Above that is a layer for whitening teeth. Along with the original image on the Background layer, I also have a separate layer for smoothing skin. In the Layers panel, we see that I've added several layers to my document. If you want to keep all of your layers but just want to flatten. You can also right-click on the selected layers and choose merge layers from the menu. Another way to merge layers is to select the layers that you want to merge, and then press Ctrl + E (Windows) or Cmd + E (Mac). Enter a new name for the layer/group in the Layers panel. This will merge all of the visible layers into one layer. The command can be found under the Layer menu or by using the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows) or Command+Shift+E (Mac). Select the layer/group and then follow these steps: Choose Layer > Rename Layer or Layer > Rename Group. Short answer merge visible photoshop: Merging visible layers in Photoshop combines all visible layers into a single layer.

I'm using Photoshop CC but you can follow along with any recent version. Double-click the layer name or group name in the Layers panel and enter a new name. And while not everyone is a fan of keyboard shortcuts, I think you'll agree that this one is definitely worth knowing.ĭownload this tutorial as a print-ready PDF! Why you should not flatten a Photoshop documentīefore we learn how to merge layers onto a new layer, let's take a quick look at why flattening an image is a bad idea. Instead, you need to know a secret keyboard shortcut. You won't find a 'Merge All Layers To A New Layer' command anywhere in Photoshop. You'll learn how to merge your layers onto a separate layer and keep your existing layers intact!īut there's a trick. So in this tutorial, I'll show you a better way, one that's entirely non-destructive. And if you save and then close the document after flattening the image, those layers are lost forever. This also merges selected layers, layer styles and will keep selection masks intact. When you flatten the image, you lose all of your layers. Ctrl + E shortcut for merging a layer down. To merge multiple layers together, first select the. Or you may want to move the image to another layout or design.īut while Photoshop does have a Flatten Image command, it's not the solution you're looking for. To merge a layer with the layer directly below it in the Layers panel, press Ctrl+E (Win) / Command+E (Mac). Usually it's so you can sharpen the image for print or for uploading to the web.

When working with multi-layered Photoshop documents, you often reach a point where you need to flatten the image. Learn how to merge a copy of your existing layers onto a separate layer! For Photoshop CC and earlier. Need to merge layers in Photoshop? Don't flatten the image and lose all your work.

Photoshop merge layers shortcut