How to merge animation layers in PS?

[Mike Gondek]

From the layers palette flyout menu (black arrow top right of palette) choose flatten to merge all layers into one. You can also select indivudal layers and choose merge down Command E on Mac or Ctrl E on Pc

[Thai Tran]

Thanks for the response, Mike. However…

Merging layers like one would do normally, does not work in the animation palette for some reason. The animation layers (I guess they’re called video “layers”) will merge alright, but all the frames in the layer will only be the frame you merged on.

So for example, let’s say you had an animation of a bouncing ball over 30 frames that you had done on multiple layers, for whatever reason. If you had your timeline marker parked on the frame where it is up in the air and you proceeded to merge all the layers, then your merged layer will only show the ball up in the air across all frames of your animation.

There should be a way to merge all your animated frames down into one layer for easy editing of your animation. But I can’t seem to find one.

“If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried in the first place.”

[Ekim Wahs]

I you used video layers for all the animation, use render video to render a video of the composited layers.

Mike Shaw
Photoshop QE

[Teunis Sterkenburg]

I was googling for just your question, but have now found the answer by myself. You can just select the two (or more) video layers you want to merge and then choose “convert to smart object”

Cheers,
Jonathan

[Michael Colarik]

Thanks Ekim!! I didn’t think of that.

Yes. I feel this is best solution over the smart object suggested, because the SmtObj doesn’t truly flatten the pixel data to allow you to erase or use brush tool directly on. However, you can use the “Transform” to modify, and that might be all you need.

STEPS:
1) You can solo the layers you want to keep by putting in folder and “Alt+Click” the visibility eye.
2) Then use the “Render Video” from the panel option to export a PNG sequence with NO compression.
3) Now “Alt+Click” the visibility eye again to return to previous visibility settings.
4) Lastly, go to Layer > Video Layer > Import from File and select the first frame of the sequence and PS will bring it in as a video layer.

Now you can use brushes/eraser on the pixel data!!

[Michael Colarik]

**Quick update: Pending your PNG Sequence…in Step 2 it might be a good idea to use compression as it greatly reduces filesize. Seems like it would be same as “Save As for Web”