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Question

Flattening a PSD file without losing adjustments

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
December 21, 2016
3 replies
3954 views

Hi. I have opened (and tried imported, and tried placed) scanned art into a psd file so I can apply levels to darken it up. When I try to merge the layers (or flatten, or merge what's visible), the adjustment layer isn't applied into the flattened layer.

I have read on similar threads that it has something to do with 100% view. But I have tried all of that and it doesn't work.

Probably something simple I am missing. Any help is appreciated. Working in CS6. Thanks.

losing adjustments

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gener7

Community Expert

Try another format instead of PDF, perhaps tiff or psd as set in your scanner. I set my scanner to output tiff and open in Ps.

S

Sean DavidAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hi gener7. I have tried scanning as a tiff but that only helped slightly. It still didn't retain the adjustment layer as is when merged.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

My first trick when this happens, is to add a copy merged layer to the top of the stack (Shift Ctrl Alt e), then flatten. That generally works.

S

Sean DavidAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hi Trevor.Dennis. I am not sure I am tracking with ya on your suggestion. When I make a copy of the merged layer, the merged layer doesn't retain the adjustment layer- so it appears back to how it was to begin with. Anytime I try to merge it does away with any adjustments. So not able to make a copy of a merged layer that has the adjustments applied- if that is what you are saying.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

My point is that on those rare occasions when flattening a document changes its appearance, selection the top most layer and adding a copy merge layer before flattening, usually fixes it. However, with a project like your with just the background and one adjustment layer, I suspect something else is going on.

There are other ways to harden up line work like yours. Instead of using Levels, use the paint brush set to Overlay (in the options bar). paint with black to firm up the line work, and white to remove the lighter greys. I was not able to demonstrate properly with your screen shot because you'd already reduced it almost to a Threshold state, but applying a small Gaussian blur (value 1) I was able to give you at least and indication. The original is masked in on the right of course. This is the standard method of cleaning up alpha channels, and layer masks.

gener7

Community Expert

Was there a time that this process did what was expected? In other words, is this a recent problem?

(Note: I may have to leave soon, I hope others here can look at it.)

S

Sean DavidAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hi Gener7. No, this has happened before. Strange thing is flattening adjustment layers on a photo or art brought in from ai (or art strictly created in psd) works just fine whereas anything imported in (or opened, or placed) that was originally scanned in from scanner will not flatten with an adjustment layer and retain the adjustment layer. SO one would think it is a scanner setting but I am at a loss as to what that might be- perhaps a different thread now if a scanner issue

davescm

Community Expert

Hi Sean

Can you show us 3 screenshots.

The layers panel before you Flatten the image - showing all layers

A part of the image at 100% view immediately before you hit Flatten Image

The same part of the image at 100% view immediately after you hit Flatten Image

Thanks

Dave

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