In Photoshop image editing Creating layers is an important part. This gives you the opportunity to separate different parts of your canvas (such as text or shapes). However, you may occasionally need to merge layers while you are editing. If you do not find the Layers panel in the menu on the right in the Photoshop window, you need to restore it. You can create a “Layers” menu panel by clicking Window> Layers or pressing F7 on your keyboard.
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Different Ways to Merge Layers in Photoshop
Here are some ways to merge layers in Photoshop, but merging multiple layers is much simpler. This process takes the layers you currently select and mixes them so that any changes you make to that layer will affect all the components that are now merged.
If you can’t see the Layers menu panel, than press F7 on your keyboard or click Windows > Layers.
To merge selected layers together in Photoshop, you must select the layers you want to merge in the Layers panel on the right. Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard to select more than one layer at a time.
Once you have selected the layers, right-click on one of the selected layers and click on the “Merge Layers” or “Merge Shapes” option, depending on the type of layer.
Otherwise, you can press Ctrl + E on your keyboard.
This option does not appear for certain layers (such as text boxes) when you right-click. Instead, you need to tap the Layers panel options menu in the upper-right corner.
From here, press “Merge Layers” or “Merge Shapes” to merge the layers you selected.
Merging all visible layers:
Photoshop to permit you hide certain layers from view. You can do this by tapping the eye symbol icon next to the layer in the Layers panel on the right. If the Layers panel does not appear, click Windows> Layers or press F7 on your keyboard.
Hidden layers appear with a black box symbol, while visible layers appear with an eye symbol. By hiding a few layers, you can merge all the visible layers.
To do this, hide the layers you want not to touch, right-click on one of the visible layers (or press the Layers Panel Options menu button on the top-right), and then press the “Merge visible” option.
Flattening all layers in Photoshop
Some types of image files only allow you to use layers. Photoshop files in PSD format support layers, but other image formats such as JPG or PNG do not. Using layers makes it easy to edit your image, but if you want, you can merge all your layers. If you save this image as a PNG or JPG file, Photoshop will do the same, but you can do it manually.
To do so, make sure the Layers panel appears by pressing F7 or clicking Windows> Layers. You need to make sure all the hidden layers are visible – otherwise they will be ignored and removed.
If you want to make any hidden layer visible, you can retrieve it by tapping the sunken square icon next to the layer in the Layers panel.
If your layers are visible (or you are happy to ignore hidden layers), right-click on any layer in the Layers panel or tap the Layers Panel Options menu button on the top-right.
Here you now click on the “Flat Image” option.
If you have any hidden layers, you need to confirm whether you want to ignore them or not. Press “OK” or “Cancel” to stop the process.
If you select “OK” or all your layers appear before you start, your layers will merge and you will no longer be able to move or edit individual items.
If you want to undo this, press Ctrl + Z on your keyboard as soon as you have merged the layers or press Edit> Undo instead.
Conclusion
Each layer you have given the file extension to is copied to the new assets sub-folder in the same folder where your image is stored. Even if you close Photoshop without saving the image with layers, those images will remain in the Assets sub-folder. However, if you delete the layer or remove the file attribute from the layer name, it will be removed from the Assets folder.