Rounded Rectangle Tool and Merging Layers Problem

Jolly Wolf

I'm following this tutorial on creating a film roll effect in Photoshop:

http://oogletutorials.com/photoshop-drawing-techniques/make-a-photo-film-roll-piece

I'm stuck at Step 11, because Photoshop won't allow me to merge my copied layers down.

I used the Rounded Rectangle Tool to create a small shape. Renamed the shape layer to "film roll hole." Used transform selection to rotate the rectangle in the direction I wanted. Duplicated the shape layer is not a problem, but it will not allow me to merge the copied layer into the original.

Why??

moondog · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:09 am Post subject:

First I have to ask if you have done this on separate layers? Is the layer you're wanting to merge the TOP layer?

(I only ask as this is a common mistake that I've made a ton of times and so have others just because we get moving along too fast).

If that isn't the problem ... we'll probably need to see a screenshot ... especially of your layers pallet.

Jolly Wolf · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:41 am Post subject:

What I noticed about a new shape layer, is that is it is unnecessary to manually create a new layer first, because when you create the shape on the form, it automatically creates a new layer for the shape in the layers palette.

But, I decided to try it by creating a new layer in the palette, THEN creating the shape and I still didn't have any luck.

Here is a pic of the layers palette, and the project:

Layer Palette: http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c203/jolly_wolf/screenshots/?action=view&current=Layers.gif
Project: http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c203/jolly_wolf/screenshots/?action=view&current=Project.gif

Thanks for trying to help me

EDIT: Posted new links for pics

JW

moondog · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:33 am Post subject:

okay, just thinking that sometimes when you create a layer using a shape tool it doesn't automatically 'merge down' simply by using CTRL+E

try holding the CTRL button down and selecting the 'top' layer and the one below it. Then use CTRL+E to merge the two together. It should have the same effect.

I noticed that the tutorial was written by someone who does not use English as his first language and it may be that he/she was confused.

Let me know if that works or not

dog

66stang66 · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject:

Kind of like how in CS4 you can create an empty layer over a text layer and they wont merge (using Ctrl+E) into a rasterized layer without selecting both layers first.

moondog · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:39 pm Post subject:

right ... that's sort of what I was thinking. did it work?

dog

66stang66 · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:51 pm Post subject:

moondog · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject:

Man, I REALLY need someone to slap me in the head to keep me paying attention .... darn it stang .... you DID sneak in on me ... thought that was Jolly Wolf's reply

LOL!

Jolly Wolf · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:05 pm Post subject:

JW's Here!

Dog, it worked.

I'd really like to understand the underlying principle of why I couldn't merge my copied shape layer down into the original, but when I held ctrl and clicked on both layers, it merged the two layers into the copied layer.

Thanks buddy!!

JW

moondog · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject:

no way I could explain the principle, but trial and error is where I learned it.

Glad it worked! Good Luck with the rest of the project ... looks good to me so far.

dog

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