Automation Question

Hi folks, newbie to the board. I'm using Photoshop CS6 and have hit an issue that I can't get to the bottom of and was hoping someone could help.

I've completed an image for a client. The original involves many layers, and I have got to the point when I want to merge everything down into a PDF for them to send to their printers.

Problem I am having is that when I try to directly save as a PDF or merge down the layers in a copy of my main PSD file, I am losing certain layer styles.

I have tried creating a blank layer below an offending layer and hitting CTRL + E, I have tried creating a blank layer, hiding all but the offending layer and blank layer and merging visible, I have tried Layer - Rasterize Layer Style, I have tried turning the layer into a smart object and then rasterizing (I lost the layer style as soon as I turned it into a smart object, even though it is still present in the smart object itself), and I have tried turning the layer into a group and merging the group. I have also tried saving the file in a number of different formats to no avail. I don't know what else I can try and why none of this has worked! I've also tried right clicking on the FX in the layer palette and chosen "Create Layers" at which point I get a dialog: "Some aspects of the effects cannot be reproduced with layers", and I get the same result. Most noticeable style that disappears is the drop shadow.

Weird thing is this isn't the case for every layer. I've particularly noticed it happens on text layers that have been text warped. However I've tried rasterizing them before trying to merge and that hasn't helped so I can't see how that is the problem.

I hope someone can help, I am totally stumped. If it makes a difference the mode is CMYK Color, 8 bit.

James

I have seen this image before and we may have used it a while back. With a whole new set of players, I feel it's safe to bring it back in a new challenge.

No comments from the cheap seats on the condition of her skin. This is a lovely young woman and I would hope that we can all treat her image with respect.

I encourage everyone to give it a try even if your new to Photoshop. All participants should be prepared to explain the techniques they have been using, as we can't learn or help without some idea as to how it was accomplished.

Good luck!



Here is my 1st attempt.

edit: I start by opening the original and duplicating it and then turning off the original layer.
I create a new layer. This is the layer that I will do all of the following adjustments on.

I started by using the following tools and settings.
Healing Brush Tool - Mode= normal - Source= Sampled - Clone sample mode= Current level and below.
Spot Healing Brush Tool - Mode= Normal - Type= Content aware - Sample cloned data from composited data= Sample all layers.
Brush Tool - Mode= Normal - Opacity= 100% - Flow= 1%

This is the image (Layer A) after only using the tools above and one added Levels Adjustment Layer.



edit: I then select the uppermost layer (Levels Adjustment layer) and hit Shift>Option>Command + E to stamp all visible layers. I then name this layer A.
I highlight all other layers except layer A and the original background layer and group them. I then turn off the group.

I then start where the tutorial starts with only the layer A turned on.

Here is the image after using a skin softening technique described in this video:

I have Photoshop CC and I loaded a PSD file into it with many layers.

Somebody created the PSD design for me.

I am trying to export all layers separately but when I go to Scripts >> Export Layers to Files, it kinda mixes a particular layer with all other layers.

So I can never get a layer on its own.

Have a look at one of these export below. The top shade should be on its own, but its accompanied by the bottom layer also. Every other file is also accompanied by the bottom layer. Any idea how I can just export all layers on their own?



Any suggestions?

JH

I have some questions about a new layer vs. a layer copy. Let's say I am retouching a head shot. First I copy the Background layer (Ctrl-J) and clear up blemishes with the Spot healing brush. Next I want to soften some skin shine with the Patch tool and I want that on it's own layer. As I have tried various ways of doing this, it appears that I have copy either the Blemish layer or the Background. If I copy the Background layer, the the stacking order is critical: it has to be below the Blemish layer for the blemish fix to show. Copying the Blemish layer, then the Blemish fix is part of the Shine layer which defeats the purpose of a separate layer. New layer does not work for using the Patch tool, or I may be doing some completely wrong.

Then add another skin fix like soften the skin (Gaussian blur) and I'm really tied up with stacking order, etc.

Can someone help me with the correct order/procedure for creating layers that would be used like above.

Mixed up...

Todd

I used to know it but can't remember anymore and after a long search online, still can't figure it out.

Ok, I have a bunch of layers and I want to make a lasso selection on the top layer and then use whatever the correct keyboard shortcut is to make a new layer with a merge of all the underlying layers made in the lasso selection area.

I know I can cntrl-alt-shift E and stamp a new layer on top of the stack with a merged version of all the layers below and then make a lasso selection and cntrl-J that to a new layer, then delete the cntrl-alt-shift E layer...but I would like to save the step of having to make the merged layer first. There is a keyboard short cut for this but I just cant find it.

Any of you pro's have the answer to this? Would really appreciate it.

Thanks!!

I've just discovered the existence of the Knockout feature in the Layer Blending Options. If you select Deep Knockout it allows your current layer to bypass all intermediate layers below it and instead blend only with the original, bottom Background layer.

I tried a few experiments and got Deep Knockout to work, but it only seems to work if the original background layer is present and intact. If I delete or rename the background layer, or substitute something else as my bottom layer, the Deep Knockout doesn't recognize this new bottom layer as the "Background" and drills right past it down to emptiness---an entire screen of blank pixels.

How do I take the bottom-most layer of my stack and redefine it as a Background, so that Deep Knockout will recognize it? (Also, I've never understood why Photoshop even bothers with the background layer, what special properties it has, and what advantage it provides vesus any other "normal" layer that sits at the bottom of the stack.)

Thanks

I had a situation earlier where I had about 50 layers, each with there own specific layer fx, but then I wanted to add a color outline to all of them.

Now, because the other fx are all different, is there a way I can just copy the stroke to all layers, instead of entering every layer, one by one, & setting it manually.

Hallo everybody,
following a tut about Photoshop compositing, I have to create a fake shadow on the ground. I make it pretty good (see image 1) using tre different layer copy with different blendings mode and Opacity.




But when i Merge three layer i loose my semitransparent shadow...it becomes completely black, at the starting point...
(see image 2)



What it wrong?

And than, if I want to blur the (unique) faked shadow layer, how can i male it without blurring all layers of the document? I try to use an empty layer as a Clipping mask, and I applied blur to it, without results...
please help!

Thx!

Hi all!
We're using photoshop to prepare assets for a game engine, and i'm trying to find a good workflow, which i can then teach to my artist.
At this point, i have an image with five layers. 12345

Layers 2-5 each have a layer mask on them.

Now what i want to do is, copy the layer mask of layer 2, and paste it into the Red colour channel of layer 1
then mask of layer 3 into the green channel of layer 1
layer 4 into the blue channel
and layer 5 into the alpha channel

So the result is that the channels of that layer will each look identical to the layer masks, and thus layer 1 will look like a wierd (but programatically meaningful) mishmash of colours.

I'm having some problems though.




Apologies for the massive image.
This is the green channel that i've gained from the above procedure. The big gradiented circle in the middle is what i made, but for some reason i have this white stripe down the left side too. I have no idea what that is or why it's there. It appears on both he green and blue channels when i paste in a mask. But if you look at the channel image in the right hand panel, it doesn't seem to have a stripe down it.

the stripe is definitely there, it's affecting the main image, and its annoying me.

any thoughts what might be causing that?

The attached picture is the black silhouette of a bass with transparent background (on its layer) but when I isolated it and did a background eraser a remnant of gray outline remains in many areas of the picture (this can be seen by turning on the black layer also in the file). I have tried to do additional color eraser to no avail. Can someone help me get this gray gone and leave only the black on the layer. I would like to know what tools and techniques you use as well. Your help is appreciated.
Heck I cant get the .psd to attach so I added i made examples below the first with the outline and transparent background looks good but when you put it on a black background (image2) you see the outlines in gray that I want to get rid of or turn black. Either way the goal would be when I turn on the black background the fish should disappear.
Thanks,
Dino