Layers Merging Automatically

Report · Feb 01, 2025

Photoshop 10
I have used photoshop many times and while I am not very experienced and forget things inbetween projects I have never had this problem.
When I SIMPLY try to bring an image in as a layer my background and the new layer combine/merge. I have spent hours trying to figure this out!!!!!
This has to be a simple setting but I am about to break something after hours of you tube videos and no solution!
I am SIMPLY trying to drag an image with transparent background into the newly created layer. As you can see in my final image, I have done this before. As far as I know I am doing the same thing I did just a month ago. I can edit the previsous project and I have no problem with it. I just want to make a new project. I tried copy background and make background a layer and neither of those actions seemed to matter.
I read other posts and there is mention of how a file is saved and I think I tried everything. I struggle to see how, since I have not yet saved the new project, how saving has anything to do with my issue.

I have used the PLACE method of bringing in my image and it seems to work. But, do not recall ever having to do this before and if you have a different idea of what my problem is please let me know.

Report · Feb 01, 2025

Photoshop 10
I have used photoshop many times and while I am not very experienced and forget things inbetween projects I have never had this problem.
When I SIMPLY try to bring an image in as a layer my background and the new layer combine/merge. I have spent hours trying to figure this out!!!!!
This has to be a simple setting but I am about to break something after hours of you tube videos and no solution!
I am SIMPLY trying to drag an image with transparent background into the newly created layer. As you can see in my final image, I have done this before. As far as I know I am doing the same thing I did just a month ago. I read other posts and there is mention of how a file is saved and I think I tried everything.

Please help before I smash my keyboard!

Sincerely,
Joe

Report · Feb 01, 2025

I have used the PLACE method of bringing in my image and it seems to woek. But, do not recall ever having to do this before and if you have a different idea of what my problem is please let me know.
I tried copy background and make background a layer and neither of those actions seemed to matter.

Report · Feb 01, 2025

If you're saving out as jpeg, the saved result will be flattened. The jpeg file format doesn't support layers.

This isn't Photoshop - is it Photoshop Elements? You might want to try the Elements forum.

Report · Feb 01, 2025

It is a jpeg file (the water) but this happens before I save the file.

Oh. It is Elements. I will try an Elements forum.

Thank you very much for your reply. You still may be correct about the file saving though. That is what keeps comeing up in my research.

Report · Feb 01, 2025

Open both images, then from the Project Bin drag the transparent image into your Background image.

Report · Feb 01, 2025

I tried. Same issue... As soon as I add the Transparent Image it Combines with the Background.

I am about to do it using PLACE but I do not recall ever having to do that before. Simply drag and drop to the layer before. Before what I do not know but something changed.

The Place option to add an image is working very good for me. I know that there are advantages to using Place but I don't know the disadvantages. I have no problem so far working with the Place Method but I would very much like to know why I have this issue with standard drag and drop and to fix it so I don't go through this in the future.

Thanks for your time and efforts.

Report · Feb 01, 2025

Oh! Sorry. I see. YES.

Draging from Project Bin to the Background as you have designated with an arrow. That works.
Is that the way it always works? I don't see you tube videos showing it done that way. I don't recall having to do that before (but I dont trust my memory). I was mistakenly draging the Image over the background down in the project Bin. I over looked the arrow you made.

Report · Feb 01, 2025

@kotaztrafee_4184, your screenshots do not show what is happening.

In your first screenshot, you have a single layer selected (in the Photo Bin). So we can't tell what is happening when you click and drag that layer to the background (blue water) file.

In your second screenshot, your Layers Panel is only showing 3 layers. Based on the appearance of the panel and the panel slider, it looks like there are more layers below what is shown.

So, it is unclear to me what problem you are trying to demonstrate.

Report · Feb 01, 2025

- The first Image/screenshot (the water) is the Background first layer.
- The Second screenshot is the addition of a Layer. Using add layer.
- The Thrid screenshot is what happens when I add an image to the Frist Image (The water) by draging to that Layer. It merges/combines. I do not recall this ever being the case before.
- The fourth Image/screen shot is to show that I used to be able to just drag and drop as described in the previous screenshots.