How do I save my file for a customer who does not use AVA?
If you are saving a file to send to someone who does not have AVA, we recommend saving the file as TIFF.
DeleteI saved my separated file, and now it opens in black and white. Why?
TIFF files are one of the most widely used file formats in the design industry. They are versatile enough to store a combination of images and/or layers and are usually used for transferring designs between applications.
Tiff files open directly into AVA so there are no specific settings required to open them. When saving TIFF files however, there are several settings which will alter the structure and characteristics of the file.
Saving as .TIFF
- Open an AVA file and go to File Menu > Save As.
- Click on the Format pop up bar, select TIFF and click Save and the following window will open:
Compression
Choose between No Compression and PackBits compression
Byte Order
Choose between Motorola (Mac) and Intel (PC). Saving the TIFF as Motorola (Mac) will be more efficient, however a minority of TIFF readers on the Macintosh can only read TIFF files saved in PC format. Also there are a few TIFF readers on the PC which do not support the Motorola format, and therefor you may wish to save as Intel if you know the TIFF file will be read on a PC.
Unit
Choose between dots per inch (dpi) and dots per centimetre (dpc)
Layer Method
Choose between Multi Channel and Multi Layer
- Multi Channel - saves each layer of the active colourway as a channel in one directory. It is often recommended because most TIFF readers only read the first directory. One limitation of Multi Channel mode is that each layer has to be 8 bit and each layer resolution has to be the same as the document resolution. If each layer is not 8 bit you will get a warning asking if the layers should be converted to 8 bit.
- Multi Layer - saves each layer as a separate directory. You can have either 1bit or 8 bit layers and different layer resolutions in the same file.
CMYK
Saves the selected information as a combined 32bit CMYK layer. This is only available if four layers are active when you save the file, or if there is an image in the file
Tip: Choose Save Selected Layers from the Layer Menu to save four active layers as a CMYK TIFF.
Note: When the CMYK box is selected, the Layer Method is obsolete. An alert is displayed if any of the layers are not of a supported type. The TIFF module supports the following: indexed, image, CMYK, layer and mask.
Use Single Block
When TIFF files are created they can either be processed in a ‘single block’, or broken down into ‘strips’. When in strips each strip can be dealt with independently, and two or more strips can be processed at the same time. This makes saving or opening that TIFF file quicker. Strips also allow for compression like LZW and Packbits. Although it would be quicker to save and open TIFFs using strips, some readers can only read TIFF files in a single block. By ticking the box users have the option to force AVA to save their file and use a single block.
Importing and setting up the TIFF file in Photoshop™
- Open the saved TIFF into Photoshop™. If it asks, tell Photoshop™ not to colour manage the file as it imports.
- In Photoshop™, go to Window > Channels. You will see RGB or CMYK channels, and below those a set of spot channels with the AVA layer names on them (the word ‘Layer’ will appear if the layers were not named in AVA). Double check all layers and content are there.
- Colours onscreen may appear washed out so you need to change the colour mode in Photoshop™. To do this go to Image > Mode > Multichannel. The design should match the separated design in AVA now.
- Save the file as PSD format to preserve everything you have just done. You will notice rogue, blank Cyan, Magenta and Yellow channels in the Channels window. These can be selected and deleted in the side menu as are not needed.
Note: The default overprint method of ‘reflectance 3’ in AVA will cause the overprint of the channels / spot layers to look different. A better simulation of the overprint in Photoshop™ can be obtained in AVA by switching the overprint to RGB.
Exporting colour information and layer names to Photoshop™
- Open the separated design in AVA and add a blank RGB layer at the top of the separated layer order. Photoshop™ requires an image mode such as RGB or CMYK to import the spot channels correctly. If you do not do this, Photoshop™ will make the first separated channel a grayscale image.
- Go to File Menu > Save As > TIFF. Set the Layer Method to Multi Channel and Compression to None, then click OK.
When using the Multichannel method, the active colourway will be saved.
Reading and writing TIFF files with embedded .icc profiles
If you save a TIFF file and the current colourway contains an embedded profile, the profile is also written within the TIFF file. When opening a TIFF file, the embedded ICC profile is automatically extracted and set. These functions facilitate interaction with other non-AVA applications.
BigTIFF
BigTIFF files are TIFF files which exceed 4Gb in size. AVA can open and save these files.
Lab TIFF and Photoshop™ files
Lab image files are becoming more popular in users’ workflows and AVA supports this image type. The advantage with Lab files is that Lab is device independent (not linked to printer or monitor gamut) and results in a stable colour representation of images.
Lab TIFF and Photoshop™ files can be opened as Lab layers. If the Image Icons option in the Layer Palette Preferences is activated, Lab layer icons will display a preview of the image. If this option is switched off, the image icon will display the word Lab instead.
Lab layers use Relative colourimetric rendering intent which shifts the white point of the image to that of the printer substrate. This helps to maintain consistency with the original image and does not cause any shift in gamut.
To edit Lab layers you can copy and paste elements of the Lab layer. Most editing tools like the Brush Tool, the Pipette Tool, the Carbon Copy Tool, Partial Images and masks, work as normal on Lab layers. You cannot however, copy elements from other layer types and paste them onto Lab layers.
Colour files and colour palettes cannot be used to change or add colours on Lab layers but you can use the Pipette Tool to select existing colours in the Lab image and then paint with them if required.
When using the Gamma panes, the channels displayed are L (lightness to darkness), a (red to green) and b (blue to yellow).
Lab layers can only be saved in AVA 3 or TIFF file formats. Currently, AVA does not save Lab layers in any other file formats.
LZW compression
With constant improvement in TIFF compression, opening and saving files in AVA is becoming continuously faster. In comparison to Adobe Photoshop™ CC 2018, LZW is currently 1.3x faster at opening and 2.1x faster at saving files (please see below graph for reference).
Note: The below speeds are approximate and were achieved using a Dual-Core CPU. Results may vary depending on hardware.
Planar configuration
AVA supports the opening of ‘Planar Configured’ TIFF files. The Planar configuration (RRGGBB per channel order) is an option in some third party applications which can result in faster file saving with greater compression but is mainly reserved for those working with files locally.
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How do I save the Layout Window to view in third party softwares?
You can save a version of all the visible layers in your design or Layout Window, combined together into one image layer and saved in a format compatible with most third party softwares. The combined image is created using a profile and when saved, this profile accompanies the design so it will look similar when opened on other systems.
Saving the file
Follow the steps below to ensure your combined copy looks similar to the original artwork.
- Open the document and go to the window you wish to export from (Design or Layout Window).
- From the File Menu go to ‘Save Combined Copy As...’
- Select the format you want to save the file as and if you are saving from the Layout Window select the required resolution (saving from the design window will create a file the same resolution as the source document). Click Save.
Note: The output might appear slightly different to the AVA file but we expect it to be reasonably close to how it appeared in AVA. Files saved this way will appear wrong if reopened into AVA as the Viewing Conditions will be applied again.
The design will be exported in the number of repeats currently being viewed. Therefore if you need to send the file including the complete repeat area and drop, simply view the relevant number of repeats across and down with the correct drop setting before saving.
Specifying the profile to be used with Save Combined Copy As...
You do not need to specify a profile as AVA will automatically apply a generic profile. However, if you wish to choose the profile that will be applied when using Save Combined Copy As… select AVA Menu > Settings and select the File Format button. Click on the Export tab and press the Set button to locate the profile you wish to use.
Note: The resulting image is created in the colourspace of the profile, for example if you have an RGB profile set, AVA will create an RGB file.
Upon pressing Set, a Finder window opens allowing you to navigate to your preferred profile.
Note: The profile must contain a separation table and be in icc format. You can use profiles located at Hard drive > System > Library > ColorSync > Profiles if you wish. We recommend you select the Generic RGB 1998 profile to make an RGB image upon save, or the Generic CMYK profile to make a CMYK image. Click Open to set your selected profile as the profile to be embedded when using Save Combined Copy As… and your profile will be set in the Settings pane and applied to every file saved in this way.
Did you know...
This function could be useful within a Palette
Saving combined copies has for a long time been an integral part of many workflows, allowing you to easily export designs and Layout Windows in popular formats including PDF and JPEG. Hereby, the viewing conditions of your system are embedded. This provides an improved visual match when opening the files into third party applications such as Preview.
In combination with the innovative Palette Technology, especially the looping functionalities, you can streamline workflows such as exporting all your colourways in different formats with the click of a single button.
You can find this Palette Handler in AVA Menu > Settings > Menus > File > Save. Drag it to your Palette, access the settings and tick Save Combined Copy.
To get inspired and find out more, contact our Technical Support Team.
The Movie
How do I save the data created with 3D Designer to be put onto an engraving Mac®hine?
Saving layers is a helpful way of creating another copy of the active layers in a file. Several layers, images, or some of each can be saved in new files for use in other designs. This method of saving is also perfect for exporting ready-to-print layers to a haptic printer or engraving Mac®hine.
This can often be more useful than merging or splitting layers because the original file remains unchanged and a new file is created with the selected images or layers in it.
- Activate the layers to be saved.
- Go to the Layer Menu and choose Save Selected Layers.
- Name the new file, select the required file format at the bottom of the window and click Save. The default format is .ava4 but others can also be selected.
Saving layers as separate documents
Several active layers can be saved into separate files in one go.
- Activate the layers to be saved in the Layer Palette.
- Go to the Layer Menu and choose Save Selected Layers Separately. A Finder window will open.
- Name the new file, choose your desired file format, and click Save.
A number will be added to each file name, e.g. 1, 2, 3 etc., depending on the number of layers to be saved. For example, if the file is named Alfresco, the new layer files will be named Alfresco1, Alfresco2 and so on.
Loading layers
- Open the design you want to load a layer into.
- Go to the Layer Menu > Load Layers. A Finder Window will open.
Navigate to the file you wish to load into the active design and select Open. The layer will be loaded into your design as a new layer.
If you want to load the layer into an existing layer within your design, you will need to hold down the ⌥ (option key) when you go the to Layer menu. Doing this will change the option ‘Load Layers’ to ‘Load into existing Layers.’
Activate the layer in your design you wish to load the new information into.
- Holding down ⌥ (option key) on the keyboard, go to the Layer Menu and select Load into Existing Layers.
- The new layer will load into the active layer, replacing its original content with the information in the loaded layer.
Merging layers with different resolutions
Loading and merging layers with different resolutions can result in some distortion of the layers you load. Because of this we would always recommend that your layers are the same resolution as the file you are loading them into.
If you do load layers which contain a different resolution to the destination image, a notification will appear warning you about the potential problem.
If you have your Notifications set to Mac®OS in AVA’s General Settings , the message will appear in the top right hand side of your screen;
Note: If your Mac® is in ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode, notifications relating to AVA will not be displayed;
If you have the General Settings set to show notifications in AVA, the message will appear somewhere on your screen and will look like this;
How do I save a file from Photoshop®® to work on in AVA?
Photoshop®™ files are ever popular and there can be many occasions when you need to accommodate them into your workflow. Perhaps a supplier or another department in your company use them or you use Photoshop®™ yourself to achieve a certain effect.
AVA supports many elements from within Photoshop®™ files such as effect and text layers as well as maintaining any paths which are already in the file and we can save these files and maintain all of these elements in the saved file.
Benefits of the Photoshop®™ interface with AVA
These include:
Flattened Image included in the file - when you save a file in Photoshop®™, make sure you save with the Layers option activated and activate Maximize Compatibility as this improves the file compatibility with other applications such as AVA.
In AVA, Photoshop®™ files open with each component layer as an image or an alpha mask, and an additional layer called Flattened Image is created to preview the overall design. The Flattened Image is the combined effect of all the component layers.
Note: If the Maximise Compatibility option is off in Photoshop®™, the Flattened Image is not created.
- Photoshop®™ attributes (curves, text layers, adjustment layers, etc.) are retained in the file. Effect layers have a dedicated layer in AVA and retain their name, but cannot be edited. The result of the effect is only viewable in the image called Flattened Image.
- A curve effect in Photoshop®™ is represented by a graph whereas in AVA, it is represented by a grid. If you save the file in AVA, the effect layer will be retained and still editable in the Photoshop®™ file.
- Photoshop®™ paths are retained in the file - if you have created a path in Photoshop®™ and saved the file, when you import it into AVA and save it again, next time the file is opened in Photoshop®™, the path is still included. The path is opened as a vector layer in AVA, which allows it to be manipulated.
- Photoshop®™ files are modifiable in AVA - any pixel changes made and saved in AVA are taken into account the next time you open the file in Photoshop®™.
- Copy and paste an element in AVA.
- Save the file. When you open the file in Photoshop®™, you may get a warning saying the file has been modified and do you want to apply the changes or not.
- To apply the changes click on Update.
- The layer mode used when saving files in PSD format can be selected – Photoshop®™ has a different image model to AVA, meaning that all the layers in the file have to be of the same type e.g. all RGB images or all CMYK images rather than a mixture of different types within the same file. Therefore, Photoshop®™ does not accept mixed files such as a file made up of a CMYK image and individual spot layers.
- In order to achieve this when saving a file in PSD format, the software will look at the most popular mode used in the file and suggest the most appropriate mode. The chosen mode can be overridden if required.
If you activate the item Save ‘PS_CombinedImage’ layers, this layer will be kept within the file. Otherwise, it will be removed from the file. - Embedded profiles are applied to all layers – the representation of the file in AVA is similar to Photoshop®™.
PSB file format
AVA also handles PSB format, .psb, which is the Adobe® Photoshop®™ large file format. This format can handle up to 300,000 pixels whereas the traditional .psd format only handles a maximum of 30,000 pixels. To save in this format, select File > Save As, and choose PSB for the format drop down menu.
FAQ: Why are layers I have coloured re-opening black?
Check the file format you saved the design file under. Ensure you saved your design files as .ava4 format in the save window menu.
Or, if you saved as Tiff, make sure you had ‘Include Colour Info’ ticked in the Save’ dialog box:
Didn’t see the window above when saving? In this case you need to change your Settings . Go to AVA Menu > Settings > File Format | Export, and untick ‘Do not show TIFF export dialog.’
Various other formats do not have the correct compatibility to retain AVA specific information such as colourways & grids. Colour maybe lost at this stage however please contact AVA Technical Support if you wish us to assist further.
Why can't I save to my server?
If your server is a PC, we recommend setting the network file sharing protocol to smb.
DeleteMy file was saved on a server, and now it will not open into AVA. Why?
It is possible the server has removed the resource fork from the file. This means the computer can no longer identify the file type of the document. Try adding the file type to the name of the file, such as .ava4, or .tiff and try opening again. If this fails, please call AVA Technical Support with the exact error message you see when trying to open the file into AVA.
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