genius, hence why I was never taught anything like this. very seriously contemplating paying for some cs2 classes though.

ai = Adobe Illustrator vector file
psd = PhotoShop Document bitmap file

Which is why both programs will save files in different formats.

I'm not familar with the concurrent file name system, but I'd just save each one and change a letter or number in the name manually. Alternatively just use a large canvas and copy and paste the same image with its minor changes as you go along.

The only thing I am aware of is if you batch process some files, PSCS2 at least will add a number such as -1 to an image name to prevent writing over the original file.

Other than that if you are processing the images yourself, you have to save the file with your own special name.

According to the changes you are making, you may wish to start using some shorthand of your own to remember the version without opening it up. DSC1040 is the original then DSC1040BNW for black and white, DSC10408x10 if its the 8x10 crop, DSC1040select if you did some selective coloring...

misskool said:

Hi all,
I do lots of minor tweaking for my image files and there are named (very creatively) 2110-x-a-1, followed by 2110-x-a-2 for a minor tweak. Sadly, the minor tweaks can take a while.... so there might be 2110-x-a-6 by the time i'm happy.

Apparently CS2 has this great function where I can use the same file name and have a different version?

Can someone give me a quick run through about it?

googling "adobe versions" isn't particularly helpful.

Also, I interchange illustrator and photoshop but they don't share a common file name? What's that about? so now i have 2110-x-a-1.ai and 2110-x-a-1.psd

I'm going to run out of hard drive space sooner than I thought.

Oh, and I'm not a creative genius, hence why I was never taught anything like this. very seriously contemplating paying for some cs2 classes though.

Click to expand...

I'd advise against importing many (or any if possible) bitmap images into illustrator. It deals primarily with vector - this is why they don't share common file names. If they did, there'd be no reason for them being separate applications in the first place. Importing such files into illustrator will result in large files, and additionally will result in illustrator running very slowly if the same image were opened in photoshop. If you want small illustrator files, keep them as vectors.

Illustrator for vector, photoshop for bitmap/raster. They are optimised for different purposes, so don't think that one can do the work of the other.

Alternatively just use a large canvas and copy and paste the same image with its minor changes as you go along.

Click to expand...

a problem there (in photoshop at least) is that the file size takes into account the dimensions and pixels used. If it's space not being used, it will still add to the file size, resulting in a larger file than needed. Doing that would also require many additional masks and/or adjustment layers in editing a single photo. Constraining adjustment layers is something people tend to overlook. Needless to say, this also adds to the filesize.

Miskool, I'd try to cut down the number of files you create. Once you get into a system, you'll be able to make the changes quicker and more efficiently. When I'm editing photos, I always keep the original in it's original format, and have only one adjusted version. The reason for this is that I know what changes I'll be making. Something to consider is using layer folders for each adjustment you want to make. It could work out more effective for filesizes if you have all the adjustments in one file, and spaced out over 6 or so (all of which will most likely contain the original in some form anyway), so it might be better to have the base photo and adjustments in the single file - just all on separate layers in layer folders. This could be particularly effective since you say you do only minor tweaking.

If you're considering taking some classes - I suggest you first go through the help sections of each application first. You'll learn a lot from there on how to use the tools and the software. Online tuts are OK, but often very specialised, and don't give you the full picture. Work your way up from the basics of the help sections, and then see if classes are needed.

Alternatively just use a large canvas and copy and paste the same image with its minor changes as you go along.

Click to expand...

Sorry, I should have said I was just thinking of Illustrator really. Not very practical in PS.

yeah, Illustrator is brilliant in that way. Being able to work outside the edges of the canvas really helps with any kind of vector work.

Better that we covered that aspect of illustrator actually

i know you're mainly asking about Illustrator but if you're working in PS, something that could be handy is the Snapshot tool... this lets you save multiple states of any piece of work within the same file

You'll find it at the bottom of the History palette and you can create a couple of different states and switch between them... pretty handy for the minor tweaks

misskool said:

Hi all,
I do lots of minor tweaking for my image files and there are named (very creatively) 2110-x-a-1, followed by 2110-x-a-2 for a minor tweak. Sadly, the minor tweaks can take a while.... so there might be 2110-x-a-6 by the time i'm happy.

Apparently CS2 has this great function where I can use the same file name and have a different version?

Can someone give me a quick run through about it?

googling "adobe versions" isn't particularly helpful.

Also, I interchange illustrator and photoshop but they don't share a common file name? What's that about? so now i have 2110-x-a-1.ai and 2110-x-a-1.psd

I'm going to run out of hard drive space sooner than I thought.

Oh, and I'm not a creative genius, hence why I was never taught anything like this. very seriously contemplating paying for some cs2 classes though.

Click to expand...

Ever thought about working with layers and/or groups (photoshop only)?

Open an untouched photo. Duplicate the background layer then edit that layer. If you have a few different directions for the photo, then make grouped layers.