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Posted on 19/03/11 8:13:44 PM |
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Kathryn Tate
* Posts: 44 Reply |
merging multiple layers....
I am still working on the door. I have graduated to the doorknob. (I rarely have time to do photoshop). Anyway, I am making screws and screw backings. Simple enough. Each part needs to be on its own layer--backings layer and screws layer. I have even tried each part having its own layer. Problem: When I merge them, it comes out wrong. either srews are missing or I can't move one element without another being attached invisibly. any advice would be appreciated, Kathryn |
Posted on 20/03/11 1:31:35 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply  |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Duplicate |
Posted on 20/03/11 1:34:29 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
That's a but strange Kathryn, I can sympathise though. I get in other circumstances strange things happening. Have to debug what doing wrong or missed. For us to see, you might upload a screen image of your Photoshop working window. If you do not know already, with cursor over the PS working window, press Alt+Prnt Scrn. The image goes into your Clipboard. Open PS with a new document. Press Ctrl-V to paste it in. Then upload in usual way to HTCIPS e.g. using Save-For-Web-Devices etc. Meanwhile, I presume you have transparent backgrounds for the component layers AND have the layers in the correct order to overlay each other. To debug, I turn-on/off layers with each Layer Eyeball. I'm sure you know this. If you actually Merge Layers, the merged layers become one. The component layers have gone, you've rasterized them into one layer. I'd group/layer-set them, and then within the group/layer-set can still fiddle with each layer and manipulate, e.g. move the whole group as one. Alternatively duplicate/copy the layers and just merge the duplicated/copied layers. Save as new PSD version, turn-off the originals, at least they are all still there and you can come back later Trevor |
Posted on 20/03/11 4:45:35 PM |
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Kathryn Tate
* Posts: 44 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
How do I upload to this website? WHERE DO I GO? I CAN'T SEE IT. KATHRYN |
Posted on 20/03/11 4:45:39 PM |
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Kathryn Tate
* Posts: 44 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
How do I upload to this website? WHERE DO I GO? I CAN'T SEE IT. KATHRYN |
Posted on 20/03/11 11:41:18 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Kathryn, When you have created the image of your PS window screen in PS, save its as jpeg image using File> Save For Web Devices, adjusting quality and size to get ~95kb and ~800 wide. Then just post a reply or new text entry on the topic, adding the image using click >Attachment on the menu bar, browse to your new screen saved jpeg image and upload. Of course its just like uploading any image to HTCIPS and for FC. If you want me to clarify more, no problem at all. Trevor |
Posted on 21/03/11 3:03:00 PM |
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Kathryn Tate
* Posts: 44 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
I understand that. But, I don't know where to go on the HTCIPS website. I don't see where it says "upload" or "attach", etc. Kathryn |
Posted on 21/03/11 3:23:02 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4002 Reply  |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Hi Kathryn, When you go to the dialogue box to write a message you will see on the left hand side of this box, underneath the word 'message', the word 'attachment' in blue. Click on that and it will open another dialogue box where you can navigate to your image file. That should do it. Gordon _________________ You're never too old to learn something stupid. |
Posted on 21/03/11 8:01:53 PM |
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Kathryn Tate
* Posts: 44 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Notice the four dots in the second layer. I drew one dot and duplicated as prescribed. I need four of them but I need each dot to be on its own layer, so I can merge them and then move the dots around. Please see att. file. I couldn't upload the screen shot as it qas too big. Kathryn  |
Posted on 21/03/11 8:30:30 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Kathryn, For me I'm not very clear what the problem is. The screen shot will help. If you have now captured the screen shot and opened in PS as an image, the next step to reduce size is not too difficult, as we have have shared with and by others (I guess I did not give enough detail): Here is my previous advice, but we all vary a bit  :
---- First you need to compress the image as others here have offered how to do. Save For Web Devices seems to work best here e.g. Gordon and Nick et al. We all do it a little different. My style, from the PDF, select File - Save for Web Devices. In the window change the size to ~750 - 800 pixels on the longest side. Then tune the Quality up-down from 60 until see the file size < 97kb. You can tune that and the size. Save the new jpeg of your image. Second: On the FC topic, post a reply to the topic. Write your text. Press Attachment. Browse to your new small Jpeg to attach. The quality will be much reduced though, and as Gordon and other suggest, you could also add a link to a higher quality version on another website (press help for more info on how to do that). Have look also at Gordon's advice to other Trevor here. See second entry http://www.howtocheatinphotoshop.com/cgi-bin/simpleforum_pro.cgi?fid=04&topic_id=1285239281 . Hope you don't mind Gordon and Trevor relinking this topic. My method a bit quicker. PS might complain in Save for Web Devices, saying too large, (pink) but carry-on, as others say, most times okay once reduce size. If does not work then need to flatten the image first (make sure you save your work before flatten!). I think we can soon fix this, an interesting process, but guess bit frustrating for you. I know the feelings , but plenty of us to try to help here..............
Trevor |
Posted on 22/03/11 05:36:44 AM |
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Kathryn Tate
* Posts: 44 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
I don't see where this shows what is wrong with my method. There are two dots. One I drew and another rom another layer. Why the other layer dots don't show, I don't know. But my problem is that I can only manipulate one dot--the one from the other layer. I haven't merged yet. I will merge and put that in another message box. Thanks  |
Posted on 22/03/11 06:02:47 AM |
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Kathryn Tate
* Posts: 44 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Here all four layers have merged. The dots have merged into each other-- I can't unstack them; sometimes I can, but I still can't manipulate and move all of them. The dots all merged into one because I duplicated as prescribed but forgot to move them into varying places. But, had I moved them into different places and when merged all four dots would show, I still cannot move all dots around. Thanks  |
Posted on 22/03/11 08:44:34 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7025 Reply  |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Kathryn, In your first screen grab, only two of the dots show because the other two are directly on top of them. In the second grab, you've merged all the dots together into a single layer, but as you didn't move them first they're also all on top of each other. I think our issue here is that we're not quite sure exactly what your problem is. If you want to move multiple layers without merging them first, then select the top layer in the Layers Panel, hold the Shift key, then select the bottom layer in the Layers Panel. This will select all the layers, and you can move them all around together. Is this what you wanted to do? If not, bear with us - explain exactly what you're trying to do and we'll do our best to help. |
Posted on 22/03/11 11:09:18 AM |
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Kathryn Tate
* Posts: 44 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
I need to have them merged as I am bringing the merged result into another doc--the doorknob, then the door. I am working on the screws and the screw backings in this case (I used dots to make my point clearer). So, what I need in the final result is four merged layers whereby I can move the dots around. So, I can put the dots (backings and screws) on the doorknob. When I merge and have the dots in diferent positions, I get the four dots but I can only move a couple of them. The rest are fixed to the doc and I will not be able to move them onto the doorknob. I used this method when I made the door, an it worked beautifully. I don't know what I am doing wrong this time. I hope this gives clarity to the problem. Thanks, Kathryn |
Posted on 22/03/11 5:01:23 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Kathryn, Maybe you can try a different work-flow. I think you are trying to keep the components in separate documents. Makes sense for safety. If you have not tried this, rather than merging destructively you might consider using Layer Groups (previously called Layer Sets, but just a name change). 
In the example above I created the screws with duplication and different colour for each. For the sake of an example:I Grouped them into new folder called Screws. Then in that folder made two subgroups/folders Top Screws and Bottom Screws. To save window space on your Layers pallet you can open/expand & close/compact by toggling the little blue triangle next to the folder. I created another file Back Plate with a simple rectangle for the back plate. To get the Screws information into there, simply in the Screws file, select the Group Screws Folder and copy/duplicate to the Back Plate file. (I used right-click>Duplicate Group, and in pop-up window, Destination Document section, chose destination file "Back Plate". When you go back to Back Plate PS, all Screws layer information should be in there, no information lost yet, and you still have original Screws file. If you open up the Screws Group and subgroups, you can move each layer independent, select a subgroup and move the layers as one in there, or Select the Screws group and move all as one, i.e. also acting as if linked layers, but they are nested now so can easily chose the set, subset or single layer wish to move. (you can also do more than move operation, but another issue) When happy, you collapse the group to save space on layers pallet. Can always revisit by reopening. I do not think these layers take much space. However, when they do, and you start running low on memory/file size, you can Merge Group Folder so they become a merged single layer, but destructive, apart from ctrl/cmd-Z and history. I think this is what you are trying to achieve? Okay this takes longer, but when things are going strange it gives more control and history. BTW before Group merge, you might consider saving the group to another file in case wish to come back
Trevor |
Posted on 22/03/11 8:01:14 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7025 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
It sounds to me as if you're merging the dots/screws into the background layer. But you really don't need to make new layers for all the screws; just select and copy the screws themselves (hold option as you drag to make a copy). |
Posted on 22/03/11 8:49:31 PM |
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Kathryn Tate
* Posts: 44 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Trevor, I am very appreciative of all the work you put into resolving my issue. But, I am having a hard time understanding it. Steve said I am merging the dots into the BACKGROUND LAYER. How to I merge into the FOREGROUND layer? Thanks you for all the work! I just don't see it well enough to implement. I can't see the "fix". athryn |
Posted on 22/03/11 8:49:34 PM |
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Kathryn Tate
* Posts: 44 Reply |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Trevor, I am very appreciative of all the work you put into resolving my issue. But, I am having a hard time understanding it. Steve said I am merging the dots into the BACKGROUND LAYER. How to I merge into the FOREGROUND layer? Thanks you for all the work! I just don't see it well enough to implement. I can't see the "fix". athryn |
Posted on 22/03/11 9:06:28 PM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: merging multiple layers....
Hi Kathryn I hope this will help. You'll see that I've created 4 simple shapes above a white background. Each element is on its own layer. If you go to Layer - merge visible, the layers will be compressed into one. If the background is also visible, you will flatten the image. My advice would be to keep the individual components intact until you are sure all is ok. Turn off the background so just the four layers are visible. Select the top layer and hold down Ctrl Alt Shift and E and the layers will be merged into a new layer. If this was the screw, you could copy the layer by selecting the move tool and holding Alt as you move the layer. You can make as many copies as you like and, of course all your working layers are there in case anything goes wrong. Nick  |
Posted on 22/03/11 9:35:51 PM |
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Dooley
** Posts: 76 Reply  |
Re: merging multiple layers....
If you're just trying to get the 4 layers into another document then it's quite easy. Using your 1st screenshot as an example, click "layer" 1 then hold shift and click on "layer 1 copy 3", go to the layer menu and click on "group layers", rename the new group to something suitable. You can now drag the group to another document, once in the other document highlight the group then you can drag it around the document window and all 4 screws will move together, open the group and select layer 1, now if you drag inside the document window only the screw on layer 1 will move allowing you to line up each screw or move all 4 as a single layer. Hope that makes sense. _________________ I've fallen and I can't get up. |
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