When you are given a complex Adobe Photoshop PSD with many layers, especially one without a proper naming convention, you will have issues identifying individual layers or objects so you can export them as PNG images for re-use in other projects.

These instructions will show you how to identify specific objects or layer, slect them and then export them as a PNG image file.

Single Object

This is the simplest method and is useful if you are struggling to identify the object to export.

1. Click on the ‘Selection Tool’
   
2. In the ‘Selection Tool’ toolbar at the top directly underneath the menu you will see the contextual options for the ‘Selection Tool’
   • Tick Auto-Select
   • Select Layer
3. Click on the object in the content/artboard that you want to export.
4. The layer containing the object will become highlighted in the layers section.
   • Sometimes selection does not work, in which case just try clicking around on different parts of the object until the layer gets selected
5. Right click on the highlighted layer in the Layers list and select ‘Quick Export as PNG’
6. Pick a location and save the image.
   • Transparency will also be preserved.

Muiltple Objects (Export as one)

Use this method when you need to export a logo or image as 1 file, when it has been built up using several objects in Photoshop and they are still separate objects.

1. Click on the ‘Selection Tool’
   
2. In the ‘Selection Tool’ toolbar at the top directly underneath the menu you will see the contextual options for the ‘Selection Tool’
   • Tick Auto-Select
   • Select Layer
3. Right Click on the first object in the content/artboard that you want to export and select ‘Isolate Layers’.
4. The layer containing the object will become the only layer listed layers section.
   • Sometimes selection does not work, in which case just try clicking around on different parts of the object until the layer gets selected
5. Click on every other object you want adding to the exported image.
   • These objects will maintain their relationship to each other as they appear on the screen
6. Select all of the layers in the layers list
7. Right click on any of the selected layers in the Layers list and select ‘Convert to Smart Object’
8. Right click on the new ‘Smart Object’ and select ‘Quick Export as PNG’
9. Pick a location and save the image. Transparency will also be preserved.

Notes

• Objects live on layers and usually there is one object per layer.
• These objects are also recognised as objects during export and not the whole layer with blank space.
• These instructions talk about objects but will probably work for layers as well.

Links

• Photoshop Quick Tip: Finding Layers Quickly - Go Media™ · Creativity at work! - This article was instrumental for me to figure out how to export objects from photoshop