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Katherine24550982sivv
Katherine24550982sivv
Participant
June 7, 2026
Answered

Is there a method of altering the pixel content of a smart object (ie: remove vegetation) so that camera raw alteration flow through to the areas of the image which were altered?

  • June 7, 2026
  • 5 replies
  • 69 views

I am modifying this mirror frame image. 

With the application of a mask it will be shown in different contexts / colour ways. 

The NEF image was opened as a Smart Object via Camera Raw.

I need to make a few changes to the photo ie: removal of the fine casurina needles (leaves) etc.

Is there a non-destructive or destructive way retouching which updates with the Smart Object?


I think I have exhausted all options. Hopefully a photoshop fairy will appear!

Thank you

 

 

 

 

    Correct answer Trevor.Dennis

    What have you tried by way of using a layer mask?  We’d need to see the layer structure to have any real idea.  If the NEF RAW file is all there is, then I don’t think you can make areas transparent in Camera RAW, but you can do that once open in Photoshop.  If you can give us a more detailed description of your project, then maybe…  

    For instance, open the RAW file in Photoshop,

    give it a layer mask

    Make the layer with mask a new Smart Object.

    Drag that Smart Object to a CC Library from which it can be used in other projects.

     

    Bat at this stage, I think we can only guess.

    5 replies

    jannen_asiaa
    jannen_asiaa
    Participant
    June 10, 2026

    Yes, there is.

     

    By default, when you open a .NEF file as a Smart Object, Photoshop embeds the raw data inside the PSD. Changes made to the original .NEF file will not automatically update the Smart Object.

    However, you can replace or relink the Smart Object to an external .NEF file. In that case, any edits made to the .NEF (through Camera Raw) will be reflected in Photoshop when the Smart Object is updated.

    Alternatively, if you need retouching that remains editable, you can open the Smart Object, add retouching layers inside it, and save. The parent document will update automatically while keeping the workflow non-destructive.

    Janne, That Adobe Guy
    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Conrad_CCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 8, 2026

    If this is how it was brought into Photoshop…

     

    The NEF image was opened as a Smart Object via Camera Raw.

     

    …then it’s already a Camera Raw smart object, and there’s no need to convert it further. You should be able to edit the raw data using the menu command Layer > Smart Objects > Edit Contents, or the shortcut for that command which is simply double-clicking the Smart Object.

     

    Additionally, if it’s a Camera Raw smart object, you should edit it as that (with Edit Contents) and not by using Camera Raw filter. The major difference is:

    • When you edit the contents of a Camera Raw smart object, you’re really working with the raw data inside the smart object.
    • When you use the menu command Filter > Camera Raw Filter, you’re only filtering the results of the layer and not getting inside it, so many Camera Raw features are unavailable in Camera Raw Filter.

    So the way I would do it is open the Camera Raw smart object using Edit Contents (double-click), use the Remove tool in Camera Raw to delete the overlapping vegetation, then close Camera Raw to apply the change to the Photoshop document.

     

    If you’re happy with how you’ve done it, that’s OK. But in the future you might want to keep these points in mind. Because if it’s already a Camera Raw smart object but you use Camera Raw Filter instead, it’s sort of the worst of both worlds.

    Katherine24550982sivv
    Katherine24550982sivvAuthor
    Participant
    June 9, 2026

    Thank you. I re-ran your suggestions in case I had missed something. As far as I can tell after lots of trials, the only way to edited an image and apply a camera raw filter post edits (ie: to change a colour way) is if you flatten the edits, convert the resultant artwork to smart filter within photoshop and then use camera raw within photoshop. You can’t directly edit a NEF file, nor link the edits in a manner which applies the NEF raw file changes to the edits.

     

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 9, 2026

    Don’t do that! Like explained by both Conrad and me, the only thing you need to do is double-click the smart object in the layer panel. That will bring up ‘the real Camera Raw’, not the Camera Raw filter and this does edit the NEF directly (and non-destructively as all raw editors do). Remove what you want to remove in Camera Raw. Whatever else you would want to do with that filter can be done now too and so it means you don’t have to flatten anything.

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Trevor.DennisCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    June 7, 2026

    What have you tried by way of using a layer mask?  We’d need to see the layer structure to have any real idea.  If the NEF RAW file is all there is, then I don’t think you can make areas transparent in Camera RAW, but you can do that once open in Photoshop.  If you can give us a more detailed description of your project, then maybe…  

    For instance, open the RAW file in Photoshop,

    give it a layer mask

    Make the layer with mask a new Smart Object.

    Drag that Smart Object to a CC Library from which it can be used in other projects.

     

    Bat at this stage, I think we can only guess.

    Katherine24550982sivv
    Katherine24550982sivvAuthor
    Participant
    June 8, 2026

    Thank you. Converting it to a smart filter within photoshop seemed to be the best option available.

    Katherine24550982sivv
    Katherine24550982sivvAuthor
    Participant
    June 7, 2026

    Thanks Johan,

    I wasn’t having issues returning to the NEF in camera raw via Smart Object, I needed camera raw access after editing the image. The only option I could find was to flatten the edited image (destroying the Smart Object directly link to the NEF file), Converted to Smart Filters within Photoshop so I at least have access to the Photoshop version of Camera Raw.

    This should be sufficient in this instance. Thanks for you help

     

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 7, 2026

    You cannot directly alter pixels in a smart object, that is a fundamental limitation that has always been there.

     

    A smart object is not the image, it is an image of the image, so to speak. Think of it as a projection or mirror image. You can distort it, but not reach in and change objects.

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 7, 2026

    Double click the smart object layer. Camera Raw will come up, so you can use the Remove Tool(s) in Camera Raw.

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
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