How to Open, Edit, and Save in Photoshop Without Destroying Your Work (Or Your Sanity)

How to Open, Edit, and Save in Photoshop Without Destroying Your Work (Or Your Sanity)

Early in my freelance career, I had a bad habit of editing directly on original files. No layers, no backup copies, just reckless confidence and a fast save button. You can probably guess how that story ends. I lost work, I re-did edits I’d already done, and I spent an embarrassing amount of time explaining to clients why their “finished” photos needed to be “finished” again. The fix was stupidly simple, and it came down to understanding one concept: non-destructive editing.