I need help on flattening my image. I set my layer options (ie. bevels and drop shadows) and try to flatten the image. The image doesn't look the same after. It is as if flattening takes away the shadows and depth of the image. What am I doing wrong?
#1
Hi,
Are you sure you are viewing the image at 100% before/after? At any other magnification, the preview is just an estimate.
#2
The image view does not change.
#3
Is there a simple button I am not clicking to counter the effect?
#4
I wasn't asking if it was changing. Only that you are viewing the image at 100%. This is important.
#5
No, the image is at 300dpi 8.5x11. I can't see the whole thing at 100%.
#6
Select the zoom tool. Right-click the image and select 'actual size'. Compare before/after flattening.
#7
Hi cameracop
The thinking runs a little bit like this:
actual size = 100% which will probably overspill but and it is a great big B-U-T viewing at other than 100% either ditches pixels or invents them.
What? Do I hear you ask?
A rasterised image depends upon pixels - a 100 by 200 image has 20,000 pixels.
Viewing at 50% (eg 50 by 100 pixels) has 5,000 pixels that is some 15,000 less data than the original.
Now suppose you view at 200% (200 by 400 pixels) well that image has 80,000 which is 60,000 pixels more than in the original data.
Obviously something has to happen to make sure that the image has some fidelity that, IMHO, is zoom set to 100%
Does this make any sense?
#8
Rather than flattening the PSD file, why don't you "Save As..." another file type like a PNG or TIFF without layers. See how that looks. I always leave my layered files as layered files so I can edit them should I need to. Flattening is just so permanent.
Peadge :-)
wrote in message
I need help on flattening my image. I set my layer options (ie. bevels and
drop shadows) and try to flatten the image. The image doesn't look the same after. It is as if flattening takes away the shadows and depth of the image. What am I doing wrong?
#9
Thanks, that makes sense. I get it now. duhhh-huh
#10
I am resurrecting this thread in the hope of resolving a similar problem. Whenever I use the "dissolve" option, and then flatten the layers, the result looks way different then before. When printed, it still looks way different. The little dots that spread outward become more tightly packed, and don't look like a "splatter" any more. I hope this describes the problem, but if not, I can post an example tomorrow (I'm at work, and don't have photoshop here).
#11
Rastamon,
So we can gather you are viewing the image at 100% before/after flattening, right?
#12
Fairly sure, but will check this evening.
#13
I have the examples to post now, but can't remember the name of that site that so many people use to post photos. I have checked the Internet under "post photo" and "photo post", to no avail, and also did a search of the forums, and my bookmarks. Can somebody please remind me of the name?
#14
One is <
http://pixentral.com/>
be sure to size your images appropriately...
#15
Mike Lynch, Thanks for the link to PixCentral. That is the one I was looking for. Strangely enough, your post doesn't show up in my newsreader, but does show up on the Internet.
I am viewing them both using the "actual pixels"option. Here are the links:
Unflattened:
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1omxNFQfQ3SZdnU7Et83gl butfuLWo Flattened:
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1uYcdMl0NZECNP6oapGDVr 6XmGHT #16
F-L-O-A-T.
#17