HOW TO MERGE LAYERS PHOTOSHOP FOR BEGINNERS

HOW TO MERGE LAYERS… 
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTION...
BASICS OF MERGE LAYERS...

Tips MERGE LAYERS...

Before you learn - How to Merge Layers -  
go to the following LINKS to learn  
THE BASICS OF PHOTOSHOP...

EXCLUSIVELY FOR BEGINNERS -PHOTOSHOP 

 HOW TO DESIGN A BANNER PHOTOSHOP...
 HOW TO DESIGN A WEB BANNER...
 HOW TO DO AN Ad WEB...



WHY MERGE LAYERS? 
WHAT MERGE LAYERS MEAN IN PHOTOSHOP? 

Merging layers a very very simple process in Photoshop...

Merging layers helpful when you no longer need every layer to be independent.

Layers in Photoshop allow you to work on one element of an image without disturbing the others, so they are an indispensable tool.

We consistently use layers while working in Photoshop.

Sometimes, we feel the need to combine or merge different layers together - either to work on the merged image, or to flatten all layers to form a single layer.

Let’s say we are done working with layers and we want to  create a composite and want to consolidate it to one layer instead of having many separate layers.  This can be simply called “Merge”

To keep this MERGER thing in our mind(until we acquaintance with) just think of a commercial Merger, (usually with a mutual decision between two firms, two companies become one). Here in Photoshop its combining some finished layers in to one layer,

To make  all the changes we made into that layer. (To clear yourself and to understand well  go further down in this page) 

How to Merge

The Merge Layers command is available by doing one of the following, after *highlighting the layers you want merged:
      

§  Right click on one of the layers and select Merge Layers

§  Go to the ‘Layers’ menu and select Merge Layers

§  The keyboard shortcut Ctrl/Cmd + E (this is actually the same shortcut as Merge Down)
                   *highlight= Click on one layer(other layers u prefer to highlight)  Ctrl+click

Caution: once layers are merged, there is no going back!! the layers are inseparably connected.

The following is an sample a Banner - Taken as an example: 

This banner contains 8 stacks of separate layers independently laying  down for a facial makeup. 

    

A complected banner after Merged and Flatten                          

  

See  following:  Fig-2 to Fig-10 (how layers are separately  before - Merge)
  Fig-1

The Background Black Layer                             Fig-2

     A Grident Layer Merged with background.       Fig. 3

    Boarder Layer                                                   Fig-4

    Typed Text Layer                                                        Fig-5

         Text (Effects)                                             Fig6                                

      Text Effect                                                             Fig-7

Fig 6+Fig 7 Highlighted  Before Merged

Fig-8

*highlight= Click on one layer(other layers u prefer to highlight)  Ctrl+click

 After, to be Merged Layers Highlighted go to > Layer Menu > Merge Layer (to Combine the layers which  you decide make into one layer.)
Fig-9

  Right click on one of the layers and select Merge Layers

§  Go to the ‘Layers’ menu and select Merge Layers

§  The keyboard shortcut Ctrl/Cmd + E (this is actually the same shortcut as Merge Down)

Now both of the Layers are Merged in the Fig-10 Image

Fig-10

Fig 11

This is a very simple process but some times for beginners its annoying, just to make things clear I have done in details, This tutorial is solely done for Beginners Developing Graphic Designers in mind.  


Now  Finished ? not yet
Your Project Layers are laying  Independently and single out.
This way how to go further....

Now you got  two important things to do.
1.   Saving the Project
2.   Flatten Layers

Please Note - I have given first Saving  then Flatten
This is again a simple process but you need some elaboration.

Since we are Beginners DEVELOPING GRAPHIC DESIGNERS we need to grab things step by step to remember well for future Graphic projects.

GO TO THE  FOLLOWING LINKS...    PRACTICE GRAPHICS FOR BEGINNERS:

HOW TO MAKE A BANNER

HOW TO DO AN Ad WEB/ WEB BANNER