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Photoshop question: flatten layers


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hello marco

you'll certainly get a more complete answer in a minute from one of the photoshop power users, but for now, i didn't find a keyboard shortcut for the "flatten image" function either.

 

when i have layers visible (photoshop CS3, working in a .psd file, for example) and want to flatten the image before saving as a jpg file for the forum etc, i select the bottom layer ("0"), then right click on the mouse, and select "flatten image" that way. it's pretty quick.

good luck

rick

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So ... is there a keyboard short cut for flattening layers like "command + E" or "shift + command + E" , but why is there NO short cut for "make one layer". I'm sure the explanation is simple, as these guys at Adobe know pretty well what they're doing.

 

Anyone?

 

To create flatten layers shortcut:

Alt+Shift+Ctrl+K to open the keyboard shortcut dialog. Then in the "Shortcuts for" dropdown select Aplication Menus" Then double click the "Layer" option. Next scroll down to "Flatten Image" (it's way down) highlight it then you can set your own shortcut.

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Well, that was fast! Had to wiggle a little as I'm on a Mac and the key combination there is shift option command F. But it works fab.

 

As I was on the subject, I had a look at the differences between the three options (flatten, merge down and merge visible). I can understand that people who really go deep into Photoshop need all that, but for me it's either keep all layers or flatten everything.

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Marco, on a PC I use Shift+Control+E to flatten all visible layers.

 

If you click Layers in the top menu, you will several short-cuts listed against selected actions. Often there are more if you search for them, but many useful ones are listed..

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David,

 

Thanks for getting into this. I noticed the short cuts, but was looking for a shorter way to really flatten an image. The problem with the two available short cuts, is that when you have a smart filter, it kind of does a weird half merge.

 

But I'm getting there :p

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Sorry Marco, I haven't experienced that consequence. Have you searched the LR Forum on the Adobe site? I have found that useful on occasions. You can also pose a question and often get an answer from a learned member or Adobe staff.

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Apple shortcuts, unlike some I could mention, always have some logic to them. That command in PS is, by default, set to "Fade" or somesuch command that I would never use, so swapping it to one I do use regularly, and is easy to remember, is obvious, to me.

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The fade command is very useful. After sharpening, go to edit, fade, select luminosty and 100% and you will have applied your sharpening to the luminosity only, avoiding artefacts in the color channels. Just make an action.

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That is in LAB and that is indeed a correct way if you want to apply sharpening halfway the postprocessing workflow. However, at the end one needs to sharpen in JPG for print and web, and that is where my remark is valid

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I spent half a day to make use of the Adobe Configurator and put together a panel with most used Photoshop steps. Attached a screenshot of "my" panel, sorry for the German language. From top to down: Open, File Info, measurement tool, rotate, crop tool, start of the Golden Crop script, action for starting Nik Dfine, Patch tool, again actions for the other Nik tools, highlight/shadows, flatten layers, save as and finally batch.

All the steps available immediately without clicking through the menus.

You can download the configurator here. But take care, for CS4 you need version 1. There is a quite comprehensive help guide (PDF) explaining the whole procedure.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

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Give it a try, it is amazing. Don't know why Adobe is not marketing this more actively.

 

I started with this because my wife wants to do some photoshopping from time to time. She didn't know which sequence to follow and where to find. I explained to her but a few months later all was forgotten. A panel (not the one above) solved both.

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