Merging Layers - Adobe PHOTOSHOP 5.0 User Manual

268 CHAPTER 11
Using Layers
To delete a layer:
Select the layer in the Layers palette.
1
Delete the layer:
2
Click the Trash button at the bottom of the
•
Layers palette, and click Yes.
Choose Layer > Delete Layer.
•
Choose Delete Layer from the Layers
•
palette menu.
To delete a selected layer automatically,
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click
(Mac OS) the Trash button at the bottom of the
Layers palette. You can also drag the layer name
in the Layers palette to the Trash button.

Merging layers

Merging layers combines several layers into one
and keeps file size manageable. When you've
finalized the characteristics 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 trans-
parent areas in the merged layers remains trans-
parent. You can also merge the layers in a linked
group or clipping group. For information on
creating clipping groups, see "Creating clipping
groups" on page 275.
For information on merging adjustment layers, see
"Merging adjustment layers" on page 284.
To merge a layer with the layer below it:
Make sure that the two layers you want to merge
1
are visible. Select the top layer of the pair in the
Layers palette.
2 Merge the layer:
Choose Layer > Merge Down.
•
Choose Merge Down from the Layers
•
palette menu.
To merge all visible linked layers:
Make visible all layers you want to merge, and
1
link them together, as described in "Linking
layers" on page 262.
Choose Layer > Merge Linked.
2
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.
3
To merge all the visible layers in an image:
Hide any layers you do not want to merge. Make
1
sure that no layers are linked.
Do one of the following:
2
Choose Layer > Merge Visible.
•
Choose Merge Visible from the Layers
•
palette menu.
To merge all visible layers into a new layer,
create a new empty layer, hold down Alt
(Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and choose
Layer > Merge Visible.