Merging/Flattening Layers with different blending modes and maintaining the visual appearance

Hello,
I see there are many others that are having the same problem as me. And alas, it doesn't seem like the problem has been solved or very understood for that matter.
I want to be able to take a document, that has multiple layers, inside of multiple groups with various layers having various blending modes applied to them and from within that document, select simply two of those layers, one with a Divide blending mode and the other layer Normal, merge those two layers, but have the visual appearance of the merged layer maintain the visual appearance of what the layers looked like before I merged them.
Everytime I attempt this, Ps takes my Divide layer, reverts it back to Normal and then merges the layers, thus changing the appearance of what it was before the merge. This is not the desired result.
I understand that when you flatten an entire series of layers, it applies all the blending modes and maintains the visual appearance. Is there a way to do this with just two layers instead of all the layers? If so, that would be great information. If not, why not?
Thank you
Jake

Short answer: No.
A "layer" with a specific blending mode implies a sequence of math operations on a given pixel. Think of the visible pixel R, G, and B values as the result of a potentially complex math formula that combines numbers from each layer in complex ways (those ways being defined by the blending mode you've chosen). You can't always simplify particular factors of your choosing in a given math formula.
The next step is to examine why you would want to do so. Perhaps there's a more direct way to achieve your goal that would avert the need entirely.
Another possibility, if the effect of several layers together is something you'd like to manipulate as a unit, is to Group the layers.
-Noel

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How to Apply adjustment layers to multiple layers that have different blending modes ...

How to Apply adjustment layers to multiple layers that have different blending modes and keep the colours the same as the adjusment done?
I work in Animation painting Backgrounds. My files are sometimes upwards to 200+ layers.
I will use adjustment layers to quickly balance colours and constrast on top of those many many layers.
The only way that I know of how to apply adjustment layers it to every single layer ( by applying I mean I need to get rid of the adjustment layers because we cant use them in production but i need the new colours be applied to all layers underneath ) in a psd is to manually do it By duplicating the adjusment layer 200+ times and then merging each layer to one of those adjustment layers so that that layer can take the adjustment layers effect permanently.
The issue is that Within Those 200 layers I have some layers set to Multiply or OVERLAY.    IT obviously wont apply the adjustment layer properly to those layers because those layer blend mode affect the layers under them. The colour wont be the same anymore in the spots that had the multiply blended mode.
HEres an example of a simple File. to show what i mean.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3408266/ball%20layers.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3408266/ball.psd
I have 2 adjustment layers up top. I need to get rid of them by applying them to each layer! I cannot merge any of the layers. We need all those layers for production.
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How can i apply my adjustment layers to a file like this with some layers being set to multiply while keeping the layers exactly the same configuration and The new colour taking efffect exactly how i looks before i apply the adjustment layers?
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Sure... if you want to put it that way. Either way its not the desirable outcome.
its just frustrating that theres no way to apply adjustment layers to hundreds of layers while keeping them in the same configuration ( blendmodes, layer order , without merging) while keeping the same end result.
works great if all your layers are set to normal though..    But I really need to keep shadow layers seperately and be able to adjust on the fly aswell as apply those adjusment to all my layers.
I suppose that just isnt possible.   I understand the math required for this would be tremendous/ complicated if something like this would ever be implemented. Would be nice if adobe could come up with some solution to this. Its really a huge issue in my work flow and theres no alternatives.    How else can I adjust colours to 100+ layers with a few clicks that lets me play around the the adjustment until im happy with the outcome.    Really wish i could adjust and the quickly apply that adjustment to all my layers regardless of blend mode.   LIke If the Layers with blendmode could somehow take the properties of the adjustment layer and keep adjusting those layers undereathe on top of that blended mode that its doing...

Merging Layers while keeping blend mode

I was informed if I have a layer that has a blend mode and I want to keep the blend mode in tact I should place a empty layer beneath then merge down. The results are not equal to before merging down.
Layer with Divide blend mode.
Layer above merged down to an empty layer
Not identical on a background ?

Once the blending mode is baked into the flattened image, it will change some. I don't usually see anything quite that noticeable except with my startrail stacks, though. If you are concerned that something when haywire within Photoshop, you could try a preference reset. Also be sure your graphics card's drivers are up to date.
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I am working on a logo but have run into what seems like a simple problem but nothing about masks that I have found seems to work. I have
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I have copied the Paths but dont understand what you mean by expand the 3D effect. With the text I was able to click ungroup and edit the individual sides. I am unable to do this with the logo, I dont know exactly why. Also when I combine all my paths they just go into one group. You will have to excuse me, I still have a lot to learn.
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How do I automate merging multiple layers with same name?

It was suggested I ask this question in this forum - any advise gratefully received!
I have to combine over a 800 files into one photoshop file. Each file has with sixty layers. The 60 layers in each file are named identically: Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3 up to Layer 59, Layer 60. My intention is to create a final composite file with 60 merged layers (for an animation). That is, with all the Layer 1's merged, all the Layer 2's merged, all the Layer 3's merged and so on. What I need is a script which will merge all layers with the same layer name, ie all the Layer 1s, all the Layer 2s etc (ideally without having to merge each set of layers separately).
I am using Photoshop CS6 and at present I am merging by using the find/name function, then highlighting all the layers selected and then using 'merge layers'.
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This might be close, it will prompt for a folder containing all the 800 files, it will use tif or psd files.
Once you have selected the folder sit back and watch...
#target photoshop
app.bringToFront();
main();
function main(){
selectedFolder = Folder.selectDialog( "Please select input folder");
if(selectedFolder == null) return;
var fileList = selectedFolder.getFiles(/\.(tif|psd)$/i);
open(fileList[0]);
checkBackGround();
setLayersVisOn();
for(var z = 1;z<fileList.length;z++){
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    setLayersVisOn();
    dupLayers(app.documents[0].name);
app.activeDocument.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
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mergeSameNamedLayers();
function checkBackGround(){
activeDocument.activeLayer = activeDocument.layers[activeDocument.layers.length-1];
if(activeDocument.activeLayer.isBackgroundLayer){
    activeDocument.activeLayer.name=activeDocument.activeLayer.name;
function twoOrMoreSelected(){
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
var desc = executeActionGet(ref);
if( desc.hasKey( stringIDToTypeID( 'targetLayers' ) ) ) return true;
return false;
function mergeSameNamedLayers(){
//Get a list of the layer names
var layerNameList = getNamesPlusIDs();
//create an array for unique layer names
var uniqueName = new Array();
for(var s in layerNameList){
    if(layerNameList[s][2] == "false") uniqueName.push( layerNameList[s][1].toString());
//now we should have unique layer names
uniqueName = UniqueSortedList( uniqueName ).sort();
//select all layers with the same name, merge them and set blendmode
var BlendMode = new String();
for ( var w in uniqueName){
    deselectLayers();
    for(var z in layerNameList){
        if(uniqueName[w].toString() == layerNameList[z][1].toString()){
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            BlendMode = layerNameList[z][3].toString();
            selectLayerById(Number(layerNameList[z][0]), true);
if(twoOrMoreSelected()) activeDocument.activeLayer.merge();
        setBlendMode(BlendMode);
function setBlendMode(blendMode) {
var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );
desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID('null'), ref );
var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc2.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Md '), charIDToTypeID('BlnM'), stringIDToTypeID(blendMode) );
desc.putObject( charIDToTypeID('T   '), charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), desc2 );
executeAction( charIDToTypeID('setd'), desc, DialogModes.NO );
function deselectLayers() {
    var desc01 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var ref01 = new ActionReference();
        ref01.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );
    desc01.putReference( charIDToTypeID('null'), ref01 );
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function UniqueSortedList(ArrayName){
var unduped = new Object;
for (var i = 0; i < ArrayName.length; i++) {
unduped[ArrayName[i]] = ArrayName[i];
var uniques = new Array;for (var k in unduped) {
   uniques.push(unduped[k]);}
return uniques;
function selectLayerById(ID, add) {
    add = (add == undefined) ? add = false : add;
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putIdentifier(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), ID);
var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID('null'), ref);
if (add) {
desc.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID('selectionModifier'), stringIDToTypeID('selectionModifierType'), stringIDToTypeID('addToSelection'));
desc.putBoolean(charIDToTypeID('MkVs'), false);
executeAction(charIDToTypeID('slct'), desc, DialogModes.NO);
function dupLayers(DocName) {
var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );
desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID('null'), ref );
var ref2 = new ActionReference();
ref2.putName( charIDToTypeID('Dcmn'), DocName);
desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID('T   '), ref2 );
desc.putInteger( charIDToTypeID('Vrsn'), 5 );
executeAction( charIDToTypeID('Dplc'), desc, DialogModes.NO );
function selectAllLayers() {
    var desc29 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var ref23 = new ActionReference();
        ref23.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );
    desc29.putReference( charIDToTypeID('null'), ref23 );
    executeAction( stringIDToTypeID('selectAllLayers'), desc29, DialogModes.NO );
function setLayersVisOn(){
   var ref = new ActionReference();
   ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Dcmn'), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );
   var count = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID('NmbL')) +1;
try{
    activeDocument.backgroundLayer;
var i = 0; }catch(e){ var i = 1; };
   for(i;i<count;i++){
        ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), i );
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        var layerName = desc.getString(charIDToTypeID( 'Nm ' ))
        if(layerName.match(/^<\/Layer group/) ) continue;
        if(!desc.getBoolean(stringIDToTypeID('visible'))){
            var list = new ActionList();
            list.putReference( ref );
            desc.putList( charIDToTypeID('null'), list );
            executeAction( charIDToTypeID('Shw '), desc, DialogModes.NO );
function getNamesPlusIDs(){
   var ref = new ActionReference();
   ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Dcmn'), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );
   var count = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID('NmbL')) +1;
   var Names=[];
try{
    activeDocument.backgroundLayer;
var i = 0; }catch(e){ var i = 1; };
   for(i;i<count;i++){
       if(i == 0) continue;
        ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), i );
        var desc = executeActionGet(ref);
        var layerName = desc.getString(charIDToTypeID( 'Nm ' ));
        var Id = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'layerID' ));
        if(layerName.match(/^<\/Layer group/) ) continue;
        var layerType = typeIDToStringID(desc.getEnumerationValue( stringIDToTypeID( 'layerSection' )));
         desc.hasKey( stringIDToTypeID( 'smartObject' ) ) ? SO = true : SO=false;
         var blendmode = typeIDToStringID(desc.getEnumerationValue( stringIDToTypeID( 'mode' )));
Names.push([[Id],[layerName],[SO],[blendmode]]);
return Names;

Blending mode and choke issues

Im doing a very simple tutorial and I have encountered a few problems which I have been unaware of before.
Here is the link to the tut - http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/motion-graphics/use-a-jello-jiggly-expression-quick-tip/
In the beginning he duplicates the text and changes the blending mode of the top layer to multiply.   First problem I encountered is my text barely changes colour/appearance in any way when doing this.
Next he applies a Matte>simple choker and cranks it to 40.   Second problem when I do this I see no choke because the multiply hasnt made enough diffeence to notice. Also I soloed the duplicate layer and cranked the choker up but I cant take it any higher than about 8 or it just starts disappearing.
I tried the same thing with a shape and that seemed to be even more problematic. I used a rectangle and duplicated it. When i choked it the duplicate gets round corners and stretches horizontally. WHats going on here?
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This won't work:
This will but barely:
Setting the bottom layer to something lighter with values like this works better because there is some room to do the math and it is in more than one channel:
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17th Oct 18th Oct
221,808,602
21
2tc2d3u52rppt
213,170,100
72,495,618
9c8wqzz7kyf37
209,239,059
71,477,888
9c8wqzz7kyf37
139,331,777
1
7b0kzmf0pfpzn
144,813,295
1
0cqc3bxxd1yqy
102,045,818
1
8vp1ap3af0ma5
128,892,787
16,673,829
84cqfur5na6fg
89,485,065
1
5kk8nd3uzkw13
127,467,250
16,642,939
1uz87xssm312g
67,520,695
8,058,820
a9n705a9gfb71
104,490,582
12,443,376
a9n705a9gfb71
62,627,205
1
ctwjy8cs6vng2
101,677,382
15,147,771
3p8q3q0scmr2k
57,965,892
268,353
akp7vwtyfmuas
98,000,414
1
0ybdwg85v9v6m
57,519,802
53
1kn9bv63xvjtc
87,293,909
1
5kk8nd3uzkw13
52,690,398
0
9btkg0axsk114
77,786,274
74
1kn9bv63xvjtc
34,767,882
1,003
bdgma0tn8ajz9
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17th Oct
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Reads
Av Reads/s
Av Rd(ms)
Av Blks/Rd
Writes
Av Writes/s
Buffer Waits
Av Buf Wt(ms)
INDUS_TRN_DATA01
947,766
59
4.24
4.86
185,084
11
2,887
6.42
UNDOTBS2
517,609
32
4.27
1.00
112,070
7
108
11.85
INDUS_MST_DATA01
288,994
18
8.63
8.38
52,541
3
23,490
7.45
INDUS_TRN_INDX01
223,581
14
11.50
2.03
59,882
4
533
4.26
TEMP
198,936
12
2.77
17.88
11,179
1
732
2.13
INDUS_LOG_DATA01
45,838
3
4.81
14.36
348
0
1
0.00
INDUS_TMP_DATA01
44,020
3
4.41
16.55
244
0
1,587
4.79
SYSAUX
19,373
1
19.81
1.05
14,489
1
0
0.00
INDUS_LOG_INDX01
17,559
1
4.75
1.96
2,837
0
2
0.00
SYSTEM
7,881
0
12.15
1.04
1,361
0
109
7.71
INDUS_TMP_INDX01
1,873
0
11.48
13.62
231
0
0
0.00
INDUS_MST_INDX01
256
0
13.09
1.04
194
0
2
10.00
UNDOTBS1
70
0
1.86
1.00
60
0
0
0.00
STG_DATA01
63
0
1.27
1.00
60
0
0
0.00
USERS
63
0
0.32
1.00
60
0
0
0.00
INDUS_LOB_DATA01
62
0
0.32
1.00
60
0
0
0.00
TS_AUDIT
62
0
0.48
1.00
60
0
0
0.00
18th Oct
Tablespace
Reads
Av Reads/s
Av Rd(ms)
Av Blks/Rd
Writes
Av Writes/s
Buffer Waits
Av Buf Wt(ms)
INDUS_TRN_DATA01
980,283
91
1.40
4.74

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You wrote with different execution plan, I think, you saw plans. It is very difficult, you get old plan.
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Merging/Flattening Layers with different blending modes and maintaining the visual appearance

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