Applying filter to multi-layered image without flattening

Let's say I have an image composed of multiple layers combined with various blending options and intermixed with various adjustment layers -- IOW nothing unusual.

I want to apply a filter to the entire composite image but I don't want to flatten it because I want to be able to still modify individual layers later.

It's my understanding that this is impossible in any version of Photoshop. Is this true? If it makes any difference, I have CS2.

TIA
Norm

"Norm Dresner" wrote in message

Let's say I have an image composed of multiple layers combined with various
blending options and intermixed with various adjustment layers -- IOW nothing unusual.

I want to apply a filter to the entire composite image but I don't want to flatten it because I want to be able to still modify individual layers later.

It's my understanding that this is impossible in any version of Photoshop. Is this true? If it makes any difference, I have CS2.

TIA
Norm>

I don't think you can, I do select all>> copy merged>> then paste then I use the filter on that layer

if the doc is getting too large to work with fast, I use save as>>> flatten it and make a new image then continue

"Norm Dresner" wrote:

Let's say I have an image composed of multiple layers combined with various blending options and intermixed with various adjustment layers -- IOW nothing unusual.

I want to apply a filter to the entire composite image but I don't want to flatten it because I want to be able to still modify individual layers later.

It's my understanding that this is impossible in any version of Photoshop. Is this true? If it makes any difference, I have CS2.

TIA
Norm

Lets say *most* commands (not all depending on where to use the command) usually only apply to the current layer, and of course it will effect *all* layer below it.

IOW, it doesn't matter if you have 1 layer or 1000 layers, if you apply the filter to the 1st layer then the rest of 999 other will be effected (not applying directly to those lower layers, but they will be effected).

And that's why most Photoshop users love and take advantage of LAYER.

In article ,
Joel wrote:

IOW, it doesn't matter if you have 1 layer or 1000 layers, if you apply the filter to the 1st layer then the rest of 999 other will be effected (not applying directly to those lower layers, but they will be effected).

Actually, that's false, as simple experimentation demonstrates. Applying a filter to one layer does not change underlying layers in the slightest.

--
Photography, kink, polyamory, shareware, and more: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html

Norm Dresner wrote:

Let's say I have an image composed of multiple layers combined with various blending options and intermixed with various adjustment layers -- IOW nothing unusual.

I want to apply a filter to the entire composite image but I don't want to flatten it because I want to be able to still modify individual layers later.

It's my understanding that this is impossible in any version of Photoshop. Is this true? If it makes any difference, I have CS2.

That does indeed make a difference. In CS2, all you can do is make a new layer on top of the others, which is a merged copy of the underlying layers. You can apply the filter on that layer, but if you want to change something in the underlaying layers later, you have to trash the merged layer and do it again.

In CS3 you can select all layers and turn them into one Smart Object. Now you can have a Smart Filter linked to that object. Change anything in one of the layers of the smart object, and the filtered result will also change.

--
Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.com

"Johan W. Elzenga" wrote in message
| Norm Dresner wrote:
|
| > Let's say I have an image composed of multiple layers combined with various
| > blending options and intermixed with various adjustment layers -- IOW | > nothing unusual.
| >
| > I want to apply a filter to the entire composite image but I don't want to
| > flatten it because I want to be able to still modify individual layers | > later.
| >
| > It's my understanding that this is impossible in any version of Photoshop.
| > Is this true? If it makes any difference, I have CS2. |
| That does indeed make a difference. In CS2, all you can do is make a new | layer on top of the others, which is a merged copy of the underlying | layers. You can apply the filter on that layer, but if you want to | change something in the underlaying layers later, you have to trash the | merged layer and do it again.
|
| In CS3 you can select all layers and turn them into one Smart Object. | Now you can have a Smart Filter linked to that object. Change anything | in one of the layers of the smart object, and the filtered result will | also change.
|
|

CS2 has Smart Objects too. But nothing like "Smart Filter"?

Norm

Norm Dresner wrote:

| That does indeed make a difference. In CS2, all you can do is make a new | layer on top of the others, which is a merged copy of the underlying | layers. You can apply the filter on that layer, but if you want to | change something in the underlaying layers later, you have to trash the | merged layer and do it again.
|
| In CS3 you can select all layers and turn them into one Smart Object. | Now you can have a Smart Filter linked to that object. Change anything | in one of the layers of the smart object, and the filtered result will | also change.
|
|

CS2 has Smart Objects too. But nothing like "Smart Filter"?

Nope, that exactly the point. Smart Filters are filters applied on Smart Objects. That is something new in CS3. If you apply a filter to a Smart Object in CS2, you get a message that the Smart Object will have to be rendered to a normal layer first.

--
Johan W. Elzenga johan<<at>>johanfoto.nl Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.com