"Norm Dresner" <ndrez@att.net> wrote in message
news:3ZVEj.30124$D_3.29504@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I've got a Photoshop CS2 file with two layers, the top one is a
> modification
> of the bottom and the blending mode is Dissolve with moderate opacity.
> This
> produces the very grainy, almost dirty effect I wanted. When I either try
> to merge the two layers or flatten the image, the entire Dissolve-effect
> is
> lost and the image appearance changes radically.
>
> A) What am I doing wrong?
>
> B) How should I create a single layer that encapsulates the Dissolve
> effects
> of the two layers?

Hi Norm,

The grainy effect you're seeing is almost certainly due to the approximate
mathematics behind Photoshop's preview resampling. Zoom the image to 100
percent to get an accurate preview of the merged layers.

--
Mike Russell - www.curvemeister.com