Position the layer or layer groups that you want to merge adjacent to each other in the Layers panel. Select the top layer of those you want merged. Choose Merge Down from the Layers panel menu or the Layer menu. If the top layer is a layer group, the command is called Merge Group.
How do you merge in Photoshop?
You can merge two adjacent layers or groups by selecting the top item and then choosing Layer > Merge Layers. You can merge linked layers by choosing Layer > Select Linked Layers, and then merging the selected layers.
What is the shortcut for merge in Photoshop?
To merge all layers, press Ctrl + E, to merge all visible layers, press Shift + Ctrl + E.
What is merging layers in Photoshop?
Merging Layers in Photoshop
This process takes your currently selected layers and combines them—any changes you make to that layer will now affect all of the merged components. If you can’t see the Layers menu panel, press F7 on your keyboard or click Windows > Layers.
What is the difference between merge down and flatten image in Photoshop?
The Merge Layers command causes Photoshop to simply skip invisible layers and leave them intact. By contrast, the Flatten Image option will cause Photoshop to delete all invisible layers, removing them from the document permanently (unless the action is undone).
Does flattening an image reduce quality?
Flattening an image significantly reduces the file size, making it easier to export to the web and print the image. Sending a file with layers to a printer takes longer because each layer is essentially an individual image, which drastically increases the amount of data that needs to be processed.
What is CTRL A in Photoshop?
Handy Photoshop Shortcut Commands
Ctrl + A (Select All) — Creates a selection around the entire canvas. Ctrl + T (Free Transform) — Brings up the free transform tool for resizing, rotating, and skewing the image using a dragable outline.
What is Ctrl Shift E in Photoshop?
The keyboard shortcut to copy all existing layers into a single layer and place it as a new layer on top of the other layers is Ctrl Alt Shift E (Mac: Command Option Shift E)
What is Ctrl Alt G in Photoshop?
To release a layer from a clipping mask
Click a layer to be released (not the base layer), then press Ctrl-Alt-G/Cmd-Option-G.
Does merging layers reduce file size?
Merging the layers helped us to shrink the file size by 35 MB. The only minus of this method is that you can’t change the smart object filters or work with each texture separately once you have merged the layers.
What is flatten in Photoshop?
Flattening is merging all visible layers into the background layer to reduce file size. The image on the left shows the Layers panel (with three layers) and file size before flattening. The image on the right shows the Layers panel after flattening.
How do you merge visible?
If you hold Alt (Mac: Option) while selecting “Merge Visible” in the Layer menu (or in the Layers panel flyout menu), you will merge the visible layers onto a new layer; leaving the original layers intact. You could also press Ctrl Alt Shift E (Mac: Command Option Shift E) to get the same result.
What is difference between flatten image and merge visible?
Merge visible will merge all layers that are visible (eye On ) will ignore layers that are not visible. Flatten merges all layers into one layer. if you have layers not visible it will ask you if you want to do away with them.
What is difference between Merge and flatten?
Merging layers combines just the layers you’ve selected into one layer. Flatten image flattens everything down to a single background layer. When you use the Flatten command, it will ask you if you want to discard any hidden layers. Flattening is merging all visible layers into the background layer to reduce file size.
What is the difference between merge down and merge visible?
Merge Down combines the layer below the currently selected layer and the selected layer together into one singular layer. … Merge Visible will merge all visible layers into one singular layer. Merge Visible will ignore any layer that has it’s visibility toggled to “Off”.