[DeathJester]

I have been playing around with painter..
And the one function I like in Photoshop is that you can merge layers, you can merge all, merge down, and merge visible.. How do you do this in Painter? I was able to merge down to the canvas layer...but that was it.. is there a way to just merge two layers together? And I dont mean group... Thanks.

[Jin]

Hi,

It would be helpful to know what version you're using any time you need to ask a Painter question as the versions are quite different.

Yes, first Group, then Collapse is the short answer. Default Layers with no Composite Method applied can be Grouped and Collapsed.

In Painter 6 and earlier, Composite Method effects can be lost when a Group is Collapsed, so the alternate method is to open the Layers you want to see, and use File > Clone to create an exact copy. Copy the Clone and paste it onto the original Canvas as a Layer. You can then either delete the original Group or shut its Eye icon and click the Lock icon to make it invisible and protect it from being moved or accidentally changed.

In Painter 7, a Group containing one or more Default Layers with a Composite Method applied can't be Collapsed (the Collapse menu option is greyed out), so the alternative is as described above, to use File > Clone, then copy the Clone and paste it as a Layer over the original Canvas. Delete or close and lock the original Group.

Painter 7 Water Color Layers require a slightly more complicated method in order to Collapse them. The Collapse option is greyed out for Water Color Layers because there
was an issue with it in the initial Painter 7 release causing corruption
and other unwanted results. This issue will be reopened for Painter 8.

In the meantime, here's the workaround:

1. Select the Water Color Layers and Group them.

2. Expand the Group (click the small triangle to the left of the Group
name).

3. Highlight one of the Water Color Layers and, from the Layers section
menu, choose Convert to Default Layer.

4. Repeat Step 3 for the remaining Water Color Layers.

5. Notice that these Default Layers are still in Composite Method Gel
and the Collapse option is still greyed out.

6. Change the Composite Method from Gel to Default for each of the
Default Layers in the Group.

7. Click the small triangle to the left of the Group name to close the
Group.

8. With the Group highlighted in the Layers list, from the Layers
section menu, choose Collapse.

9. You'll probably need to return the Collapsed Group, now a single Default Layer to Composite Method Gel to retain the watercolor look.

This method, adapted for generic use, is from Corel Painter Program
Manager Tanya Staples. (Step 9 was added by me.)

[DeathJester]

Thanks a ton!

Yeah, sorry about not posting what version I have.. I have ver7. The clone thing helped a lot.. You know... I find it weird after 7 revisions its still that difficult to merge layers.. hehe ah well.. they will get there..

Thanks again! much appreciated!

[-HoodZ-]

hmmm when i worked with painter one time i painted on painter and just opened up photoshop and flattened it their....

[Jin]

quote:

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Originally posted by -HoodZ-:
hmmm when i worked with painter one time i painted on painter and just opened up photoshop and flattened it their....

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Hi,

It's faster, and safer, to use File > Clone in Painter than to trust software compatibility between Painter and Photoshop (and vice-versa). If there's anything software specific in the file it may not open in the other program as expected (or as hoped).

When saving a Painter image to PSD (or any other format, it's best to make a habit of first saving it in Painter's native RIFF format to keep all Painter-specific information intact. Then, if anything goes wrong you always have that file to go back to.