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Bazsl
Inspiring
February 7, 2025
Answered

Smart object copies are no longer linked - bug or intentional

  • February 7, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 1316 views

It used to be that if you duplicated a smart object layer using Ctrl/Cmd+J or the Duplicate Layer option in the context menu the smart object layers were linked so that changes made to one were also made to the other. That is no longer true in the current version of Ps. Does anyone know if that is a bug or is it an intentional change? Thanks.

    Correct answer Trevor.Dennis

    Just to be clear, I don't think you mean Linked Smart Objects as opposed to Smart Objects created and copied inside a single document?

     

    If you double click to open the SO in an edit window, changes made are reflected in all other copies of the SO.

    If you apply effects, Transform etc. inside the document window to one SO, it will only affect that SO and not its copies.

     

    Was that not always the case?  It seems like a sensible workflow to me as it gives us both options.

    4 replies

    K
    Katie38233619vgkf
    Participant
    May 16, 2025

    Same thing happening to me. I think I have to opt to go back to an older version of photoshop at this point. 

    I also abhor their terminology that is "smart objects", or "'linked' smart objects"...  but Smart objects are retained with in the file iteself, linke are an external separate file altogether. The type of file Im having an issue with are the internally stored smart objects (NOT Links). Used to be I could copy and paste a smart object knowing fully it would be the same asset if I double clicked to dig into edit it and it would propagate that change to all the other smart objecects.  If I wanted a separate unique asset, I would right click it, and select "New Smart Object via Copy" to make a unique instance. Now it seems like every time I copy paste a smart object, its all defaulted to "New Smart Object via Copy" and its terrible.... 

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Trevor.DennisCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    February 8, 2025

    Just to be clear, I don't think you mean Linked Smart Objects as opposed to Smart Objects created and copied inside a single document?

     

    If you double click to open the SO in an edit window, changes made are reflected in all other copies of the SO.

    If you apply effects, Transform etc. inside the document window to one SO, it will only affect that SO and not its copies.

     

    Was that not always the case?  It seems like a sensible workflow to me as it gives us both options.

      D Fosse
      Community Expert
      D FosseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 8, 2025

      Yes, this is entirely logical and they way it should behave. Nothing wrong here.

       

      When you  apply a filter to a smart object layer like this, the filter is applied to the layer itself - from the outside, so to speak.

       

      You're not going inside the smart object and editing the embedded or linked file. If you did that (by double-clicking the smart object), it would update all copied instances.

       

      If you made a new smart object via copy, then they would be split into separate smart objects and remain independent even if you went in and edited the embedded/linked file.

        Stephen Marsh
        Community Expert
        Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        February 9, 2025
        quote

         Again, perhaps the command should now have the word Embedded added to clarify what it actually does, i.e.: "Convert to Embedded Smart Object".

         

        By @Stephen Marsh

         

        I'd vote for that.  Same terminology as Place Embedded to be consistent and avoid confusion, which was doing its best to happen in this thread.


        quote
        quote

         Again, perhaps the command should now have the word Embedded added to clarify what it actually does, i.e.: "Convert to Embedded Smart Object".

         

        By @Stephen Marsh

         

        I'd vote for that.  Same terminology as Place Embedded to be consistent and avoid confusion, which was doing its best to happen in this thread.


        By @Trevor.Dennis

         

        You can vote here:

         

        https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-ideas/update-smart-object-terminology-to-better-distinguish-between-embedded-and-linked/idi-p/15141347

        creative explorer
        Community Expert
        creative explorerCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        February 7, 2025

        @Bazsl I think they did that intentional. Changes made to one instance doesn't affect the others. This means you have to edit each instance separately. Have you tried duplicating the image as a smart objects by either copy/paste or right-click on a layer and select New Smart Object via Copy. or if you already have separate Smart Objects, you can link them. Right-click on a Smart Object layer and choose Link to Layer. You'll then be able to choose the Smart Object you want to link it to. All linked layers will share the same Smart Object content.

        m
        B
        BazslAuthor
        Inspiring
        February 7, 2025

        New smart object via copy works as it always has. It creates a copy that is independent of the original smart object. Link Layers links the selected layers so they move together. It is not specific to smart objects and does propagate edits between the linked layers.

        A
        Community Manager
        AlekeCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        February 7, 2025

        Hi @Bazsl! 

        I'm testing on my end, and duplicated Smart Objects remain linked to the original Smart Object using Ctrl + J. Since when do you recall this behavior began happening? Was it after a recent update to Photoshop or your operating system? 

        An initial thing we can try is resetting Photoshop preferences, that will help restore Photoshop to its default state and fix various issues. Here's how to do that: https://adobe.ly/415lOzW

        Let me know how it goes, thakns!
        Alek

        *(If you mention me with an @, like @Aleke, I’ll get a notification and can respond faster.)*
          B
          BazslAuthor
          Inspiring
          February 7, 2025

          I don't know when the behavior changed since I use smart objects rarely. My test was a follows.

          Open a .psd file with several layers.

          Create a stamp layer (Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E) at the top of the layer stack.

          Convert the stamp layer to a smart object.

          Duplicate the smart object using Ctrl+J.

          Select the duplicate layer.

          Choose Filter > Camera raw filter from the menu.

          Convert the image to black and white.

          Close the camera raw filter.

          The other smart object layer is still in color and does not have the camera raw filter added.

           

          I have tried using Gaussian blur instead of the camera raw filter and I have tried adding filters to both the original smart object and the copy. In no case is the edit propagated to the other smart object. Can you provide a step-by-step example that does work? Thanks.

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