gallowsroad
join:2004-08-09
Tulsa, OK
| [Help] PSE3 Layers Question
This is probably a simple question, but I haven't found a useful answer to it yet.
When using the Layer drop down menu, there are 3 options for putting existing layers together:
Merge Layers
Merge Visible
Flatten Image
Can anyone tell me the technical or functional difference of these? Do they effect file sizes? How the different layer data is put together into a single image?
Thanks for your help.
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Ha ha haaaaaaa....ever get the feeling you've been cheated?
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altermatt
Premium
join:2004-01-22
White Plains, NY
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to gallowsroad
said by gallowsroad  :Can anyone tell me the technical or functional difference of these? Do they effect file sizes? How the different layer data is put together into a single image? I believe Elements and PSPX, which I use, are similar in this. Best as I can understand, "Merge Layers" and "Merge Visible" puts layers together retaining all the properties of those layers, and giving you lots of control---merging only visible layers, merging one layer with the one below it only, merging only layers in a single group, etc. "Flatten", IIUC, actually merges all the layers that are visible with the original background image, discarding some info, making transparency white, and nuking any hidden layers totally.
The main reason to use "Flatten" instead of "Merge all", as far as I can see (others may have more insight) is that the files size of the former is significantly smaller. So it's something to use, I would think, only on an image that's ready to go onto the web/email, when you've pretty much finished with it.
Would love to hear more insight into the differences; again, I believe this would apply to PSPX, which actually has a bit more options than Elements.
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The truth of a thing is the feel of it, not the think of it. -- Stanley Kubrick |
