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timm63959814
Participant
August 4, 2026
Question

A smart object with polar coordinates filter applied behaves differently when dragged to a new file depending on the position you drop it off

  • August 4, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 13 views
  • Issue summary: A smart object produces unexpected behaviour when dragging a smart object with polar coordinates applied to a new document depending on where you drop it off on the canvas.
  • Product and version: 27.8.0
  • Operating system: Windows 11
  • Steps to reproduce: 
    1. Create a square document
    2. create a gradient (or any other content) and turn it into a smart object
    3. Apply the polar coordinates filter
    4. drag and drop the smart object to a new document
    5. depending on where you let go with your mouse on the canvas, the filter outputs different results
  • Expected result: same output as the document the object was copied from
  • Actual result: result depends on placement on canvas, which can’t be changed by repositioning the smart object. double-clicking the smart object also does not help. it seems like the polar coordinates filter is stuck to the coordinates where you let the mouse go.
  • Attachments (optional): https://youtu.be/sEZB6t0sIW4

    3 replies

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 4, 2026

    If you move the Smart Object in its original containing document and force an update of the Filter by saving the SO the appearance changes, too. 

     

     

     

     

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 4, 2026
    • Expected result: same output as the document the object was copied from

    That is not the expected result, as ​@Trevor.Dennis already explained. 

    To maintain the effect of the Smart Filter on the Smart Objects you could remove everything except the Smart object, save the document as a new file and place that or convert the Smart Object with the Filter applied to a Smart Object. 

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 4, 2026

    Polar Coordinates operates from the centre of the layer/canvas, or selection.  Could that be what is going on?

    You could create a tiny Action that centres the layer after moving it to the new document and then running Polar Coords. Or could you use an alpha channel to select the required centre for Polar coords to work on/from?

    It might help if you showed us what you are trying to do, and how you are trying to do it.