Julieanne Kost's Blog

Free Transform and Puppet Warp can both be applied to a Smart Object making any changes nondestructive!

To apply a nondestructive filter to a layer, convert the layer into a Smart Object before adding the filter (Layer > Smart Object > Convert to Smart Object). A Smart Filter mask will automatically be added, enabling you to selectively hide and show the filter. To edit the filter settings, double-click on the name of the filter. To change the opacity and/or blend mode of the filter, double-click on the small icon to the right of the filter name.

In order to warp multiple layers as if they are one (such as multiple text layers), on the Layers panel, select the layers and choose Layer > Smart Object > Convert to Smart Object. Then, choose Edit > Transform > Warp and apply the warp to the Smart Object. To re-edit any of the individual layers, choose Layer > Smart Object > Edit Contents or simply double-click on the layer’s thumbnail in the Layers panel.

Almost all of the filters in Photoshop can be applied as Smart Filters (meaning that they are non-destructive and re-editable at any time) by converting the layer(s) into a Smart Object before running the filter. Not only does this help when you want to re-edit them, but it also helps when applying filters to video layers by allowing the filter to be applied once to the Smart Object and having Photoshop apply the filter to each frame on the fly. Plus, Smart filters have their own mask to hide and show the visibility of the filter throughout the image.

In order to apply a filter to all of the frames of a video layer, be sure to convert it into a Smart Object before applying the filter (Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object). Otherwise, the filter will only be applied to the currently selected frame. As an added feature, because the filter is being applied to a Smart Object, not only is it non destructive, it’s parameters and mask can be changed at any time without penalty.

When creating Smart Objects, Photoshop stores the information (pixels) that make up the Smart Object within the file (lets call this “embedded” information). If you select a Smart Object in the Layers panel and use the keyboard shortcut Command (Mac) / Control (Win) + J or Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) -drag the Smart Object to create a duplicate layer, both of those layers (the original and the duplicate) are referencing the same “embedded” information. Therefore, if you edit the contents of one of the Smart Object layers (Layer > Smart Objects > Edit Contents), then both layers will be updated upon saving the edits.

On the other hand, if you select a Smart Object in the Layers panel and choose Layer > Smart Objects > New Smart Object via Copy, then the “embedded” information is duplicated. Selecting Layer > Smart Objects > Edit Contents will only edit the targeted Smart Object layer.

Any filters applied to a Smart Object are automatically “Smart Filters”. Change the filter parameters at any time by double clicking on the filter name in the Layers panel (that’s what makes them smart, they’re nondestructive). Change the Opacity and Blend Mode of the Smart Filter by double clicking the Filter Blending Option (two small lines with triangles under then to the right of the filter name in the Layers panel.) Paint in the Smart Filter mask just as you would any layer mask.

Control (Mac) / Right Mouse (Win) -click on the Background layer in the Layers panel to convert the Background to a Smart Object in one step.

When working with Smart Filters, double click on the small icon to the right of the filter’s name in the Layer’s panel (the one that looks like two lines with the arrows) to display Blending options (Blend Mode and Opacity) for the filter.

PSCS5 – To use Puppet Warp non destructively, convert the layer(s) into a Smart Object before applying the warp.

When in Adobe Camera Raw, clicking the link at the bottom of the dialog displays the workflow options where you can check/uncheck the option to “Open in Photoshop as Smart Objects”. However, to quickly toggle this option on/off, without displaying the workflow options, simply hold the Shift key and the “Open Image” button will toggle to “Open Object” and vice versa.

PSCS5 – When placing files from Bridge (File > Place…) and/or dragging and dropping from Mini Bridge into an already open document, Photoshop CS5 will conveniently place the newly added layer as a Smart Object as well as resize it to fit within the originating image’s canvas size. This was a much requested feature but if you prefer the legacy behavior, there are preferences to turn off both under Preference > General > Place or Drag Raster Images as Smart Objects and Preference > General > Resize Image During Place.

PSCS5 – On Windows, simply drag and drop an image from Mini Bridge into the Photoshop work area. On Mac, select Window > Application Frame and drag and drop an image from Mini Bridge into the work area to open it. If there are no other files open Photoshop will open the dropped image as a new document. However, if there is already an image open and you drag and drop an image from Mini Bridge on top of that open file, Photoshop will place the dropped file as a Smart Object (as it’s own layer) and will automatically resize it to fit within the canvas. If you prefer to Drag and Drop an image from Mini Bridge (and there are additional files open), and so that it opens as it’s own document, drag and drop the file in the Tabbed area at the top of the open documents.

When using the File > Place command (invoked from either Photoshop or Bridge) the placed document is automatically converted into a Smart Object. Not only does this work when placing images, but also logos/artwork from Illustrator into Photoshop.

To create an “unlinked” copy of a Smart object, select Layer > Smart Objects > New Smart Object via Copy. This copy will reference it’s own embedded file. If you edit the contents of the Smart Object only that instance will be updated.