Create a Merged Copy of all Photoshop Layers

Learn how to combine all visible Photoshop layers without harming the original layers. This technique provides great flexibility when editing designs. Details below...

0:00 - Quick Overview

0:21 - Merge Visible Layers
Within the Layer menu is the command Merge Visible. This command combines all of the visible layers into a single layer. This is a destructive technique as the original layers are lost when combined. This makes reversing the future application of techniques like filters essentially impossible.

1:04 - Create Merged Copy of Visible Layers
To create a merged copy of all of the visible layers, thus leaving the original layers unaltered, run the Merge Visible command while holding down Alt/Option.

To have the merged copy be created at the top of the Layers panel, have either the top most layer selected or no layers selected. Having a layer selected will result in the merged copy being created immediately above that layer.

2:16 - Keyboard Shortcut
Mac: Command + Option + Shift + E
Windows: Control + Alt + Shift + E

3:15 - Smart Objects
The most flexible, non-destructive technique for combining and then altering layers is to first nest them within a Smart Object. The application of transformations and/or filters can be easily adjusted or removed when applied to a Smart Object.

This video includes just a brief overview of Smart Objects. For more details, this video may prove useful...

Why Photoshop Smart Objects are Awesome

[tonypaulazzo]

Life saver 🙂 You'd think 'copy all visible layers' would be a thing by now but this is a handy workaround 👍

[jayzn]

You are a legend! I keep forgetting this shortcut, as I use it once per year. Thank you for showing it right at the beginning and even elaborating better methods for beginners!

[jptljtg]

i LOVE that you outright said how to do it starting the video.

[Lu-Heringer-Illustrations]

Excellent Michael! I've suffered from regrets about merged layers. This is an awesome way to preserve the original layers without any regrets about merging, which I didn't know about until today! Thank you so much :)

[feeddannyo]

Thanks for this simple, yet elusive tip!

[hache_raw]

THANKS! So instead of doing Control+E as always, I've done Control+Alt+E and worked!

[johnritchie]

I've been using the keyboard shortcuts which can be a pain getting them in order & never knew it was right there above me in the layer panel yet another time saving tip thanks Michael :)

[Lu-Heringer-Illustrations]

Michael, one question: how to use this resource when we have a bunch of layers and we want to merge 2 or 3 specific layers?

[yojacq]

when i do it it works but it closes the eye icons
nvm fixed it
just have to pres ctrl shift alt e

[floor_city]

What I'm looking to do is take 2 colors and one overlay image. Then create 2 different final product images showing the transparent image on top and each of the color layers behind to show the color on the product. Then the customer will see a mockup of what it would look like with each color.

[floor_city]

I want to make a copy of each layer to create a dublicate of each layer not combine all three. Only combine the first layer with layers 2 and 3. To create 2 final images with a combination of layers 2 and 3. For me the first layer is a transparent overlay and the other layers are colors to show in the background behind that transparent layer.