Photoshop - Merging layers whilst retaining Blending Modes.

Baj Singh · Nov 2010

Hey,

does anyone know if there is a way in Photoshop to merge two layers but maintain the blending modes that those layers might have applied. For example merging a layer with "multiply" with another layer with "overlay".

Cheers.

telmac · Nov 2010

There is no direct way of doing it, but why do you need to merge them? If its necessary to keep them as their blending modes now, you might as well just draw on top. if its about layer styles, you can duplicate them, merge them, and then turn the fill of the new layer all the way down.

what will work differently, and this also depends of why you need to merge them, is you can grup them, and then apply a layer style to the group.

cman2k · Nov 2010

Try hiding all layers except the two you want to merge, and then doing a "merge all visible layers". For whatever reason this type of merge is often more reliable towards blending modes then simply merging layers down.

Wells · Nov 2010

i don't think there is a way to apply per-pixel blending types, which is basically what this would require.

Grimm_Wrecking · Nov 2010

duplicate the layer with the blending mode you want to merge down.
Set the original back to normal.
select the blended (duplicate) layer.
merge down (ontop of the original unblend mode-ed)

That might not work in all situations, but it should at least work for overlay.

(edit: tal-mac may have beaten me too it hah)

Eric Chadwick · Nov 2010

Maybe?
Photoshop Merging Blended Layers

Baj Singh · Nov 2010

Thanks for the replies. I'll give the solutions a go. Cheers.

Geo0rbit · Mar 2024

Old thread but in case people are still looking for a solution to this, you can use Sergey Kritskiy's Layer Factory extension to merge layers while preserving its transparency and blendmode effects using its bake functions, specifically 'bake to transparent'.

Extention: https://kritskiy.gumroad.com/l/factory?layout=profile

Documentation specifically regarding this feature (there are a lot of features in this extension): https://layer-factory.readthedocs.io/en/latest/bake/index.html

Yes this it's paid, but the man is hands down one of the most important extension creators for 2d Photoshop concept artists ever so its worth it.

iam717 · Mar 2024

copy merged / edit options. Always worked for me. Did not know bout that, Extension, appreciate it.

Photoshop - Merging layers whilst retaining Blending Modes.

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