#Photoshop data merge how to
#Photoshop data merge full

Save your print shop the headache – A layered file sent to the print shop can cause a lot of headaches.

Protect your artwork – If you send out the layered version of your file, anyone can edit it! If you want to avoid seeing changes in your files when you send them to print shops or avoid allowing random artists on the internet from “improving” on your work, flatten your artwork before sending it out.

While it’s good to keep files you may want to return to (especially client work!) in a layered format on your backup drive a merged file can be great to have around to send for print, work within its edited form, or share the file online.

Reduce file size – As stated before, those layers can make your Photoshop file into quite the hefty chonker.

So, let’s talk about when you should and shouldn’t merge your layers and take a deeper look at how it’s done. They have been permanently fused together. (You can also go to the Layer menu > Merge Layers.) Keep in mind, once layers are merged, you can no longer edit each of those layers separately. To merge layers in Photoshop, simply select multiple layers in the layer panel by holding down the CTRL / CMD key while clicking on each layer, then press CTRL + E / CMD + E.

#Photoshop data merge how to

So let’s explore how to merge layers in Photoshop, then talk about why you would want to do this in the first place. This reduces the number of layers in your project file. Merging layers allows you to take multiple layers and combine them together into a single layer. Graphic designers, we’re not always known to be the best organizers in theĪll of the layers stacked up, just like a physical pile of plastic sheets, get mighty heavy to your computer’s memory and file sizes.

#Photoshop data merge full

If you’re a designer like myself, you might find your file is full of “Artworkġ,” “Artwork 1 final,” “Blahblablah,” “Really final this time” named layers. The result of using layers can sometimes get a little messy. By using layers, you can go crazy with your edits, experiment, and perfect your designs and alterations without touching a pixel on the main image. Every time you enhance a color, push a pixel, or swipe away a stray hair and follow it with a tap of the Save button, you’ve permanently altered that image. Photoshop allows us to create layers to avoid destructively editing our photos or artwork. Without hurting the artwork above or under it. To draw, color, scribble, and paint all you want on one layer of the stack Think of them like sheets of clear plastic laid upon each other. Layers are one of the most basic functions of Photoshop. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to merge layers in Photoshop, when you should and shouldn’t use merge layers, as well as exploring some alternatives to merging layers.

When you have a lot of layers in your Photoshop file, it’s sometimes useful to merge layers together in order to reduce the total number of layers in your project.