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What Does It Mean to Flatten an Image in Photoshop?

Last updated on September 24, 2022 @ 2:25 pm

When you flatten an image in Photoshop, you are essentially taking all of the layers that make up that image and combining them into a single layer. This is generally done when you are ready to save the image for use outside of Photoshop, or when you need to reduce the file size of the image.

There are a few different ways to flatten an image in Photoshop, but the most common is to use the Layer > Flatten Image menu item. This will take all of the layers in your image and combine them into a single layer.

You can also access this menu item by pressing Shift+Ctrl+Alt+E on your keyboard.

Once you have flattened your image, you will not be able to edit the individual layers anymore. This means that you need to be sure that you are happy with all of the changes that you have made before flattening the image. You can always undo the flatten operation by pressing Ctrl+Z, but this will only work if you have not saved your file since flattening it.

What Does It Mean to Flatten an Image in Photoshop?

PRO TIP: When flattening an image in Photoshop, it is important to note that any layers that are not locked or hidden will be flattened as well. This means that any changes made to those layers will be permanent and cannot be undone. Therefore, it is crucial to make sure that all desired changes have been made to the image before flattening it.

Flattening an image in Photoshop is simply combining all layers into one single layer. This is often done before saving the file for other purposes, or when reducing file size is necessary. Once an image is flattened, individual layers can no longer be edited.

Madison Geldart

Madison Geldart

Cloud infrastructure engineer and tech mess solver.