Quick Tips

Create A Composite Layer

If you have a multilayer composition and you
want to apply an effect to all the layers at once, don’t flatten the layers–use a composite layer instead. Hide the layers you want excluded, and press Shift-Command-Option-E (PC: Shift-Ctrl-Alt-E). A new layer will be created at the top containing a merged copy of all the visible layers.

Another option is to create a new layer at the top of the stack and make it active. Command-click (PC: Ctrl-click) each layer you want to include to make those layers active, as well. Press Option-Command-E (PC: Alt-Ctrl-E).
by Colin Smith

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2 comments

  1. Margaret Pyron 23 November, 2013 at 19:17 Reply

    You know, I have been “doing” Photoshop for years, but just this year I learned the first shortcut, and today I learned the second !!..Thank you… Thinking of all the flattened and duplicates I have made, just to see how an effect would look…. Little practical things are somehow overlooked–at least I had not found a place that has all-time good tips before. I have some unanswered questions, that I still haven’t found out….??

  2. sana 10 July, 2019 at 06:23 Reply

    plz tell me another way..the shortcut key ctrl+shift+alt+E is not working on my laptop. im using photoshop cc 2019

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