How To Combine Layers On Photoshop

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Layers in Photoshop allow you to work on one element of an prototype without disturbing the others. As you lot get closer to finishing your image, you may want to merge layers that no longer need to be edited separately. Merging layers also reduces the overall file size of your project. This wikiHow teaches you how to merge different types of layers in Adobe Photoshop.

1

Make the layers yous want to merge visible. You lot can merely merge layers that are visible. If a layer is visible, y'all'll see an eyeball icon to the left of its name. If in that location'south an empty box instead of an eyeball, click the box to add the eyeball.
ii
Select the layers you want to merge. To select multiple layers, hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard as you lot click each layer.^[1]
- You can too merge sets of grouped layers. But select the grouping you want to merge as though it were a single layer.
- The layers will merge into the top-most layer and keep its name.
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Click the Layer menu. It's in the card bar at the top of the screen.
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Click Merge Layers . The selected layers are now combined into a single layer.
- In the futurity, you can merge layers after selecting them using the shortcut Ctrl + E (PC) or Cmd + E (Mac).
- You can also merge a layer into the one below it by correct-clicking the layer and selecting Merge Down.
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1

Hide the layers you don't want to merge. If there'south an empty box instead of an eyeball side by side to the layer proper noun, that means the layer is hidden. If in that location'due south an eyeball next to the name of a layer you don't desire to merge, click it to remove it. Only layers you want to merge should be visible.
ii

Select the bottom layer in the clipping mask. The bottom/base layer is the one with the underlined name.^[two]
three

Click the Layer card. Information technology'south in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
four

Click Merge Clipping Mask . The layers are now combined into ane.

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one

Make the layers yous want to merge visible. If a layer is visible, you'll see an eyeball icon to the left of its name. If there's an empty box instead of an eyeball, click the box to add the eyeball.
2

Click the Layer menu. It's at the top of the screen.
3
Click Merge Visible . All visible layers are at present merged into ane.
- You can also employ the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + E (PC) or Cmd + Shift + E (Mac) to merge all visible layers.
- If you desire to merge all layers, including subconscious layers, yous can choose Flatten Image from the carte du jour instead. When you flatten an image, whatever transparent areas will be filled with white.
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1

Make the layers you want to merge visible. Use this method if you want to create a new layer by merging two or more existing layers without affecting those layers. If a layer is visible, you lot'll run into an eyeball icon to the left of its name. If at that place's an empty box instead of an eyeball, click the box to add the eyeball.
2
Select the layers you want to merge. To select multiple layers, agree down the Ctrl fundamental on your keyboard as you click each layer.
- You can also merge sets of grouped layers. Only select the group you want to merge equally though information technology were a single layer.
three

Press Ctrl+Alt+Due east (PC) or ⌘ Cmd+ ⌥ Opt+E (Mac). This creates a make new layer containing the contents of the selected layers. The original layers have not been merged, so yous can still edit them separately.

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one

Link layers to move, edit, and copy without merging. Linked layers stay discrete, meaning you could edit them separately if you wanted. All the same, every time you click on ane linked layer, yous automatically adjust the layer(south) it is linked to as well. This is a practiced way to make large changes to many layers without having to merge.^[3]
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Grouping layers to work on specific sections at one time. If you've got a serial of layers that all brand up the aforementioned image, such as a shading, sketching, and inking layer for a small animated character, you can grouping them together, allowing you to encounter and piece of work on merely these layers in the larger image. To grouping:
- Select multiple layers in the layers panel.
- Right-click and select Grouping from Layers. Y'all tin likewise drag the layers onto the picayune folder icon in the bottom of the layers panel.
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Troubleshoot bug by rasterizing any layers y'all can't group or edit. This is but an issue, on occasion, with merging. Still, if none of your options come up to merge, try to:
- Correct-click the layer and select Rasterize.
- Check to make certain the layers are visible
- Make certain clipping masks are selected as well—y'all'll demand to highlight them to merge, or they may not let you merge.
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Article Summary X

i. Right-click one or more than layers.
2. Select Merge Downward to combine the electric current layer with the one below.
3. Select Merge Layers to combine multiple layers.
iv. Select Merge Visible to specify which layers to merge.
five. Select Flatten Paradigm to merge all layers together.

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