Edited layer not exporting with background layer

[tadpole]

After uploading a PNG to Photo 2, removing the background, the image has a white border around the edge.  I found a way to remove the white / light border by creating a separate layer and doing edits.  But when I merge the edited layer and the background layer and export the white border isn't gone.  But when I export only the edited layer, the white border is gone.  Below are the exact steps taken with screen shots. 

1. Opened PNG in photo 2
2. Document > resize document > Resample checked "Bicubic" @ 300 dpi
3. Flood select tool to remove background > Select > deselect
4. Selection brush tool to select letters > ctrl c ctrl v to make a new layer "letters layer" . Now have two layers "background" and "letters"
5. HIde background layer and unlock background layer
6. Rectangle tool to put a rectangle around the letters in the "letters" layer and made the rectangle layer black
7. dragged the "rectangle" layer underneath the "letters" layer so that I can see the letters > select > deselect
8. highlighted "letters" layer > ctrl > clicked on "letters" layer so now marching ants around the letters
9. Select > grow/shrink > Adjusted radius to -10px > apply
10. Select > invert pixel selection
11. Hid "rectangle" layer > Erase brush tool and erased the white border around text while "letters" layer highlighted
12. Select > deselect
13. activated "rectangle" layer to verify white border gone > white border is gone
14. I exported the transparent PNG with the three layers still in layers panel with the "rectangle" and "background"  layers hidden.  Exported the "letters" layer and white border is gone
15. Deleted the "rectangle" layer and Merged the "letters" and Background" layers and exported.  White border now visible again.     

So if I only export the edited "layers" layer, the white border is gone but the other elements of the photo don't export.  But if I merge the edited "letters" layer with the "background" layer and export, the white borders are back  
 

[NathanC]

Hi @tadpole welcome to the forums and apologies on the late response,

To confirm, based on your workflow I'm assuming you're referring to a white border around the edges of the lettering rather than around the very outer edge? If I'm following correctly I'm a little confused as to why you're wanting to merge the 'letters' pixel layer which you've successfully removed the white edges from with the underlying and unedited 'Background' pixel layer beneath it where the white edges remain, as doing so would evidently cause those white edges to appear again. Prior to export could you not just delete the 'Background' pixel layer at this stage or keep it hidden since the merge is seemingly unnecessary? 

 

[tadpole]

Thanks for responding.  At the time I asked this question, I was totally new to Photo 2 and didn't know to either delete or hide the background layer.