Photoshop Layers Question?

Question

I have a project I`m doing for Intro to Computer Art for college which involves Photoshop. I`m not too familiar with it and have a question. I have to make a picture out of broken shells. So basically, I got the picture, put that on Layer 1 and created Layer 2 which I put all the shells on. That way I can paste the shells using the picture on Layer 1 as a reference outline. Then, after I`m done, I delete Layer 1 picture and have only Layer 2`s shell outline remaining.

Well I tried that, but after saving my work, the two layers had merged and I cannot delete the Layer 1 without it erasing the shell outline.

Is it possible to save your picture without the layers merging?

Answer 1

Photoshop can only save the common image formats as "flattened" images.

JPG, BMP, TIF etc simply don't store layer information.

However, Photoshop has it's own proprietory format (called .PSD) which does maintain any layers you have set up.

You would need to use photoshop to view these images though.

In order to save your image as a standard format, without the original reference picture, you would need to deactivate layer 1 first, then save.

Answer 2

Just save it as a Photoshop file, instead of any of the other options.  You can always do a "save as," later, if you need a flattened version of the image.

Just remember, if you are printing from your own desktop printer, it will handle the Photoshop file just fine.  If you need to pass the file to someone else, they will, of course, need a version of Photoshop to be able to view it.

Answer 3

well, did you save it as a .psd file?  

Answer 4

Save it as a photoshop file... and when you export it make the 1st layer invisible.

Answer 5

you must save the file as a .PSD file. That way you wont merge the layers.