Shortcut for "Rasterize Layer Style" / Cool Action tip

[_forrestmaready_]

Hey Guys-
Has anyone figured out an Action for rasterizing layer styles properly? (no matter how many layers are in the comp)

I'm creating a complex action, part of which needs to include the old "Rasterize Layer Style" trick (create an Empty layer and merge it with the Layer with all the Layer styles trick).

Problem is, when you create an empty layer, it creates it above the styles layer, rather than below (it needs to be below for the merge to work properly). So the merge then keeps the Layer style, rather than getting rid of it. If you record a "move Layer" in the actions, it records absolute layer position, rather than a relative position.

Any ideas? You ROCK!!!!!

[Guest]

One way to do it is to group all your styled layers (CMD G). Then turn the Group into a smart object, then rasterize the smart object. No new blank layer required.

Come to think of it, in most cases you could probably skip the smart object step and just merge the group.

Both methods are totally destructive of course.

Hope it helps.

[Welles Goodrich]

I've used an action to rasterize layer styles for some years. It requires a slightly obscure approach.

http://homepage.mac.com/wellesgoodrich/FlattenStyles.atn.zip

Maybe you can figure out how to modify it to work with your larger project.

[Ed_Hannigan · Accepted solution]

If you hold down Command while making a new Layer, it will be created UNDER the current Layer. Take it from there.

[_forrestmaready_]

Yes!! Ed is the winner!!!! His idea inspired me to look in the Keyboard shortcuts guide, which also showed Alt/Option [ and ] which select the next layer above and below. So you create a layer below, hit Alt- ] to go back up to the original Styles layer, then Merge Down.

F10 is now Rasterize Layer Styles!!!! Yes!!!!

Rock On Ed Hannigan

[safiafridi]

One way to do it is to group all your styled layers (CMD G). Then turn the Group into a smart object, then rasterize the smart object. No new blank layer required.

Come to think of it, in most cases you could probably skip the smart object step and just merge the group.

Both methods are totally destructive of course.

Hope it helps.