Which merge function did you use? There is "Merge Down", "Merge Visible", "Flatten Image" etc.

Try different ones to see if they compute the amalgamation of the layers differently.

Merge linked. I can't merge them all, yet. :/

i never use more than 2 or 3 layers at a time :o

I've broken 300 layers going at once. a huge problem is that I am self-taught and while I'm SURE there's easier, more memory-savvy, less layer heavy ways to do things, I can only go with what I have stumbled upon and I know works.

*flails a whip* woo-tcshhh

Whenever I need to merge all the layers, I just use 'Flatten Image' and it works.

Oops, I missed you were looking on how to merge specific layers. I don't have an answer to that one either. ;.; I've been looking for how to do that.

*nods* I've pretty much given up and opted for flatten image too . . . it just ticks me off because I've always gotten it to work before. Flattening it completely will be REALLY inconvenient, but I think its my only option without waiting an eternity for the real answer.

hmm... yeah, that happens to me a fair bit. usually when i'm painting nipples... Oo

if i'm hopelessly lost in the layers, i simply work through to the end, and only flatten everything when everything is done.

you could try to merge them by groups -- light layers, multiply layers, etc.

anyway, sorry i can't be much help. i hope you find something that works!

I considered that, unfortunately they are so mixed up its not really an option. I'd just go to the end too if this pic wasn't as complex as it is, and I'm ionly running on a gig of RAM here. Poor PC was reaching its limit on it. XD

Taoren had some tutorials on it, if you havent seen i can send you a link if you want? it may find the problem if it hasnt been solved yet.

I'll check, thanks! :D

try putting them all into a Set, then merging the Set.

I have NO idea how to do that. :/

Have you tried help?

... I wish I could help. I used to work with Photoshop 3.0 and I never worked with layers.

(hugs)


ToRo

Do you really need to merge the layers? When doing layer intensive pieces, I usually just stack layers and manage them in groups. It can slow you down on really big stuff, but usually isn't too godawful. If it's a finished area of the piece you just want to lock down from changes, I'd just shove all the layers into a group, lock them and collapse the group so you don't see individual layers. You can then make the entire group visible/hidden.

Alternatively, you could copy the layers to be merged into a new empty file, use the 'flatten image' and then re-import the single merged layer.

Hopefully one of these helps. If not let me know, and I'll search through my photoshop CS2 guide (big as a telephone book) to see if it offers any help.

Unfortunately I know nothing about grouping, or how to do it, but even if I did this is a massively layer intensive piece. If I had not been able to get this same deal to work twice before already (so I know it can be done! it's always worked previously!) I'd be sitting at probably 500 or so layers, at 300 dpi, 3300x2200 pixels or so . . . BIG ART. And not good for my pokey old machine.

I tried moving them to a new transparent file to flatten those and then move it back as one, but I couldn't get them to align right again. *headdesks*

I think I'm just going to have to suck it up and flatten the whole thing. I don't want to, but I can't putz around on research any more, I have to get this done finally. I ordered a CS2 bible myself today so on the next one, at least I will know what I did wrong. But thanks for your help. :)

I'm surprised it didn't line up automatically... Usually when I use the duplicate layer, it'll pop up in the exact same position. I use the layer menu command 'duplicate layer' then select destination as the new file, and that will pop it up in a file exactly the same size with everything in the same position. Then when I bring it back, just using the same commands usually line everything up. Sorry it didn't work out for you, believe me, I know how maddening photoshop can be at times.

Well it sounds like a great pic! cant wait to see it, but im sorry i dont think there is any way to sort that out ^^ good luck though

If I got this right, you need to always merge down the layer right on top of the normal 100%, then it won't mess up the result.

For example, if you have:
L2 - Pin Light 75%
L1 - Color Burn 25%
L0 - Normal 100%

Select L1, and Layer -> Merge Down (Ctrl-E), and then do the same with the remaining L2. If you have multiple sets of those, you need to be careful that those shadings and highlights are actually on top of the layer you're merging them on, otherwise it'll get messy. That's why it's useful to try to group the layers (it's that little folder like icon on the bottom of the layer palette), it's easy to hide/show the nonessential, and see if all the shadings are in their proper places.

If I could just get a penny from every stroke I've done on a wrong layer... ^^; ... I'd keep doing that for living!

Oh, and aligning the layers is a bit sneaky too, it's automatic if the whole layer area is filled with something (or the corners, rather), but if it's just a spot in the middle, I think the positioning is almost random... try an aligning dot in the corner of every layer that needs to be swapped around?
... hopefully there's something useful here, Photoshop can be a bit tricky but there's usefully many routes around the problem too. ^^

I think farhoug has it right, maybe... though I've never worked on something so intense that it ended up having that problem...BUT since I'm guessing you might not want to Merge all the way DOWN though, you might just want to merge the bottom 2 together and then work your way up adding on layer above it until you're down(merge down will merge all the way to the bottom)

As my instructor told me about computer art. "It's not hard to get your art to show up correctly on to [the monitor]; it's just hard to get it from [the monitor] onto [the paper]"... think that also qualifies in flattening that image... or having your zoom NOT at an odd number so it shows up incorrectly (I did that a lot XD )

Hope we helped ya!

Just as a side note, to group, look at your layer box. Notice the little folder? When you hover over it it will say somethin like "Add Group" or some such. Click it and youll end up with a handy little folder in your list of layers. From there you just drag the layers you want onto/into the folder and if the little arrow next to it points down youll see them (any layers in the group) offset slightly. You can rearrage them within the group as well so they remain in the right order, and then when youre done with whatever is in the group, you can click that little aforementioned arrow to hide the layers in the group so they dont clutter your list.

Its handy for putting certain areas together in a peice. Like say you have 7 layers for the character in the pic, 3 just for the eyes, and 8 for the background. Using Groups, instead of having 18 layers listed, you could have 3 groups showing instead (and say youre working on the eye) plus the 3 Eye Layers. It'll look something like this (assuming you name the groups):

> Character Group
v Eye Group
_ Layer10 90%
_ Layer9 75%
_ Layer8 100%
> Background Group

Try fiddling with it in a new test picture if youre worried about messing with this intense peice of yours. Just remember that when grouping, its easier to keep like-with-like so you know what youre looking at. ^-^ Hope this helps a little.