Is there any way to recover the file space used by a Smart Object?

[Bazsl]

I cannot find a way to recover the file space used by a Smart Object. For example, in Lightroom I select a raw file and:

1) Edit in Photoshop then save the file from Photoshop as a TIFF. File size = 98 mb.

2) Edit in Photoshop as Smart Object then save file from PS as TIFF. File size = 226 mb.

3) Edit in Photoshop as Smart Object, rasterize layer, then save file from PS as TIFF. File size = 204 mb.

4) Edit in Photoshop as Smart Object, rasterize layer, duplicate layer, delete original layer, then save file from PS as TIFF. File size = 204 mb.

Based on my tests, once I create a smart object, approximately 100 mb is added to the file size and there is no way to recover that 100 mb. If you know how to recover the space used by a Smart Object I would love to know how. Thanks.

[Bojan Živković]

I am checking using Lightroom 11.4 and Ps 23.4.1 and can not confirm your statement.

Edit which is black and white was open in Photoshop as SO then duplicated > rasterized > deleted SO layer at the bottom and its almost double smaller size (85,1MB) then edit which is open as SO then saved (red one 162MB).

[Trevor.Dennis]

If you really need to save the file size, work the other way round.

Double click the SO to open in a new window, and save that as a new psd file.

That definitely wins you back the disk space.

[Conrad_C · Accepted solution]

Which of the four options result in a document with a Background layer? My guess is that, because #2 through #4 are opened as Smart Objects, #2 through #4 do not have a Background layer, therefore they technically have an additional alpha channel created to support transparency whether used or not, plus they have a flattened composite compatibility layer, and those two things could partially explain why #2 through #4 are larger. For example, if #1 is only a Background layer, and #2 has no Background layer, how much does the file size for #2 go down if you choose Layer > Flatten Image and save that?

Whether or not that is true, there are other factors too. For example, the file size of a TIFF can vary greatly depending on which TIFF compression you chose, or if you chose No Compression.

[Bazsl]

Thanks for the explanation, Conrad. It appears that the extra 100 mb happens the first time you add a non-background art layer. For example, using my test image, which is 100 mb with just a background layer, if I duplicate the background layer (Ctrl+J) the file size goes up by 200 mb. If I dup the layer again the file size goes up by 100 mb. This seems consistent with your explanation.

[Michael Bullo]

It's possible to unmake a Smart Object that was created in Photoshop. Right mouse click on a non-thumbnail part of a layer within the Layers panel and choose "Convert to Layers". This will return the layers within the Smart Object to the main Photoshop file. If the Smart Object contained multiple layers they will appear within a group in the Layers panel.