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mackyBroido
mackyBroido
Participant
July 3, 2023
Answered

Convert regular layers to video layers

  • July 3, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 2696 views

I've been trying to start an animation in photoshop, and everything's on different, identified layers (articles of clothing, lineart, colors etc). I really just have one frame at this point. I need onion skins and have the layer organization, so I've made a 'video timeline'. The problem is that the layers my work is on aren't video layers, so they can't be different frame to frame--any edit changes them across all time, as opposed to video layers, which contain different content per frame and support onion skinning. I figure I could technically export each layer as gif then re-import but would lose layers and quality. Merging a layer with a video layer does not make the end result a working video layer. Please help me.

    Correct answer mackyBroido

    So what I found out through some (further) experimentation is that if you click on a normal layer while you have a video layer directly under it and then you merge them (Ctrl + E), that will make the end result a video layer.

     

    BUT, THE END RESULT OF MERGING IS A NORMAL LAYER IF 1) the video layer is above the normal layer or 2) you have both layers selected when you merge them.

     

    Hope this helps someone!

    1 reply

    mackyBroido
    mackyBroidoAuthorCorrect answer
    Participant
    July 3, 2023

    So what I found out through some (further) experimentation is that if you click on a normal layer while you have a video layer directly under it and then you merge them (Ctrl + E), that will make the end result a video layer.

     

    BUT, THE END RESULT OF MERGING IS A NORMAL LAYER IF 1) the video layer is above the normal layer or 2) you have both layers selected when you merge them.

     

    Hope this helps someone!

      H
      H_tinha_do_pedaço
      Participant
      June 26, 2025

      Worked perfectly! Thank you so much for sharing this 🙂

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