How can I save only one layer as a PNG file in Photoshop

Question

I wanted save some layers as PNG files and I had opened a new window for every .png file and pasted in there and sometimes crop it.

Is there a way to export just a few or one selected layer and not the whole file much more easily, or maybe only save the visible part as a PNG?

Answer 1

Choose File > Scripts > Export Layers To Files

Select the Visible Layers Only option if you want to export only those layers that have visibility enabled in the Layers panel.

Source

Answer 2

If you use Photoshop CC you don't need any script.

You can activate the built-in function "Generator" (File > Generator). This function allow you to export layers and groups when you save the document. Simply rename your layers/group with the extension you need (like nav.png) and eventually the parameters.

With this method photoshop will export for you the named layers/group visible with associate layer style in the same directory of your file.

See adobe article: http://blogs.adobe.com/photoshopdotcom/2013/09/introducing-adobe-generator-for-photoshop-cc.html

Answer 3

Skaught's solution works. There are two other options that come to mind.

1. Convert your objects (layers or groups) to smart objects then double click the SO in the layers panel to open a separate, exportable doc.
2. Use slices to delineate and set export prefs for your various objects. You can export by selected slices.

Answer 4

Here's what I found. Single-click layer exporting!
http://viget.com/inspire/single-click-layer-exporting-in-photoshop#the-best-way

Direct link to Photoshop action:
https://viget.com/uploads/file/generic/Inspire.atn.zip

Answer 5

If you're planning to select specific layers (or group of layers) then

1. Use Marquee Tool 'M' to draw the bounding box.
2. Use Edit >> Copy Merged to copy the specific content to new file (png, psd, ...)

Answer 6

In CC 2014, you can use the new feature File>Extract assets that will offer a dialog with all the visible layers and plethora of options (resolutions, prefixes, etc) for extraction. Meant for web-developers this feature helped me out a lot. Too bad it's not available in other versions of PS.

From what I understand the feature is still under development and the pesky ".png" in the layer names will be removed, but for the time being watch out for the layer names.