Photoshop Flatten Image Question

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/03/2007 11:33:49 AM · #1

I noticed something today.I had about 5 layers, curves, hue, color dodge, etc. When I flattened the image, it looked completely different. Back and forwarding through the history, you can see a noticeable change in what an image looks like just by flattening. I was working at 16 bits.

Any ideas as to what is going on?
Thanks.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

02/03/2007 11:48:57 AM · #2

Are you flattening the image layer-by-layer or all at once with "flatten image" command? There sometimes can be a gig difference between those, especially if any of the interim layers are at less than 100%opacity or in an other-than-normal layer mode (like screen, soft light, whatever). In my experience, using "flatten image" is always faithful.

R.

02/03/2007 11:54:06 AM · #3

I'm using the flatten image command, which does it all at once. In the case I'm working with, I took a background copy, set it to the inverse, and did a color dodge (to subtract the layers). Then, I did a gaussian blur to get a colored pencil effect. Then, added texture, adjustment layers for contrast, etc.

In another case, I did an adjustment layer. Set a mask and copied the background into the mask to selectively set darks/lights. When I flattened this, I didn't notice as much of a change.

So, how do I get what I see and not something else when I flatten?

loriprophoto

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

02/03/2007 11:56:53 AM · #4

I had one experience when I added a texture it looked good on the screen but when I flatened it the texture looked dreadful, like it was a different resolution. In layers it was subtle but flattened it was harsh.

Maybe a resolution thing? Hope this makes sense.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/03/2007 12:20:42 PM · #5

The resolution was the same. I also did it without the texture. It seems as though the bigger the adjustments, the bigger the change is on flattening. I'm just looking how to prevent to predict what the final image will look like. I always thought the purpose of layers was to see what the final image looked like.

fotomann_forever

02/03/2007 12:33:46 PM · #6

Weird, what version of PS are you using?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

02/03/2007 12:40:14 PM · #7

This makes no sense to me. It's alien to my experience, and I have a lot of experience in PS... the whole POINT of PS and layers is that the image-as-a-whole remains faithful to the component layers. Can you put up, in PS, a before and after flattening (one with the layers intact, one with the layers collapsed) and screen cap that to show us?

R.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

02/03/2007 12:42:59 PM · #8

I agree with Robert, that is strange behavior. A "flatten image" command should have no effect on the image, and that has always been my experience, since version 4.0!