Photoshop error when saving as DCS

[sqslabs]

I just finished a sep in Photoshop and when trying to save the file as a DCS, I'm getting an error which says:

"Could not save a copy because the resulting document will have no channels"

I don't think I'm doing anything differently than I normally do, and have never run into this issue before. There are 6 spot channels in the PSD, and all other channels have been deleted.  I've attached a screenshot of Photoshop to show how everything is currently set up.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank youuuu.

[sqslabs]

Scratch that, I just closed and re-opened the file and was left with one solid black channel.  No idea how that happened, but it looks like I'm back to square one on the sep.

Woohoo.

[Racer Tees]

Make sure you have "Spot Channels" selected in the options at the bottom of the save dialog.

[sqslabs]

Make sure you have "Spot Channels" selected in the options at the bottom of the save dialog.

Thank you, will make sure of that this time around.. 

[Racer Tees]

Make sure you have "Spot Channels" selected in the options at the bottom of the save dialog.

Thank you, will make sure of that this time around.. 

I lost a few of my first seps after hours of work when I was learning.

[UltraSeps]

Why even bother using DCS files? These were necessary many years ago when needing to output separations from another app such as Illustrator, Quark, PageMaker, etc.  Today however, I can't see the benefit.

Illustrator can open or place native PSD channel separations directly.  CorelDraw can open or place PSD multichannel separtations saved as PDF.

If doing so, the RGB channels need to be present.  If not, the file can't be read and an error will be generated.  So if the RGB channels are no longer there, just make 3 blank channels, move them to the top of the channels panel and choose Image > Mode > RGB Color.  Then save.  It can now be opened or placed into other apps for film output.  It doesn’t matter if the RGB channels are blank as the external program just needs them to read and open the file.

If you'd rather something automated to add RGB channels back to a separation, download this free action here:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/usepsv2/add-rgb-channels.zip

For those needing help printing seps with external apps, download these PDF's on film output with Illustrator and CorelDraw.

http://www.ultraseps.com/print-psd-separation-using-illustrator.pdf

http://www.ultraseps.com/print-psd-separation-using-coreldraw.pdf

[sqslabs]

Why even bother using DCS files? These were necessary many years ago when needing to output separations from another app such as Illustrator, Quark, PageMaker, etc.  Today however, I can't see the benefit.

Illustrator can open or place native PSD channel separations directly.  CorelDraw can open or place PSD multichannel separtations saved as PDF.

If doing so, the RGB channels need to be present.  If not, the file can't be read and an error will be generated.  So if the RGB channels are no longer there, just make 3 blank channels, move them to the top of the channels panel and choose Image > Mode > RGB Color.  Then save.  It can now be opened or placed into other apps for film output.  It doesn’t matter if the RGB channels are blank as the external program just needs them to read and open the file.

If you'd rather something automated to add RGB channels back to a separation, download this free action here:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/usepsv2/add-rgb-channels.zip

For those needing help printing seps with external apps, download these PDF's on film output with Illustrator and CorelDraw.

http://www.ultraseps.com/print-psd-separation-using-illustrator.pdf

http://www.ultraseps.com/print-psd-separation-using-coreldraw.pdf

Very cool, thanks for the info.  I think I learned about DCS output a year or so ago in a youtube video and have been doing it ever since. Never realized there was another way, but being able to do it without creating additional files is pretty sweet.  Much appreciated!