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Anonymous
January 13, 2010
Question

Merge blended layers into other normal layers

  • January 13, 2010
  • 2 replies
  • 2117 views

Hello - I have a photoshop file that contains many "normal" layers, plus a few other layers (i.e. screen, color dodge, etc.). I have a need to merge/rasterize/bake the other layers down into the normal layers, so that all that I am left with is normal layers. The reason for this is eventually I am feeding the .psd file into a program that only understands normal layers.

So for example, if I have 7 normal layers, 2 screens, and a color dodge, in the end I would expect there to only be 7 layers left - the 7 normal layers, but the photoshop file as a whole should look the same as it did before.

I'm not even sure where to start on this. I've been searching the web for similar things, and the only thing I've been able to find is this: http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/244/858584

I think what I need to do is some sort of loop where I find a non-normal layer, then for each layer beneath, I hide all the layers except the current one and the non-normal one, do a copy visible, then replace the normal layer with the pasted result of the copy. But I'm not 100% that's going to give me the correct result...

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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2 replies

MarkWalsh
MarkWalsh
Inspiring
January 13, 2010

This could get very complicated, for many reasons. Each adjustment layer will affect all of the layers beneath it, unless it is llinked to the layer. Add in the use of Layer Groups, and there's a further complication since the layer group can be set to 'Normal' instead of 'Pass Through' which means that the adjustment layer will only affect the layers within that layer group.

Also, the order in which you apply these effects must match the way they affect each layer. A curve layer above a channel mixer will produce different results if you switch the order. You have to make sure you work from the bottom up, and make sure you apply any adjustments that are linked to a layer before others above it.

For each adjustment  layer, you're going to have to check for all of the layers beneath it in the same 'container' (either the base level of the document, or a layer group) and apply to those. If the container is a layer group, check to see it's blending mode, and if it passes the effect through, then you will have to go up one level and apply to those as well. Continue until you get to the base document.

These are just a few of the potential issues I can think of right now.

M
Michael_L_Hale
Inspiring
January 13, 2010

MarkWalsh wrote:

Also, the order in which you apply these effects must match the way they affect each layer. A curve layer above a channel mixer will produce different results if you switch the order. You have to make sure you work from the bottom up, and make sure you apply any adjustments that are linked to a layer before others above it.

I can't find it now but somewhere I have a graphic that shows how layer effects and blend mode interact. Even a bottom up approach may not match. I think the only fool proof way to make sure the image stays the same is to feed the other app a flatten version of you doc.

c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 13, 2010

Some Blend Mode results may not be achievable with Layers of Blend Mode Normal, so how about posting a lores-version of the layered file to help judge if in this case it’s feasible?

And did You use layer groups? Because those would make the matter somewhat more complicated.

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