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January 19, 2026
Answered

Always Receiving Dialog Box to Rasterize Object When Trying to Use Brush

  • January 19, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 107 views

Hello,

I am taking a self-guided course on layers and keep running into a problem. The course says to select the layer which is a smart object and then use the brush tool to paint over it. I keep receiving the dialog box 'This smart object must be rasterized before proceeding.' When I choose to do that, the brush color does not change the color of what I'm trying to paint. What can I do to edit the smart object with a brush?

Correct answer creative explorer

@887415 that is correct. A Smart Object is prevents you from painting directly on the pixels because its primary job is to preserve the original image quality. When you rasterize it, you turn it into a regular layer of pixels. Here is the Photoshop HelpX tutorials: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/desktop/create-manage-layers/smart-objects/create-embedded-smart-objects.html

4 replies

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 20, 2026

@887415 

 

Adobe added a checkbox in Preferences/Settings: General - to automatically add a new layer when brushing, which overcomes this issue without having to rasterize the smart object.

 

875555iB3C799EE8FC0C900.png

January 20, 2026

Thank you for demonstrating.

creative explorer
Community Expert
creative explorerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 19, 2026

@887415 that is correct. A Smart Object is prevents you from painting directly on the pixels because its primary job is to preserve the original image quality. When you rasterize it, you turn it into a regular layer of pixels. Here is the Photoshop HelpX tutorials: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/desktop/create-manage-layers/smart-objects/create-embedded-smart-objects.html

m
January 20, 2026

Thank you for getting back to me.