How to Merge Selected Layers in Photoshop

This guide explains how to merge specific layers in Adobe Photoshop while keeping your unselected layers completely safe and intact. Whether you want to permanently combine chosen layers into a single layer or merge them into a brand-new duplicate without destroying your original work, Photoshop provides simple shortcuts and commands to do so without affecting the rest of your document.

Method 1: The Standard Merge Layers Command

Photoshop's default merge command only affects the layers you actively select. Unselected layers remain entirely untouched.

  1. Open the Layers panel (F7 if it is not visible).
  2. Select the layers you want to combine:
    • Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (macOS) and click each layer to select non-contiguous layers.
    • Hold Shift and click the first and last layer to select a continuous range.
  3. Once the target layers are highlighted, merge them using one of these options:
    • Press Ctrl + E (Windows) or Cmd + E (macOS).
    • Right-click on any of the selected layers and choose Merge Layers.
    • Go to the top menu and select Layer > Merge Layers.

The selected layers will combine into a single layer placed at the position of the topmost selected layer. All unselected layers remain in their original states and positions.

Method 2: Merge Selected Layers to a New Layer (Non-Destructive)

If you want to create a merged version of the selected layers while keeping both the unselected layers and the original editable source layers intact, use the stamp function:

  1. Highlight the layers you want to merge in the Layers panel.
  2. Press Ctrl + Alt + E (Windows) or Cmd + Option + E (macOS).
  3. Photoshop generates a brand-new, flattened layer containing the combined visual data directly above your selection, leaving the original selected layers and all unselected layers completely unmodified.

Method 3: Convert to a Smart Object

If you want the selected layers to behave as a single layer without permanently flattening them:

  1. Select the desired layers.
  2. Right-click the selection and choose Convert to Smart Object.
  3. The selected layers will be packaged into a single object, leaving the unselected layers untouched. You can double-click the Smart Object thumbnail at any time to edit the individual layers inside.