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DSPatrick
Known Participant
May 14, 2019
Answered

Exposure blending layers in PS

  • May 14, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 962 views

I have what I think should be a pretty simplistic task. I have two raw files. One longer 4 minute 1600 ISO exposure of foreground and another 20 second 6400 of same shot (stars) I wanted to mask and combine layers in photoshop. I have brought them into PS as layers and figured out how I can rather easily create a mask on stars (sky) layer using Quick Selection tool, then Select and Mask and now I can see the result I want but don't know what to do next to complete the operation. Can anyone help?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Bojan Živković11378569

    Yea, I have to output to new layer first, then I can do this save copy but it just seemed a bit hoaky to have to do it this way.


    Are you looking for way to flatten image? Go to Layer > Flatten Image. Another way to quickly merge layers and keep original file is from Image > Duplicate > check Duplicate Merged Layers Only.

    3 replies

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 15, 2019

    Hi

    Bojan has given you the answer of how to flatten the layers into one. May I ask why you want to do that?

    If you are sending the image on then sending a flattened copy is good practice but I would always keep a master complete with layers saved as a Tiff/psd/psb. It makes it much easier if you need to revisit it in the future.

    Dave

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      DSPatrickAuthor
      Known Participant
      May 15, 2019

      True but if I revisited for some further processing I'd probably be starting over with new layers.

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      DSPatrickAuthor
      Known Participant
      May 15, 2019

      Thanks, the only issue I'm having is how to complete the operation (save) after masking. How to join the masked layers into a TIFF

      Daniel E Lane
      Daniel E Lane
      Inspiring
      May 15, 2019

      just click save.

      D
      DSPatrickAuthor
      Known Participant
      May 15, 2019

      Too funny, yea that's not it either. I don't want to save layers.

      Chuck Uebele
      Community Expert
      Chuck UebeleCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 15, 2019

      Hard to really say what would be easiest without seeing the two images. Once you complete the mask, you either might need to feather it in better than just the select and mask allows, or use blend modes to make the stars show better.

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