Design Discussion: Do You MERGE layers?

[Stinky666]

I am currently bored so I decided to just have a look through some little and simple tutorials on the Corel website (as I still use PaintShop Pro). I am not watching them because I want to do them or will do them, I just want to see how for possible future or if I can learn a new way/technique. So far I have watched only 2 videos but in each of themthey are merging layers when they "need" to.

Personally I don't merge all the time but these appear to. I can't give a specific example but I will group the layers instead of merging. Sometimes I may need to merge BUT if that is the case then I will do this but keep a "copy" of the grouped ones. So I have a layer than has a soft light layer effect on top of another and have those 2 in a group, if for some reason I NEED to merge them, I hide all other layers > merge visible copy that merged to clipboard and then undo the merge, then paste as a new layer. Unhide all the other layers needed, but hide the layers I now merged (the originals in the group)...


I never merge and leave things merged without keeping some kind of backup - seems maybe overly complicated from the above but it truly isn't it takes seconds to do.


So I am curious: do YOU merge similarly to me, the same, similar but a different method - how? Do you not "backup" stuff and you simply merge the layers needed?

[Kami]

SMART. OBJECT.

Saved on a separate smart object file, can edit separately from the main doc, has the same effect in terms of space as flattening a layer.

[elli]

The only time I merge layers is if there's no way to create the same effect with separate layers, which is rare. In that case, I similarly create and group copies of those merged layers. I maybe even go to the extreme of giving each element or effect its own layer, avoiding raster images if at all possible (opting for linked images or vectors), and using clipping masks to contain images and gradients.

Each layer has a name, and is grouped either according to how the design might be coded, or based on the effect it applies.

It's much easier to manage and make changes this way. Anytime I see someone flatten layers, such as in a video or in a mockup I've received, I feel a tinge of panic.

[Alanna 🥀🖤]

Separate them b*tches. :firm nod:

[bai]

Not until I'm done and even then I keep an XCF (Gimp file format) in case I need to spruce things up in the future. Merge with no option for undo is the debil.

[BJ McConnell]

I only merge when absolutely necessary, usually mid-project to get a desired FX over multiple layers or something. I always unmerge when done and keep a separate XCF file for anything I may need to change or use for multiple projects like badges or avatar adaptions. There's nothing worse than realizing you have the perfect layer for another project only to find you've merged something you needed separated for the new project. IMHO merging has very limited uses in graphic design.