How can I apply an adjustment layer to several other layers at once?

[BvB]

Hello!

I use affinity photo on the iPad.
Because my client uses another Programm, I want to apply the adjustment layer on top to all separate layers before saving it as a Photshop file to make sure, my client receives the same result. I’m not sure what other programs do with the adjustment layers otherwise….

However, I can not apply it to the layers below. I grouped them together and put the adjustments on top (I tried without grouping, too) but every time I click on merging the adjustment layers, the adjustment just disappears without applying it’s effect to the layers anymore.

 

can someone please tell me what I did wrong?

thank you

Betty

[Komatös]

Hello @BvB and welcome to the forums.

Group all layers that are to receive the adjustment and then apply the adjustment to the group layer.

I think this is because the group layer is only a container and the adjustement cannot be automatically applied irreversibly to the sub-layers

[BvB]

Hello! Thank you.

I tried that, but it only disappears without even applying to the top layer of the group. I used the merge button in the adjustment panel of the adjustment layer. Was that correct?

[Komatös]

12 minutes ago, BvB said:

I used the merge button in the adjustment panel of the adjustment layer. Was that correct?

Applying an adjustment to a group layer would require all sub-layers to be merged into one layer.

By applying the adjustment, you would lose the option of readjusting the adjustment values.

[BvB]

What do you suggest then to apply the adjustment to all separate layers at once? How can I do it on the IPad. I only found this option.

[BvB]

1 hour ago, Komatös said:

Hello @BvB and welcome to the forums.

Group all layers that are to receive the adjustment and then apply the adjustment to the group layer.

I think this is because the group layer is only a container and the adjustement cannot be automatically applied irreversibly to the sub-layers

So do I need to make the adjustment to every single layer again then? Mind you, the adjustment did not even apply to the upper layer of the group. It just vanished. I‘m sure there must be another way…or is it a bug?

Edited April 28 by BvB

[NotMyFault]

On iPad there is no quick way to apply one adjustment layer individually to multiple pixel layers and merge it down.

there is a laborious workaround for the use case of huge numbers of layers with some constraints:

1. all layers must be fully opaque and rectangular, unrotated, same size
2. create grid in size of one rectangle (1 column, n rows)
3. use move tool / transform panel / distribute to distribute all layers in grid
4. put adjustment layer on top in layer stack
5. merge visible
6. Export to png or tiff
7. create a rectangle in original size of layer, in top grid position
8. use power duplicate to create n copies, moved 1 down each
9. select all rectangles 
10. use gradient fill tool. Set mode to bitmap. Choose exported file
11. choose export persona
12. Choose layers 
13. create slices from layers
14. export slices
15. new stack from exported slices.
16. move layers out of stack

all from memory, so minor tweaks are required. I used this successfully in the past, it will work. Process is frequently used to slice pixel layers into many tiles like game cards.

[NotMyFault]

Side notes

1. in Affinity you normally avoid merging down adjustments, and use this only in specific situations when unavoidable. There is no need to merge down for normal editing.
2. on desktop the process can be simplified by use of Macros, and batch jobs
3. on Desktop quick grid or move/enter allow to create many copies in one step (vs. Power duplicate)

[walt.farrell]

It might help to have a sample document so we can see what you're working with. Generally an Adjustment layer placed on top of the stack should automatically apply to everything below it, so I'm not sure I understand why you're having a problem (or what problem you're having).

That should also apply when Exporting as a PSD for your colleague to work with.

[Paul Mudditt]

I agree with Walt, adjustments automatically affect everything below them unless nested, show us your layer stack or preferably upload your .afphoto file here.

[NotMyFault]

48 minutes ago, Paul Mudditt said:

I agree with Walt, adjustments automatically affect everything below them unless nested, show us your layer stack or preferably upload your .afphoto file here.

The issue here is that the OP merges down the adjustment layer. When you merge down, the adjustment stops affecting all other layers below, and only get merged to a single layer,  essentially the topmost layer.

there is no way to merge down the adjustment to multiple layers in one step, without merging the layers which is not wanted in this case.

[Paul Mudditt]

14 minutes ago, NotMyFault said:

The issue here is that the OP merges down the adjustment layer. When you merge down, the adjustment stops affecting all other layers below, and only get merged to a single layer,  essentially the topmost layer.

there is no way to merge down the adjustment to multiple layers in one step, without merging the layers which is not wanted in this case.

Ok, then surely all she needs to do is create a duplicate of the image and lock and hide it, then with all adjustments above but not nested, select all of the adjustment layers and the image layer and use Merge Selected. This will result in the original image and the modified image above which will export to psd file ok.

[NotMyFault]

6 minutes ago, Paul Mudditt said:

Ok, then surely all she needs to do is create a duplicate of the image and lock and hide it, then with all adjustments above but not nested, select all of the adjustment layers and the image layer and use Merge Selected. This will result in the original image and the modified image above which will export to psd file ok.

Still crosstalking. It’s about multiple image layers, not one 

[NotMyFault]

If you open the adjustment and use „merge down“, it impacts only the top pixel layer.

if you choose all layers, and merge selected, it will combine the pixel layer into one.

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, NotMyFault said:

The issue here is that the OP merges down the adjustment layer. When you merge down, the adjustment stops affecting all other layers below, and only get merged to a single layer,  essentially the topmost layer.

there is no way to merge down the adjustment to multiple layers in one step, without merging the layers which is not wanted in this case.

Then it would help to understand why they're merging the adjustment. If that's the step that causes the problem, then perhaps they should just stop doing that?

[BvB]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

I‘m afraid I am not allowed to upload my file publicly.

the issue is that I want my client to have the individual layers to be able to move around but not to mess with my adjustments.

When I only export as a PSD file as is, it gives me a pixel layer of all the layers ( +adjustment) merged, which is not what I want.

 

I found a workaround in saving my adjustment as a preference and apply and merge it with every layer. My current files has not that many layers so it is still doable…

 

it would be great if there was a way in the future to apply an adjustment to a folder and merging it to every layer within in one step.

[NotMyFault]

23 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

If that's the step that causes the problem, then perhaps they should just stop doing that?

It seems like continued crosstalking.

merge down has unwanted side effects, and there is no way for the user to „not doing that“ side effect.

is this really so hard to get?
you have 10 pixel layers, and a set of adjustments. You want to merge down the adjustments on every single pixel layer individually, but keeping the pixel layers separate.

today it requires to copy the adjustments 10 times, as they get consumed by every merge down. This is a lot of repeated work, and we look for a way to do this in one step.

[walt.farrell]

9 minutes ago, NotMyFault said:

It seems like continued crosstalking.

merge down has unwanted side effects, and there is no way for the user to „not doing that“ side effect.

is this really so hard to get?
you have 10 pixel layers, and a set of adjustments. You want to merge down the adjustments on every single pixel layer individually, but keeping the pixel layers separate.

today it requires to copy the adjustments 10 times, as they get consumed by every merge down. This is a lot of repeated work, and we look for a way to do this in one step.

The OP says that the merging is being done to ensure that the recipient of a "Photoshop file" sees everything the same.

As I understand it, merging or duplicating the adjustments should not be necessary. Don't PSD files work properly with an adjustment layer on top of several pixel layers?

[NotMyFault]

5 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

The OP says that the merging is being done to ensure that the recipient of a "Photoshop file" sees everything the same.

He added:

the issue is that I want my client to have the individual layers to be able to move around but not to mess with my adjustments.

[NotMyFault]

And I had similar challenges when editing a stack of images, added adjustments on top initially, and then needed all adjustments applied to all layers as separate files via export persona.

if you create slices from layers, adjustments on top do not export.

creating 100s of individual slices is too laborious.

it is a real feature gap.