What is the effect of flattening an image on layer flexibility?

Flattening an image combines all the visible layers into a single background layer. This process significantly reduces layer flexibility because once the layers are flattened, the individual properties and contents of those layers are merged, making it impossible to edit them separately. For example, if you need to adjust an effect or change the color on a specific part of the image that was on its own layer, you can no longer do so after flattening. Each layer can hold distinct adjustments, effects, and information, but flattening essentially locks those properties into a single structure, minimizing the ability to manipulate individual elements freely. This is crucial for maintaining the possibility of non-destructive editing workflows, which are favored in professional graphic design and photo editing.