Welles

I'm going nuts trying to figure out an action or any command which will allow me to take a layer with a complex style applied and 'rasterize' the effects. This comes in handy when you have to apply a plugin to the result. Understandably many plugins won't work on a layer with a style applied. I tried adding a new layer and merge down. No go. Linking doesn't work. Making layers doesn't always work although with a single simple effects followed by merge down it does.

I have a project with twenty layers which need this and I've changed my mind on the original style 4 times so far which means 80 repeats of New Layer, Link to Style's Layer and Merge Linked...aargh!

Am I missing something obvious, or does anyone have a clever idea?

Thanks,
Welles
[confused]

kiwi

Not positive I understood completely ,but how about make a new layer,hold down Opt {alt windows}and select merge visible from the side menu?

Welles

This particular image has 34 layers, twenty of which have layer styles applied and then need to be 'rasterized' before I can run a plugin on each of the layers. To achieve my goal via merge visible, I would have to turn off 33 other layers. The most simple technique I know to date is to add a new layer, link it to the layer I wish to 'rasterize' and merge the two. I want an action to which I can apply a key command so the process is automatic.

Actually what I want is a Layer > Rasterize > Styles command available from the Layer menu which I could then apply a key command. Presently, that's not an option.

Is that any clearer or am I still too obscure? \:]

Rantin Al

Welles, Just take a merged snapshot and put it into a new layer or document.
Variations:
1. Select All, Copy Merged, (New document), Paste.
2. New Layer, Alt Merged Visible.
3. Snapshot function from the History menu. (I think \:] )

I use method 1 quite often, record as an action and assign a hotkey.
Wheech! Done!

Cheers Al.

Ah! Noticed new requirement.

Build the effect up in Layer Sets, gives a bit of layer control for on & off.
It think it should be possible to create an automated repeatable action for what you want.
I'll see if I can figure something.

Cheers again, Al.

Blinky2004

Right-click on the "f" icon on the layer and choose "Create Layer(s)".

I suggest though that first you put your layer into a group layer so that when it expands, all the effect layers are contained and easy to see.

Is this what you're talking about? :B

Welles

Rantin Al,

A merged snapshot takes a pic of the entire image, yes? I want to keep all my layers editable not create a new image.

Here's what Im after. I take layer 22 (just as an example) and apply a complex layer style. Now I want to run a plugin on layer 22. It won't work on a layer with 'live' styles. I have to rasterize the style prior to running the plugin which is my next step. I still need layer 22 to be an individual layer at that time for there is further manipulation required after the plugin is run.

Thanks for your thoughts (and Kiwi's too.)

Welles

Hi Mark,

Sort of...

Basically what I want to do is create layers and then merge them all so I have one layer to which I intend to apply a plugin. I want to do it with one command because on this particular piece I've repeated New Layer then linking it to the styled layer and merged the linked layers about 80 times. This happens to be an action I perform a great deal so I want a short cut.

Rantin Al

Web conferencing. [bustagut] Well done Mark

Order, Order, One singer one song.

2. New layer > Alt Merged Visible will put the snapshot into the new layer but will leave the original styled layer editable.

Welles

[quote="Rantin Al"2. New layer > Alt Merged Visible will put the snapshot into the new layer but will leave the original styled layer editable.[/quote]

Yes, but don't I then have to manipulate the visibility of the layers? In a multi layer document that becomes a chore.

Perhaps I'm not describing what I'm after very well but I don't want multiple steps. I can achieve exactly what I'm after with two key commands and one mouse click now. I want to get it down to one key command.

Rantin Al

For the visibility factor, select the layer and Show/ Hide the layers.
Alternatively, include "hide snapshot" at the end of the action sequence.

If you already have the commands, just record them as an action and assign a custom hotkey.

I'm trying to figure at the moment how to automate the "step to next layer" without having to specify the number of layers. So that it would work for any number of layers.

Al.