There are times when it's useful to create a composite layer that contains a flattened version of all visible layers
in the image. You can use a composite layer to sharpen the whole image, to create a base camp, or to copy to a new file
so you have both a flattened and a layered version of the image.
This procedure, known as stamping visible layers, is easier in Photoshop CS2 than in previous versions of the program.
It's still done with an undocumented keyboard command: Control-Alt-Shift-E (PC) or Command-Option-Shift-E (Mac). The
good news is that in CS2 that shortcut takes care of everything in one step. It creates a new layer at the top of the
layer stack, and stamps all visible layers to that new layer. In Photoshop CS, you had to create a new layer manually
before pressing Control-Alt-Shift-E, or press a knuckle-bending keyboard combination: Control-Alt-Shift-N plus E.
My wish list for the next version of Photoshop includes a real live menu command for stamping layers. I'd like to see
it in the Layers palette menu (the menu that flies out from the right side of the Layers palette). Use the comments
below if you agree. Let's get some critical mass on this feature request.
1. I agree. When I was learning PS CS for the first time a year ago, I was constantly scratching my head over some of the shortcuts. Stamp visible being the biggest problem as I didn't know what else Adobe has hidden away from the user.
Luckily, a few books later and some practical experience has made me worry less. But for a company with an emphasis on good design it does seem crazy.
Posted at 6:36AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Gordon