Photoshop different blend mode question

[khatley]

Hey guys I am trying to figure out how to capture the visual appearance of a blended layer without merging.
I have a textured background that I used a "Difference" blend mode to get a look I like on a logo. Now I want to put a layer in between the two but when I do that the blend changes. I would like raterize the top layer and keep the visual style so I can use it elsewhere and the only way I can figure out how to do it would be to merge the two layers and then cut back out the logo which is a pain. First is there a way to get snapshot of a layer raterized or is there a way to skip a layer without hiding it on blend modes so that it blends with a different layer?
CS4

[DoublyDan]

If the logos pixels are the only pixels on that layer you could use a clipping mask.
Try this:
duplicate the logo layer (ctrl +J when the appropriate layer is selected).
make sure the background layer is on top of both logo layers.
Right click on the background layer and select create clipping mask (you can also select the black arrow at the top of the layers panel to see this option OR hold down the alt or option key and move your mouse in between the top two layers, when you see the mouse change just click).
make sure the blend mode on the background layer is correct.
insert the item in between the two logo layers.

The way to make a snap shot of all visible layers is to make sure you are on the top most layer and use the shortcut...ctrl+shift+alt+E OR cmmd+option+shift+E on a mac (this will leave all layers intact and give you a merged layer at the top.)

Also duplicate any layers that you need to rasterize so you can have a vector copy for any changes that may be necessary.
I hope that answers your question...

[mgstudio99]

Try this:
duplicate the logo layer (ctrl +J when the appropriate layer is selected).
make sure the background layer is on top of both logo layers.
Right click on the background layer and select create clipping mask (you can also select the black arrow at the top of the layers panel to see this option OR hold down the alt or option key and move your mouse in between the top two layers, when you see the mouse change just click).
make sure the blend mode on the background layer is correct.
insert the item in between the two logo layers.

thanks for the tip.. very helpful

[khatley]

Thanks Dan, I will try this out...I ended up taking the logo with nothing else and created a mask and then brought back the layer underneath and merged and then cut to new layer and it gave me the result I was looking for.