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tkeiger
tkeiger
Participating Frequently
February 17, 2023
Question

Merge layers while keeping blend modes

  • February 17, 2023
  • 7 replies
  • 20552 views

What once seemed to work for me now isn't.... (working in Photoshop 24.0.1, MacOS 11.4)
We know that simply merging layers which contain blend modes does't work well as the layer(s) with a blend mode turn to normal layers. What used to seem to work well (command + option + shift + E to create a "snapshot" layer of all visible, now doesn't seem to be working either.

 

What I'm doing is silhouetting out subjects, retouching out the bounceback color casts on a layer in color or hue mode, and then replacing the background. I'm handing some images off to another designer, so best to have the object on a single layer w/a transparent background.

 

My method used to work great! Now it's not. Alternate suggestions?

TIA

    7 replies

    C
    Captain32945289uqe5
    Participant
    December 28, 2024

    What I usually do is to export the whole file as a PNG and erase everything around the part where I used a Blending mode. 

    It doesn't work in most cases, but for me as an Illustrator works pretty well since I only use the blending mode in specific parts.

    J
    Jody38644088q2e7
    Participant
    July 16, 2024

    I had the same question about how to keep the appearance of the blend mode on the top layer, so when I saw your post, I tried the Cmd+Option+Shift+E and it worked. Just thought I'd let you know that. I don't know why it won't work for you. I tried including a type layer and it still worked. I'm on Photoshop 2024 (25.9.1)

    Jody

     

    Inspired Kindergartens
    Inspired Kindergartens
    Known Participant
    July 25, 2024

    The Cmd+Option+Shift+E doesn't work for me... unless you want the entire layer stack merged

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 26, 2024

    Turn off any layers you don't want included in the Copy Merged layer.

    The selected layer must be turned on for the Shift Control Alt E copy merged layer to work.  IME its a good way of making a single layer that includes blend modes, and it's something I use a great deal.

      Michael Bullo
      Community Expert
      Michael BulloCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 18, 2023

      Have you tried using Smart Objects? I'm happy to elaborate if needed.

        tkeiger
        tkeigerAuthor
        Participating Frequently
        February 18, 2023

        I have, thank you.
        See this is what is baffling to me: I've successfully done this far too many times over the past few years. And now it's not working.

          Simmer1
          Community Expert
          Simmer1Community Expert
          Community Expert
          February 17, 2023

          Hey,

           

          I'm not sure if you can go back but Create a New Layer at the top of your Layers Palette before you merge. Then select that Layer and hit command + option + shift + E as you did before.

           

          This should give you a merged Layer on top with all the Layers below still in tact. 

            L
            Lumigraphics
            Legend
            February 18, 2023

            As I noted. If you have an empty layer, content is stamped into that. If you don't have an empty layer, a new one is created. Same result.

              tkeiger
              tkeigerAuthor
              Participating Frequently
              February 18, 2023

              and I have done both with and without and empty layer....same results.

               

              tkeiger
              tkeigerAuthor
              Participating Frequently
              February 17, 2023

              Here's the layered version and the layer created using the command-shift-option-E shortcut. You can see how that combined layer gets plugged up. I did NOT have the black background visible when I created the layer; just the masked-out cat and the retouching layer. (as that's how I need it)
              I'm using a blend layer on "Hue" to neutralize the purple bounceback light

              Now, this DOES look correct when I include the background to create the layer, so perhaps that's part of this particular issue....

              tkeiger
              tkeigerAuthor
              Participating Frequently
              February 17, 2023

              apologies..uploaded the same image...here's the which was layer created (background added for this image

              PECourtejoie
              Community Expert
              PECourtejoieCommunity Expert
              Community Expert
              February 17, 2023

              Hi, @tkeiger I removed the duplicate for clarity.

                c.pfaffenbichler
                Community Expert
                c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity Expert
                Community Expert
                February 17, 2023

                Could you please post screenshots taken at View > 100%with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, …) visible? 

                 

                We know that simply merging layers which contain blend modes does't work well as the layer(s) with a blend mode turn to normal layers.

                They are turned into one Layer and one Layer has one Blend Mode. 

                 

                  L
                  Lumigraphics
                  Legend
                  February 17, 2023

                  Blend modes are there to define how a layer interacts with layers below. When you merge layers, there is nothing to apply a blend mode to.

                  And if you use the command-opt-shift-E with multiple content layers, it works correctly to create a new layer. A new layer is NOT created if the top layer is empty, that is the layer stamped into.

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