Inspiring

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Smart Objects from rasterized layers

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
May 26, 2017
2 replies
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The following statement is from Photoshop CS6: The Missing Manual (p.113): "There's no going back once you have rasterized a layer. You can't resize former Smart Objects ... w/o losing quality."

So I can bring a file from ACR into PS as a smart object and transform it without losing quality. However, let's say that I made a copy of that layer and rasterized it in order to perform edits that can only be performed on a rasterized layer. I then merged those layers (the copied layer and the edits) and converted that rasterized layer into a new smart object. Does that new smart object have the same characteristics as a file that was originally brought into PS as a smart object?

More broadly, does any rasterized layer, once converted into a smart object, share all the characteristics of a file that was originally brought into PS as a smart object? I'm under the impression that a rasterized layer, once converted to a smart object, can be edited with smart filters. But can it also be transformed/resized w/o loss of quality?

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Correct answer barbara_a7746676

"There's no going back once you have rasterized a layer. You can't resize former Smart Objects ... w/o losing quality."

That is true.

"I then merged those layers (the copied layer and the edits) and converted that rasterized layer into a new smart object. Does that new smart object have the same characteristics as a file that was originally brought into PS as a smart object?"

No it does not.

"does any rasterized layer, once converted into a smart object, share all the characteristics of a file that was originally brought into PS as a smart object?"

It does as long as no changes were made to the rasterized layer. If changes were made it does not share all of the same characteristics of a file that was originally brought into PS as a smart object.

"I'm under the impression that a rasterized layer, once converted to a smart object, can be edited with smart filters. But can it also be transformed/resized w/o loss of quality?"

Yes, that is true.

Doc_PitAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks very much for taking the time to answer those questions. Much appreciated.

barbara_a7746676

Community Expert

You're very welcome.

You may already know this, but if you want to make a change to a smart object layer you can use another workflow. Instead of duplicating the layer, rasterizing it, and then combining the rasterized layer with the original smart object layer, you can do the following:

Double click on the layer thumbnail for the smart object layer. That will open it in a new window. Make changes. Save and close the separate window. Photoshop will update the smart object layer to incorporate your changes.

barbara_a7746676

Correct answer

Community Expert

"There's no going back once you have rasterized a layer. You can't resize former Smart Objects ... w/o losing quality."

That is true.

"I then merged those layers (the copied layer and the edits) and converted that rasterized layer into a new smart object. Does that new smart object have the same characteristics as a file that was originally brought into PS as a smart object?"

No it does not.

"does any rasterized layer, once converted into a smart object, share all the characteristics of a file that was originally brought into PS as a smart object?"

It does as long as no changes were made to the rasterized layer. If changes were made it does not share all of the same characteristics of a file that was originally brought into PS as a smart object.

"I'm under the impression that a rasterized layer, once converted to a smart object, can be edited with smart filters. But can it also be transformed/resized w/o loss of quality?"

Yes, that is true.

D Fosse

Community Expert

"I'm under the impression that a rasterized layer, once converted to a smart object, can be edited with smart filters. But can it also be transformed/resized w/o loss of quality?"
Yes, that is true.

Well, let's keep our heads straight here. At some point the smart object has to be rasterized, and then any resize will result in the normal loss of quality.

The point is that it happens only once, even if you resize repeatedly.

barbara_a7746676

Community Expert

The context of my question is this:

I'm trying to develop an ability to create images through compositing. So, for example, when I create backgrounds, I usually blend several components, which involves resizing, repositioning and reblending each component repeatedly, until I get what I want. I try to keep each component as a smart object. Moreover, in the same file, I may work on several backgrounds, placing my subject on one or another. That workflow offers great flexibility, but it can lead to a number of smart objects and a very, very large file, sometimes in excess of 30GB. At some point, I may stamp a group of layers into a single layer (which, of course, is rasterized) and duplicate that into a new document. In effect, when a file becomes too large, I separate the work into a now over-large original file (which I can always go back to) and a leaner new working file.

My question really is this: If I decide that I want to make further changes to one of these layers stamped and exported from the original file into the new working file, I could convert that layer into a new smart object and enjoy the benefits of smart filters. However, if for any reason, I want to resize that new smart object, would it resize nondestructively (just as a RAW file brought into PS from ACR as a smart object)? I'm interpreting your answers to mean that it would not resize nondestructively.

If you have any suggestions about improving that workflow, I'm all ears. Thanks, again, for your help.

Smart Object layers always resize non-destructively. That is one of the big advantages.

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