How to flatten without losing layer effects' "looks"

I am working on a client project involving photoshop files, each containing lots of layers and a fair amount of layer effects...things like drop shadow, glow, bevel, etc.
I am not having luck flattening these images (which I need to do) without losing the look of the original.
For example, the shadows might be there, but they aren't as dark, or the glows might not be as bright.
I am using CS4 for Mac OS X, and this vendor used a Windows version of photoshop, but I don't know which version.
thanks for any ideas!
DZ

Christoph,
>just to make sure: With »flatten« You do mean reduce to the background layer and not just reducing the file-complexity by merging groups or such?
That terminology
("reduce to the background layer") is not used in the English version of Photoshop. Not even
"reduce". :)
The menu item labeled "Auf die Hintergrundebene Reduzieren" (oder so was ähnliches) in German is labeled with a single word in English:
Flatten.
I know how hard it is to refer to specifics in a version in a different language when you don't have it available. It's not a question of just translating the word. "Layers" in the German version are not
layers at all but
planes (»Ebenen«, nicht »Schichten«). Took me a few seconds to figure that one out when I started out to learn Photoshop. :)
The concept of "Reducing" is not used in the English version at all. "Sichtbare Ebenen auf eine Ebene reduzieren" is simply
Merge Visible.
Usw

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