Convert regular layers to video layers

[mackyBroido]

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.

[mackyBroido · Accepted solution]

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!