PS - Layers / Flatten Question

[bbg404]

Morning all im quite new to using layers and stuff and thought seen as it looks like I got some good photos from my trips to the lakes it put some more effort in to PP ...... using Nik Efex Plug Ins

So ive got 4 layers, The original, Colour Efex, Dfine 2 then Sharpener Pro.... (The layer names aren't important the most important thing is the next step)

So I've got my image I'm happy with I highlight all layers and save as TIFF to keep those separate layers in case I need to come and revisit at some point

Then (at this point I'm lost) with those layers highlighted I've been Right Clicking and Flattening Image then Saving as JPEG..... This is where it goes wrong soon as I click Flatten image I loose the detail and Changes I've made in the layers and just left with the original image.....

Should I just NOT be Flattening the Image and Saving?????????

 

[GeeJay57]

Flattening the image essentially combines all of the layers into one, so all of the adjustments are mushed together. If you're using Photoshop, try saving the original layered file as a psp file which will retain all of the layer information. Then save the flattened file as a JPEG. I tend to use modified filenames for each step, e.g.

Original files
IMG 1234.CR2
IMG 1234.JPG

IMG 1234_Copy.PSP
IMG 1234 Cropped Flattened.JPG

 

[bbg404]

Flattening the image essentially combines all of the layers into one, so all of the adjustments are mushed together. If you're using Photoshop, try saving the original layered file as a psp file which will retain all of the layer information. Then save the flattened file as a JPEG. I tend to use modified filenames for each step, e.g.

Original files
IMG 1234.CR2
IMG 1234.JPG

IMG 1234_Copy.PSP
IMG 1234 Cropped Flattened.JPG

well yeah that's what I thought It would do Combine all layers in to 1 image and that's kind of what I've been doing but WHY when I Flatten the image does it look like Im loosing details i.e. reverting back to the original image??

 

[GeeJay57]

Try flattening the image without first highlighting the layers.

 

[swanseamale47]

Yes as said you don't need to highlight the layers to flatten them.

 

[bbg404]

Thanks will give it a shot next time

 

[momoka]

You will need to make sure that the layers that you want to have flattened in to your final image are visible with the little eye visible at the side of the layer.