Adobe PHOTOSHOP 6.0 Manual page 257

Merging layers
Merging layers, layer sets, layer clipping paths,
clipping groups, linked layers, or adjustment layers
combines several layers into one and keeps file size
manageable. When you've finalized the character-
istics and positioning of a layer's contents, you
can merge the layer with one or more layers to
create partial versions of your composite image.
The intersection of all transparent areas in the
merged layers remains transparent.
In addition to merging layers, you can stamp
layers, which allows you to merge the contents of
more than one layer into a target layer, while
leaving the other layers intact. Typically, the
selected layer will stamp down to the layer below it.
To merge a layer with the layer below it:
Make sure that the two layers or layer sets you
1
want to merge are visible. Select the top layer or
layer set of the pair in the Layers palette.
Choose Layer > Merge Down or Layer > Merge
2
Layer Set.
To merge all visible linked layers:
Make visible all layers or layer sets you want to
1
merge, and link them together. (See "Linking
layers" on page 209.)
Choose Layer > Merge Linked or choose
2
Merged Linked from the Layers palette menu.
To merge a clipping group:
Make visible all the layers in the group that you
1
want to merge (any hidden layers in the group are
discarded when you merge).
Select the base layer in the group.
2
Choose Layer > Merge Group, or choose Merge
3
Group from the Layers palette menu.
To merge all the visible layers in an image:
Hide any layers or layer sets you do not want to
1
merge. Make sure that no layers are linked.
Choose Layer > Merge Visible, or choose Merge
2
Visible from the Layers palette menu.
To merge all visible layers into a new layer
and create a new empty layer, hold down Alt
(Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and choose
Layer > Merge Visible. The original layers remain
intact.
To stamp a layer or linked layers:
Make sure that the two layers or linked layers
1
you want to merge are visible. Select the top layer
of the pair.
Press Ctrl+Alt+E (Windows) or
2
Command+Option+E (Mac OS).
To stamp linked layers, select one of the linked
3
layers, and press Ctrl+Alt+E (Windows) or
Command+Option+E (Mac OS). The selected
layer is stamped with the contents from the other
linked layers.
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 6.0 247
User Guide