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js09
09-25-2008, 01:56 PM
few questions some of you may know the answer to

on one of my flyers i had the logo itself split into 2 or 3 groups and like 4 layers on top of that. what is the best way to merge all those layers/groups together while still maintaining them? keep in mid i want to merge just these selected layers, NOT the entire document.

my workaround was to hide everything else on my document (the flyer content, etc.) and do a merge all copy (CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+E) so that i'd get a new logo layer with just the logo layer/groups on it. is there an easier way to do this?

additionally, is it possible to give an abstract object a certain fade out consistent along all edges? for example, say i have some polygon and want to give the entire perimeter a 4 pixel fade out? layer masks is very limited for this type of thing so i don't think that's the solution.

thanks.
morea
09-25-2008, 01:58 PM
what program are you using?
js09
09-25-2008, 02:14 PM
oh, sorry. Photoshop CS3.
urstwile
09-26-2008, 03:28 AM
I would convert the desired layers to a Smart Object. That brings everything together into a single layer, but maintains the editability of the original layers, so that you don't have to keep copies of the original pre-merged layers, you just edit them via the edit Smart Objects option.
garricks
09-26-2008, 04:09 AM
*sneaks up and licks Urstwile's brain* Mmmm, good solution! om nom nom.
urstwile
09-26-2008, 04:15 AM
Oooh, that tickled!

I love smart objects. :)
garricks
09-26-2008, 04:58 AM
I love smart objects. :)
Like your brain? :p
urstwile
09-26-2008, 05:30 AM
:o
js09
09-26-2008, 01:20 PM
I would convert the desired layers to a Smart Object. That brings everything together into a single layer, but maintains the editability of the original layers, so that you don't have to keep copies of the original pre-merged layers, you just edit them via the edit Smart Objects option.

awesome! going to have to try this tonight =)
garricks
09-26-2008, 01:41 PM
See? You are awesome! :D

<---needs to learn more about smart objects in Photoshop.
Broacher
09-26-2008, 04:10 PM
Ursty, maybe you could write a book: "SmartObjects for Dummies".

Me, I'm beginning to suspect that SmartObjects were invented by Adobe just after acquiring major stockholdings in hard drive manufacturers.

We were talking about this (and other things) at the lunch table yesterday-- how as software progresses, the main movement seems to be in finding ways to avoid design commitment... under the guise of integrated media workflows, of course.

But I do sometimes wonder if we are all becoming designer wimps because there's almost always an 'out' to the decisions we make on screen now... and more coming. 'Fear of Commitment' is itself, a very useful tool to be forced to arrive at a solution-- and hone your visual/mental skills.