The basic way to merge two layers

To merge two layers in Photoshop, right-click on the top layer you want to combine and select Merge Down from the menu. This flattens the top layer into the one directly below it. The layers become a single layer, and any transparency in the top layer is replaced with the content of the layer beneath it.

You can also use the menu: go to Image > Flatten Image if you want to merge all visible layers at once into a single layer. This is the fastest route when you're ready to combine everything, but it removes all transparency and fills empty areas with your background color (usually white).

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a layer and choose Merge Down to combine it with the layer directly below, keeping the layer structure intact otherwise.
  • Use Image > Flatten Image to merge all visible layers into one, but this removes transparency and cannot be undone without Edit > Undo.
  • Merge Visible (right-click menu) combines only the layers you've made visible, leaving hidden layers untouched.
  • Create a new layer above your work and use Merge Down on it to combine multiple layers while preserving the originals in a backup.
  • Smart Objects and adjustment layers have their own merge rules and may not merge the same way as regular raster layers.

When to use Merge Down versus Flatten Image

Merge Down is the safer choice when you're still working and might need to undo or adjust individual layers later. It combines only two layers at a time, so you keep more control over what stays separate. Use this when you've finished editing one part of your image and want to clean up your layers panel without losing the ability to go back.

Flatten Image is for when you're completely done editing and ready to save. It merges everything into one layer, removes all transparency, and fills any empty space with your background color. Once you flatten, you cannot separate the layers again without using Edit > Undo, and only if you haven't closed the file. If you think you might need the layers later, save a copy as a Photoshop file (.psd) before flattening.

Merging only the layers you want to see

If you have hidden layers you don't want to merge, right-click on any visible layer and select Merge Visible. This combines only the layers you've made visible (the eye icon is showing), and leaves hidden layers completely untouched. It's useful when you're working with multiple versions of the same image in one file and want to merge only the current version.

Before you use Merge Visible, make sure the layers you want to keep separate are hidden. Click the eye icon next to a layer name to hide it. The layers that still show an eye icon will be the ones that merge together.

How to merge layers without losing the originals

If you want to merge layers but keep a backup of the original separate layers, create a new empty layer above all your work. Then right-click that empty layer and choose Merge Down repeatedly until all your layers are combined into that new layer. Your original layers stay below, hidden or visible, and you can always go back to them if you need to make changes.

Another approach is to duplicate your layer group or use Image > Duplicate to create an entire copy of your document. Then flatten or merge the copy while keeping the original with all its layers intact. This takes more disk space but gives you a complete backup before you commit to merging.

What happens to layer properties when you merge

When you merge layers, the blend mode, opacity, and layer effects of the top layer are applied permanently to the merged result. You cannot adjust them afterward. If you have a layer set to Screen mode at 50% opacity, merging it down will bake that effect into the pixels themselves.

Adjustment layers and Smart Objects behave differently. An adjustment layer cannot be merged down in the normal way — you must first convert it to a regular layer by right-clicking and selecting Rasterize Layer, then merge. Smart Objects will rasterize (convert to regular pixels) when you merge them, which means you lose the ability to edit the original Smart Object content.

Merging layers in layer groups

If your layers are organized into groups (folders), you can merge only the layers within one group. Right-click inside the group and select Merge Down to combine layers within that group only. The group itself stays in place, and layers outside the group are not affected.

To merge an entire group into a single layer, right-click the group folder itself and choose Merge Group (if available in your version) or select all layers in the group, then use Merge Down on the top one. The merged result becomes a single layer at the position where the group was.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a merge after I close the file?

No. Once you close a Photoshop file, the undo history is gone. If you think you might need the original layers later, save your work as a .psd file before merging, then save a separate copy as a .jpg or .png for final output.

What's the difference between merge and flatten?

Merge Down combines selected layers and keeps transparency. Flatten Image merges all layers and fills transparent areas with your background color, usually white. Flatten also removes all layer information, so you cannot separate them again.

Do I lose quality when I merge layers?

No. Merging layers does not reduce quality because both layers are already raster (pixel-based) images. The pixels are simply combined. You only lose quality if you export to a compressed format like .jpg, which happens whether or not you merged.

Can I merge a Smart Object with a regular layer?

Yes, but the Smart Object will be rasterized (converted to regular pixels) during the merge. You lose the ability to edit the original Smart Object content afterward. If you need to keep the Smart Object editable, rasterize it first as a separate step so you know what you're doing.

What if I merge layers by accident?

Use Edit > Undo immediately, or press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac). If you've done other work since the merge, you can step back through the undo history by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Z or Command+Option+Z repeatedly until you reach the point before the merge.