This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Flattening and saving files
When you finish editing all the layers in your image, you can merge or flatten layers to reduce the file size. Flattening combines all the layers into a single background layer. However, you cannot edit layers once you’ve flattened them, so you shouldn’t flatten an image until you are certain that you’re satisfied with all your design decisions. Rather than flattening your original PSD files, it’s a good idea to save a copy of the file with its layers intact, in case you need to edit a layer later.
To appreciate what flattening does, notice the two numbers for the file size in the status bar at the bottom of the document window. The first number represents what the file size would be if you flattened the image. The second number represents the file size without flattening. This lesson file, if flattened, would be 2–3MB, but the current file is much larger. So flattening is well worth it in this case.
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Select any tool but the Type tool (
), to be sure that you’re not in text-editing mode. Then choose File > Save (if it is available) to be sure that all your changes have been saved in the file.Choose Image > Duplicate.
In the Duplicate Image dialog box, name the file 04Flat.psd, and click OK.
Leave the 04Flat.psd file open, but close the 04Working.psd file.
Choose Flatten Image from the Layers panel menu.
Only one layer, named Background, remains in the Layers panel.
Choose File > Save. Even though you chose Save rather than Save As, the Save As dialog box appears, because this document has not yet been saved to storage.
Make sure the location is the Lessons/Lesson04 folder, and then click Save to accept the default settings and save the flattened file.
You have saved two versions of the file: a one-layer, flattened copy as well as the original file, in which all the layers remain intact.
You’ve created a colorful, attractive postcard. This lesson only begins to explore the vast possibilities and the flexibility you gain when you master the art of using Photoshop layers. You’ll get more experience and try out different techniques for layers in almost every chapter as you move forward in this book.
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EXTRA CREDIT: CREATING A PATTERN
Photoshop offers several features that work together to help you make patterns quickly and easily. You’ll create a pattern for a new border around the artwork you created in this lesson.
In the Lesson04 folder, open 04End.psd, save it as 04End_Pattern.psd, and then choose Layer > Flatten Image.
Choose Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color, name it Pattern Background, click OK, use the Color Picker to specify white, and click OK.
Choose File > Place Linked; in the Lesson04 folder, select PalmLeaf.ai and click Place; click OK in the Open as Smart Object dialog box; and then when the graphic appears in the document, press Return or Enter. This is vector art from Adobe Illustrator, but you can create a pattern using only Photoshop layers.
Zoom out to at 30% magnification or less, and then choose View > Pattern Preview. If an alert message appears, click OK. Pattern Preview simulates what the document would look like if tiled as a pattern, by repeating it outside the canvas.
Draw a colored dot with the Ellipse tool to add another element to the pattern.
Refine your pattern by moving, rotating, or scaling the leaf and dot layers until you’re happy with the pattern preview. Feel free to add more layers to the pattern.
Select the layers that make up your pattern, choose Edit > Define Pattern, name it Leaf, and click OK.
Choose View > Pattern Preview to deselect it, and hide the layers that make up your pattern.
Select only the Pattern Background layer, choose Layer > New Fill Layer > Pattern, name it Border, and click OK. In the Pattern Fill dialog box, select your new pattern from the pop-up menu of thumbnail previews. Reduce the Scale and adjust the Angle until it looks good, then click OK.
Unlock the Background layer by clicking its lock icon, and drag to stack it above the Border layer. Choose Edit > Free Transform, and scale it down to reveal the new border.
Your new pattern is added to the Patterns panel, and you can edit the Leaf layer at any time by double-clicking it in the Layers panel.
Pattern Preview helps you visualize a pattern you create.
You can adjust pattern fill layer settings.
Scale down the design to reveal the pattern fill layer behind it.
EXTRA CREDIT: EXPLORING DESIGN OPTIONS WITH ADOBE STOCK
Visualizing different ideas for a design project is easier when you can experiment with images. The Libraries panel in Photoshop gives you direct access to millions of Adobe Stock images. We’ll add a stock image of a ukulele to this lesson’s composition.
In the Lesson04 folder, open 04End.psd. Save it as 04End_Working.
In the Layers panel, select the Beach layer.
In the Libraries panel, type ukulele into the search field, make sure the search field menu (
) is set to Adobe Stock, and locate any vertical image of a ukulele on a white background.Drag the ukulele image into the document. Drag a corner handle to proportionally scale the image to about 25% of its original size. Apply the changes to finish importing the image.
Choose Current Library from the search field menu (
). The image was added to your library. Click the 
to clear the search.Now remove the background. With the ukulele layer selected, choose the Magic Wand tool (
)in the Tools panel, and click anywhere within the white background. If the image you picked has an ID number in a corner, Shift-drag around the numbers with the Rectangular Marquee tool to include them in the selection. Alt/Option-click the Add Layer Mask button (
) at the bottom of the Layers panel.With the Move tool, drag the ukulele to the upper-left corner so that it partially overlaps the small photo of the beach view. You’ve just added an Adobe Stock photo to your postcard image!
Licensing an image
Until it’s licensed, the ukulele image is a low-resolution version with an Adobe Stock watermark. You don’t have to license the ukulele image used here, but you must license images used in a final project. With the ukulele layer (not mask) selected, click License Asset in the Properties panel and follow the prompts. After licensing, the image is automatically replaced with a high-resolution version without a watermark. If you plan to license many images, consider an Adobe Stock monthly plan or a pack of credits.
Adobe Stock search results
Stock image in document
You’ve added a new element to your postcard using Adobe Stock!
