What Is Flattening in Digital Art?

Art|Digital Art

Flattening in digital art is the process of combining multiple layers of artwork into one single layer. This consolidation is done for a variety of reasons, but primarily to make the artwork easier to work with or manipulate. It also helps in saving file size for easier sharing, as most digital art programs compress layers when you flatten them together.

The flattening process usually involves combining several layers into one single image, although there are other techniques that can be used to achieve the same effect. One common method is to use masks and blend modes. Masking is a way of hiding or revealing certain portions of an image, while blend modes help create different effects on an image depending on the type chosen.

Another popular technique used in digital art is rasterizing. Rasterizing allows you to convert vector images into a format that can be edited and manipulated more easily. This is especially useful if you want to reduce file size or if you want to make sure that your artwork looks good on various types of screens.

Flattening is also often used when creating digital collages and montages. By combining various elements such as photographs and illustrations into one layer, it’s much easier to adjust the overall look and feel without having to redo each individual element.

Conclusion:

Flattening in digital art is a great way to save time and file size by consolidating several layers into one single layer. It can also help create interesting effects when combined with masking and blending modes, as well as rasterizing vector images for easy manipulation. Flattening is also important for creating effective collages and montages by combining various elements into one layer for easy adjustments.