Split channels into separate images, Merge channels – Adobe Photoshop CC 2014 v.14.xx User Manual
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Note:
3. Do one of the following:
Drag the channel from the Channels panel into the destination image window. The duplicated channel appears at the bottom of the
Channels panel.
Choose Select > All, and then choose Edit > Copy. Select the channel in the destination image and choose Edit > Paste. The pasted
channel overwrites the existing channel.
Split channels into separate images
You can split channels of flattened images only. Splitting channels is useful when you want to retain individual channel information in a file format
that doesn’t preserve channels.
To split channels into separate images, choose Split Channels from the Channels panel menu.
The original file is closed, and the individual channels appear in separate grayscale image windows. The title bars in the new windows show
the original filename plus the channel. You save and edit the new images separately.
Merge channels
Multiple grayscale images can be combined as the channels of a single image. The images you want to merge must be in grayscale mode, be
flattened (have no layers), have the same pixel dimensions, and be open. The number of grayscale images you have open determines the color
modes available when merging channels. For example, if you have three images open, you can merge them into an RGB image; if you have four
images open, they can become a CMYK image.
If you are working with DCS files that have accidentally lost their links (and so cannot be opened, placed, or printed), open the channel files,
and merge them into a CMYK image. Then re-save the file as a DCS EPS file.
1. Open the grayscale images containing the channels you want to merge, and make one of the images active.
You must have more than one image open for the Merge Channels option to be available.
2. Choose Merge Channels from the Channels panel menu.
3. For Mode, choose the color mode you want to create. The number of channels appropriate for the mode appears in the Channels text box.
4. If necessary, enter a number in the Channels text box.
If you enter a number that is incompatible with the selected mode, Multichannel mode is automatically selected. This creates a multichannel
image with two or more channels.
5. Click OK.
6. For each channel, make sure the image you want is open. If you change your mind about the image type, click Mode to return to the Merge
Channels dialog box.
7. If you are merging channels into a multichannel image, click Next, and select the remaining channels.
All channels of a multichannel image are alpha channels or spot channels.
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