Liquify Effect to Smart Layer Won't drag/copy to new file

[FauxtoGuy]

I have a Smart Layer with a Liquify effect, & they reside in a Layer Set. When I drag the layer set to a new file, the liquify effect icon is present in the Layers Palette, but the effect is not visible on the Smart Layer. This is true immediately after drag copy, before any move or scale modification. I know I can create a new Smart Layer from a copy of the Layer Set before drag copy, but I prefer to have the filter live, which is the whole point of Smart Layers.

User error, bug, or limit of application?

Thanks

[davescm · Accepted solution]

Hi

I could not replicate this in CC2017.1.1 if the new and old documents were the same size

I started with this layer

I converted it to a smart object and applied the liquify filter

I then dragged it from the layers panel , via the document tab into another document, holding down the shift key before releasing to centre the placement. On release the liquify filter was applied as before.

However - If the new document was a different size and aspect ratio - then the filter was applied incorrectly

The way to avoid that was to make a new smart object containing the original SO and filter (i.e. a nested smart object) before dragging to the new document

This can still be reopened to adjust the liquify filter inside it

Dave

[FauxtoGuy]

That's it. Files were not the same size. But why should that be a requirement? I thought the point of Smart Layers was flexibility. I create complex composite images, with individual elements often enhanced in separate files. Sometimes I make further adjustments by transferring these elements -in layer sets- to the main composite file. It would be often helpful to import complete layer sets, with their live adjustments.

[davescm]

The contents of a smart layer are used to render a pixel layer which is then acted upon by any filters etc. So the liquefy filter will act upon the whole new render size.

Like I said it is easily worked around with a nested smart object so that the liquify filter is also in a smart object.

Dave