Smart Object -> Convert to Layers Does Rasterizes When Smart Object Transformed

[Tommy St]

Hello. I've just found what appears to be a bug, or at least some strange functionality. When you create a smart object from a single layer, then distort it via Transform, then attempt to Convert to Layers, the smart object simply becomes rasterized.

I'm not sure if there is a now hidden pop up menu that I toggled "Do Not Show Again" on, or if this is actually intended, but I would expect it to remove the Smart Object's transformation, and then convert it to its original layers. By rasterizing it, the layer's mask, blending options, etc. are all lost, so I have to Reset Transform, then Convert to Layers. Strangely enough this only happens when the smart object is a single layer. If there is any other than a single layer (e.g. it is in a group, there are multiple layers, there is an adjustment layer, etc.) the Convert to Layers works as expected.

This does interrupt my workflow, since I tend to make text/verbiage in Illustrator, bring it into Photoshop via Smart Objects, then distort it in Photoshop, apply blending options, etc. When I recently tried the Convert to Layers with these kinds of Smart Objects, I thought I was going crazy when it just rasterized them. If this is working as intended, I'd like to know the rationale for Convert to Layers literally being the same as Rasterize in this case.

I'm currently on OSX and running Photoshop 26.9.0.

[Jeff Arola · Accepted solution]

There is a dialog that should appear as below.

Maybe the Don't show again box got ticked inadvertently.

Anyway you can go to Photoshop 2025>Settings>General and click Reset All Warning Dialogs

so that dialog should appear next time.

[Tommy St]

Thank you for the response! Yes, I did have the "Don't Show Again" ticked on that pop up.

Oddly enough, after I reset the dialogs, I tried clicking the No option on the pop up and kept the "Don't Show Again" ticked. Then I again selected Convert to Layers on a smart object that has only a single layer, and it was rasterized, not converted to its layers. I'd expect that when the "Don't Show Again" is ticked, whatever selection you make in that window should be done by default going forward, rather than always doing the Yes option.

Specifically, it seems the issue is if you tick the "Don't Show Again" once, there is no way to convert a single layer smart object into its layers via Convert to Layers.

[Stephen Marsh]

@Tommy St 

Before Photoshop could do this natively:

https://github.com/joonaspaakko/UnSmart-Objects-photoshop-script

https://blog.darkwark.com/expandSmartObject/

https://www.mightyplugins.cc/magic-scripts