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5 Merging and Blending Layers

There are many reasons to merge multiple layers into one – first and foremost, to save disk space when you no longer need to work on separate layers. Sometimes it is useful to temporarily merge edited layers into an interim pixel layer to which you can apply a filter or any other operation that can only be applied to a pixel layer.

Other forms of layer merge include smart merges that enable you to create new images with extended dynamic range or enhanced depth of field.

This chapter introduces basic merging techniques and uses hands-on examples to illustrate how they work.

5.1 Merge or Flatten

There are many cases ...

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