How to combine layers in photoshop is certainly a big question for Adobe Photoshop users. Many of them don’t know about this technique yet when many of them are still looking for updates to improve their skills, though they already know about how to combine all layers in photoshop.
Sometimes combining multiple layers appears as a big deal while working on Photoshop. Because it allows us to combine two or more layers into a single layer, this brand new Layer allows us to manipulate a couple of images or layers easily at a time.
But obviously, this isn’t an easy task, especially for the newbies. Moreover, there are multiple ways for doing this same thing with different purposes, which aren’t naturally all known for all of us.
So today, in this article, we will learn about different techniques on how to combine layers with photoshop. So let’s drive into the entire article and learn many important things about the techniques of combining layers in photoshop.
5 different ways to combine layers in photoshop
Combining layers in photoshop is a very important thing; fortunately, there are a couple of different ways to do this. You can easily combine layers into a new layer by following them.
So in this part of the article, we’re going to discuss information about the 5 different ways to combine layers in photoshop. These techniques are the easiest and simplest ways of combining multiple images.
So let’s see how to combine two or more layers in photoshop by following some easy methods.
METHOD-1: The fastest way (using keyboard shortcut)
This is the fastest way to combine all layers; now, I will share this process in photoshop so that you do it quickly.
First, you have to get your layers on the layer panel. You can choose two or more layers as you want.
To do that, go to the File menu. Then select the Scripts > Load Files in Stack.
Step 1: Getting layers
After doing this, a pop-up menu will appear on the screen. Click on the Browse option and select your files.
Step 2: Getting layers part 2
After selecting the files, press the OK button and go back to the layer panel.
Step 3: Getting layers part 3
Now, look at the layer panel. Your selected images will be there as multiple layers, and all of them will be visible.
Step 4: Got the layers
Now it’s time to use the magical keyboard shortcut to combine these different layers into a new layer.
The keyboard shortcut is Shift-Ctrl-Alt-E for Windows, and for the Mac, it will be Shift+Command+Option+E. So press the shortcut according to the operating system you’re using.
Step 5: Layers are combined
This shortcut does what it allows you to combine multiple layers into a new layer in the layers panel. So as you can see in the above picture, you’ll get a new layer above the original layers that combines the others.
METHOD-2: Using merge visible option
This is a very simple and easy but effective way of combining different layers in photoshop. You can combine two or more layers using the merge visible options in photoshop.
At the beginning of this process, get your layers by following the guidelines we discussed in method number one. Then right-click on one or multiple layers in the layer panel.
As the following picture shows, a pop-up menu will open by right-clicking on the Layer or a couple of layers. From there, click on the Merge Visible option.
Step 1: Merge visible
You will get all of your layers combined into a new layer by clicking on this option.
Step 2: Combined
Thus this technique allows you to combine all layers just with two clicks.
If you want to learn more about this method, you can check out this link also.
METHOD-3: Combining open images
This is one of the most effective ways to combine different layers in photoshop. You can easily combine layers in Photoshop in this way.
First of all, select your desired images. To do this, follow these steps:
Select File > Scripts > Load Files into Strack > Browse and then OK.
After doing this, you can see that your selected images are gathering as different layers in the layer panel.
Step 1: Get the layers
Now save your selected layers again and give them different file names like before when you first save the images. To do that, follow these steps:
Choose File > Save > File name > Save.
Thus save all the layers gradually from the layer panel.
Step 2: Save the layers
When the layers are ultimately saved, again go to the File menu and select Scripts > Load Files into Strack and then select the Browse option and choose the layers you have already saved some time before.
Step 3: Add Open Files
After choosing the file, now, in this step, you’ll find the Add Open Files option visible.
From there, click on this option and press OK.
By doing this, a new document will be created as well as all the open images will be loaded into a single layer.
METHOD-4: Using merge clipping mask option
This is one of the most useful and very simple ways for beginners to combine four or more different layers in a single layer.
So like other methods, at the start of this process, you should have your selected layers in the layer panel.
Step 1: Get your layers
Now right-click on any of the layers. By doing this, a pop-up menu will appear. From this menu, click on the Create Clipping Mask option.
Step 2: Create Clipping Mask
Now, right-click on the clipping mask layer, and this time you will get another pop-up menu filled with a variety of layer editing options.
Step 3: Merge Clipping Mask
From this menu bar, now click on the Merge Clipping Mask option.
Step 4: Merged
Now see. All the layers are combined into a brand new layer.
METHOD-5: Combine all layers into the background layer
This last method is the easiest way to combine all layers into a new layer. This way allows you to flatten all layers in a single tap.
To do that, right-click on any layer and then select the flatten image option.
Step 1: Flatten the image
By doing this, all of your layers will be combined into the background layer in a second.
Step 2: Layers are combined
But here is a problem with this method. Though this is a simple way to combine layers, you will lose all layers by flattening them. And at this point, if you save and close the document, the layers will be lost forever, and you can never edit them again in the future.
So it will be good if you ignore this method as much as you can and try to follow the other methods very well.
How to blend layers together in photoshop
There are a couple of methods to blend layers together in photoshop. But today, we will discuss one of the most influential and simplest ways of blending images in photoshop.
Here, we will show you how to blend different layers using the Blend Mode Option. This way is easy enough to go through. So let’s see how this option works.
Step-1: Choose the images
First of all, select two different images I would like to have in the layer panel. But it would be best to catch in your mind that this option works well when you want to blend an image with a texture.
Step 1: Getting layers
So select a normal image and a texture image. It is also essential to remember that the size of these images should be the same, and you can edit the size going through the Edit menu if they are not.
Step-2: Select separate layers
After choosing the images, go to the Layers panel. Here you will see that your selected images appear as two different layers.
This time, make sure that the texture layer stays at the top of the other Layer if it doesn’t convert them, as I’ve said. Just drag and drop the layers between them to convert their position.
Step-3: Choose the Blend Mode Option
Now select the Blend Mode Option. You will get this option just next to the opacity option. Here, you will see the Blend mode is set as Normal, as you can see in the picture.
Step 2: Select normal
So now click on this option, and you’ll get a menu with multiple blend modes such as Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Soft Light, and Divide.
Select any of them as you like to get the view on your image.
Step 3: Soft light
As you can see here, we used the Soft Light option, and this is how the image can be seen after blending with this option.
FAQs
▶️What is the shortcut to combine layers in photoshop?
The secret keyboard shortcut is Shift+Ctrl+Alt+E for Windows PC users and Shift+Command+Option+E for MAC users to combine layers in Photoshop.
▶️How do you combine layers?
You can merge two multiple layers by selecting any of them and then going to LayerLayer> Merge Layers. You can also combine linked layers by choosing LayerLayer> Select Linked Layers and then merging the selected layers.
▶️How do I copy layers from one Layer to another in Photoshop?
The fastest way of doing this is simply to drag the LayerLayer you want to copy and release it on a new photoshop document. So select the Move tool or press V as an alternative to the tool > click and drag the Layer you want to copy > select the destination tab > and finally drop the copied LayerLayer and release the mouse button.
▶️Why can’t I combine layers in Photoshop?
First, make sure that the layers you want to combine are visible in the layer panel. If they aren’t visible in the panel, you can’t combine them in photoshop.
▶️How do I blend two layers in Photoshop?
The easiest way of blending two layers in photoshop is using blend mode. Select the layers > Blend Mode > change the normal option to any other.
▶️How do you link Layers in Photoshop 2022?
In order to link two or more layers or layer groups- select the layers from the layer panel and click on the Link icon from the bottom of the layer panel.
Final Verdict
Combining layers in photoshop is essential that you must know about when you are working on photoshop. So this is a quick look at how to combine all layers in photoshop using 5 different methods such as using the keyboard shortcut, merge visible option, merge clipping mask option, add open files option, or flatten image option.
So that’s all! I hope this easy photoshop tutorial will help you understand the topic better. And as time goes by, you will discover more and more photoshop ideas to combine two or more layers or groups in a new document. Because Adobe Photoshop always comes with the easiest ways of photo editing to help the users in the best way.
