Digital Slimdown, Part 2, Delete Hidden Layers
Digital Slimdown, Part 2, Delete Hidden Layers
For Digital Scrapbookers
by Jen White
In my creative process, I don’t always take time to stop and clean up. I like to keep focused and get the job done. Doing that, however, can lead to extra megabytes sitting unused in my Layers panel.
Here are some examples:
- When I use a template, I typically hide the visibility of layers that I’m replacing, like element layers or the title layer. It’s easy to forget those are there.
- When trying different background papers on my layout, I routinely pile them on and then compare them within Photoshop. But then I forget to delete the ones I didn’t use. They just stay hidden in my Layers panel.
- Most recently, the template I use for the My Everyday Life project comes with lots of extra hidden layers to give me options for tabs, months, and dates. Because those hidden layers are also hidden within groups, I tend to forget they are there.
Here’s the thing—even when a layer is hidden, its pixels and color data are stored in the metadata of the file, which then makes the size of the file increase.
Template: My Everyday Life Tabbed Template Set Jen White, Kit: Fall-a-Rama by Studio Flergs
🟠 How To Quickly Delete All Hidden (Unused) Layers
In Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, in the Layers panel, click on the panel menu and choose Delete Hidden Layers. The look of your document should not have changed, but the size of the file certainly has.
TIP! Don’t add layers to your Layers panel that don’t add to the visual interest of your page. Adding unnecessary layers will lead to an unnecessarily large file size.
✅ Are you guilty of leaving layers in limbo in your Layers panel?
✅ Pull out an old layered file, delete the hidden layers, and see what a difference it makes.
Digital Slimdown Series:
Part 1: Moving from PSD to TIFF
Part 2: Deleting Hidden Layers
Part 3: Cropping the Edges
Part 4: Merging Masks
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Author: Jen White | Contact Us
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Amazing shortcut. Thank you so much
I’ve made myself an action which includes deleting hidden layers as part of saving as a jpg. I first make sure I really don’t need those layers!
All my templates have my designer name, and template name on the background layer. I also use a script that copies all the layer names and adds one layer with them listed as credits (then hides the layer, lol)
Great idea 🙂
I am guilty as charged. It’s not that you haven’t show us how to lighten the load; it’s definitely laziness on my part. Thanks for the precise reminder. 🙂
I agree, I’ve heard this before but have never really taken it seriously – until now 😉
So glad you posted this as I have forgotten about these layers. Will definitely use this info.
Thanks so much.
Thank you for these great suggestions to reduce file size!!! I used to know a shortcut to get rid of anything that was outside the main design space (off the edge). I have forgotten it now but it really helped as well.
Guilty as charged :O I keep telling myself to delete hidden layers and then I either decide not to or I forget to. I’ve definitely gotta stop keeping unnecessary layers