Keep First Selected Layer’s Name When Merging

[.random..]

When merging layers in Photoshop, the resulting layer always takes the name of the topmost layer. Could you add an option for the merged layer to keep the name of the first selected layer instead? This would save time and avoid constant renaming.

[Stephen Marsh]

Can you provide a screenshot of the before and after result that you are looking for?

Is this for 2, 3 or more layers? The "first selected layer" isn't clear.

[Stephen Marsh]

A possibly related topic here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/merge-layers-issue/m-p/13698795

[c.pfaffenbichler]

What does »first« mean? 

Topmost in Layerstack, lowermost, a temporal order, …? 

[.random..]

By "first selected layer," I mean the one we click on first. I don’t see a better way to handle this. Another approach could be like Illustrator and InDesign’s align logic—select all layers to be merged, then click again on the one whose name should be kept, and choose "Merge Selected Layers" or use a shortcut.

Also, maybe a floating panel near the cursor could show dynamic action suggestions ranked by probability. Not something we'd personally need since we rely on shortcuts, but it could be useful for others.

Would really save a ton of time since we constantly merge layers and need to keep names organized.

[.random..]

  

[.random..]

Oh, I didn’t realize someone had already brought this up before (apparently without success, since it’s still not there), even though it’s a pretty important feature. But thanks for the info!

[Stephen Marsh]

By "first selected layer," I mean the one we click on first. I don’t see a better way to handle this.

By @.random..

I was hoping that you didn't mean that.

Photoshop would need to keep track of which layers are selected and in which order, just in case you merge layers.

[Stephen Marsh]

The other topic was different, I just posted it in case it had some relevance to your idea, which it doesn't. 

[.random..]

I get that, but there’s definitely a clean way to handle it—after selecting all the layers, an additional click on an already selected layer could set it as the one to inherit the name and maybe even the color. That should work!

[.random..]

I believe this is the exact same request. My colleague is also frustrated that when merging layers, Photoshop always takes the name from the top layer (which is often just a working layer with a default name).

How to merge several layers so that the name of the bottom one remains?

I just Shift + select them and Ctrl+E, but I get the name of the top one (and lose the color label).

[Stephen Marsh]

---

@.random.. wrote:

I believe this is the exact same request.

---

The goalposts were moved in that topic, so yes, it then became the same as your request.

Outside of Adobe development, a script could copy the name and colour label of the target single active layer. Then you can select multiple layers and a second script could then merge and apply the name and colour label. Keyboard shortcuts could be used to trigger the scripts, or possibly the script events manager could listen for the merge command and automatically apply the second script.