Gimp layers/edit/save/not flattened question! Need help!

Question

How do i save an image in Gimp (an image with layers) so that after i save it i can go back and edit the layers later. I'm doing a big image and its gonna take more then 1 time to work on the image, i need to be able to save it and come back to it later, but whenever i save it, it flattens the image and combines all the layers! D= and i need to learn how to save it so that when i come back to my image to edit it, all the layers are still there so i can edit them and work on them. I don't want it to be flattened. Please help! Is there a certain image file that i can save it under that will allow me to do this?

Answer 1

.xcf file. I found this out with the little gimp tips that pops up every time you open gimp. I love how it's the first file option to save as.

Answer 2

Try saving it as  GIMP .xcf  file ^__^