Combine Layers in Photoshop

Layers in Photoshop allow you to work on one element of an image without disturbing the others. Artists consistently use them to make design workflow easier. Sometimes, however, there's the need to combine or merge different layers together — either to work on the merged image or to flatten all layers to form a single layer for the final project. Luckily, you have several options available to you.

Steps

Using Merging Options

1. Right click on a layer, or multiple layers, to bring up your merging options. Go over to your layers panel and highlight the layer or layers you want to merge together. Right-click and peer down to the bottom of the menu that appears. You should get the options:
   • Merge Layers (or, if you only selected one layer, "Merge Down")
   • Merge Visible
   • Flatten Image
2. Select "Merge Down" to combine the currently selected layer with the layer immediately below it. The layers will combine, taking the name of the lower layer, into one. Note, however, that you cannot do this if either layer is invisible or locked.
   • This option is replaced with "Merge Layers" if you have multiple layers selected.
   • You can also press ⌘ Command+E or Ctrl+E
3. Select multiple layers and use "Merge Layers" to combine them all into one layer. Shift-Click or Ctrl/Cmd-Click on all the layers you want merged to highlight multiples. Then right-click on one of the layers and select "Merge Layers" to combine them all.
   • They layers will merge into the top-most layer, and keep that name.
4. Toggle layers on and off to use "Merge Visible." This is a good way to combine lots of layers quickly. Instead of clicking all the layers you want to merge, simply uncheck the little "eye" to the left of each layer you do not want to merge. Then right-click on any still-visible layer in the panel and select "Merge Visible." Only those layers with the "eye" will be merged, the others will be left alone.
5. Alt or Opt-Click on "Merge Visible" to combine the layers into a brand new layer, while preserving the old ones. This combines all visible layers, then copies them into their own layer. Your smaller layers are all intact and untouched, allowing your to keep them for later if need be.
   • For Macs, you hold the ⌥ Option.
   • For PCs, you hold theAlt.
6. Choose "Flatten Image" to merge all layers together, discarding anything not visible. Flatten image is usually reserved for the very end of the project, right before saving the final, finished image. It takes all visible layers and makes them one combined layer. If you have anything that isn't visible, it will ask you if it should discard it. Basically, Flatten Image takes everything you can see on the canvas and combines it into the only layer in the panel.
7. Understand that you cannot "un-merge" layers once you've combined them. Merging layers is useful, but you will lose some of your closer control over your image. Make sure you merge layers only when you're done working on the individual pieces.
8. Know the alternate paths to merge layers. There are two other ways to get to these exact same menus, so just use the one you're most comfortable with.
   • Click on "Layers" from the top menu. Your options for merging will be near the bottom.
   • Click the small triangle and lines icon in the upper right corner of the layers panel. Merging will be near the bottom.

Finding Alternatives to Merging

1. Link layers to move, edit, and copy them without merging. Linked layers stay discrete, meaning you could edit them separately if you wanted. However, every time you click on one linked layer, you automatically adjust the layer(s) it is linked to as well. This is a good way to make large changes to many layers without having to merge.
2. Group layers to work on specific sections at one time. If you've got a series of layers that all make up the same image, such as a shading, sketching, and inking layer for a small animated character, you can group them together, allowing you to see and work on just these layers in the larger image. To group:
   • Select multiple layers in the layers panel.
   • Right-click and select "Group from Layers." You can also drag the layers onto the little folder icon in the bottom of the layers panel.
3. Troubleshoot issues by rasterizing any layers you can't group or edit. This is only an issue, on occasion, with merging. Still, if none of your options come up to merge, try to:
   • Right-click and select "Rasterize."
   • Check to make sure the layers are visible
   • Make sure clipping masks are selected as well -- you need to highlight them to merge, or they may not let you merge.

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