Photoshop: Rasterize Shape Layer + Layer Effects (Video)

April 3, 2009 | Posted in Photoshop | 23 Comments »

This is a quick Photoshop tip for the layers palette for rasterizing shape layers combining layer effects at the same time.


Rasterize Shape Layer + Layer Effects in Photoshop from Jay Hilgert on Vimeo.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 am and is filed under Photoshop. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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23 Responses to “Photoshop: Rasterize Shape Layer + Layer Effects (Video)”

  1. Ryan Apr 3, 09 at 2:01 pm

    Jay,
    What is the advantage of rasterizing the drop shadow and stroke?
    Is it a file size thing?Another effects thing?

  2. Josh Apr 3, 09 at 2:09 pm

    I do the same, except I just create a new layer below and right-click the layer and choose merge-down… same thing though really.

    @Ryan: I do this affect usually when I need to add a second set of layer affects that will conflict with the first set – rasterize and then make the next set of effects…

  3. Ryan Apr 3, 09 at 2:16 pm

    @Josh: Ah, I figured as much. Just making sure I’m not missing another use. Thanks.

  4. inerxia Apr 3, 09 at 2:17 pm

    To merge down press Ctrl+E

  5. CarlosB Apr 3, 09 at 5:27 pm

    Thanks for the tip!

  6. Kevin Yeoh Apr 4, 09 at 3:40 am

    I always use the combination of ‘CMD-GE’. -> While selecting the layer you want to rasterize, hit cmd-G to group it, then immediately without releasing cmd key and hit E. It’s done in less than a second. Enjoy!

  7. Dino Muhic Apr 4, 09 at 4:03 pm

    Yeah, I do it the same way as Kevin. Just group and then rasterize…
    Have a nice day!

  8. Brian Gallagher Apr 5, 09 at 8:44 am

    I generally use the Smart Object option. It will turn the Shape Layer AND FX layer into a Smart Object. I find this to be NON-DESTRUCTIVE. As I believe in that philosophy in photoshop. This way if for some reason you want to change any of the FX, ie. The direction of the drop shaddow or gradient overlay, you can always open the smart object and modify it that way, however it still appears as one layer in your PSD!

  9. AndyK Apr 6, 09 at 9:32 am

    Thanks for the CMD-GE tip…

    I’ve been looking for simplified way to merge/rasterize a layer and its effects in one step… guess this is as close as it comes.

    Any reason there isn’t a simple “rasterize layer and its effects” option?

  10. Josh Apr 6, 09 at 10:13 am

    @AndyK: Probably because they are two separate functions; you can rasterize a layer and keep its affects, or you can do both…

    If you’re looking for a one-step deal (like if you plan to do this a lot) – I would look into setting an action for these steps… then it’s just a matter of hitting one key on your keyboard to get it done.

    Me personally, I do this very rarely so not a big deal to do a couple steps… But everyone has different workflows.

  11. Przemek Apr 6, 09 at 2:42 pm

    Great video. Thank Yo!

  12. Rob MacKay Apr 7, 09 at 10:53 am

    I was just thinking while reading the title, nice one! someone is going to show me how to do it properly without the new layer merge…

    And there it is… hehe.

    Its nice to see that others use the same “techniques” as I do. Thanks for the confirmation :)

  13. Vakhtang Apr 7, 09 at 2:03 pm

    Normal trick hold the dude a voice mine +1

  14. Hasan Apr 13, 09 at 2:58 pm

    Thank you!

  15. Oliver Apr 15, 09 at 6:15 am

    Thanks for this good tip. I’ve been looking for an easier way to do this and from now on I will have to use this method to make it easier for me. I might have to set up an action to do this as I would be using it a lot.

  16. ed hardy shirts Aug 5, 09 at 1:44 am

    I was just thinking while reading the title, nice one! someone is going to show me how to do it properly without the new layer merge…

  17. melanie Aug 27, 09 at 6:01 pm

    thanks, great tips

  18. huybin Sep 25, 09 at 4:04 am

    select layer – convert to smart object – rasterize layer. :)

  19. huybin Sep 25, 09 at 4:06 am

    Or:

    ctrl G (group) – ctrl E (merge) :)

  20. Miriam Nov 11, 09 at 3:40 am

    This is so helpful! Thanx so much for sharing.

  21. James Jan 14, 10 at 4:55 am

    Thanks so much! Annoying to color separate layers and have to leave the layers with effects without being merged.

  22. Multiwp Jan 17, 10 at 5:46 pm

    Great tip. thank you.

  23. Heyman Feb 11, 10 at 3:56 am

    Thank You! Best tip in years!
    Cheers

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