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team_graham99
Participant
October 13, 2010
Answered

Un-smart or Revert a Smart Object

  • October 13, 2010
  • 4 replies
  • 91323 views

It'd be very convenient if there was a shortcut key or button that could "revert" or "un-smart" a smart object to what is contained within it. I know you can open the smart object, and drag the contents back to your working PSD, but having a button to toggle between these stages would be very helpful.

If anybody knows an easy way to do this already, please let me know.

Thanks,

Graham

      Correct answer Jeff Arola

      Have you tried the newest photoshop 2020 (version 21.0) that includes Convert Smart Object to layers

       

      https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/whats-new/2020.html

       

      https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/create-smart-objects.html#convert-smart-object-to-layers

      4 replies

      Stephen Marsh
      Community Expert
      Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 23, 2024

      Just for the sake of completeness, before this was added as a native feature:

       

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

       

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

        Jeff Arola
        Community Expert
        Jeff ArolaCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
        Community Expert
        June 2, 2020

        Have you tried the newest photoshop 2020 (version 21.0) that includes Convert Smart Object to layers

         

        https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/whats-new/2020.html

         

        https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/create-smart-objects.html#convert-smart-object-to-layers

          R
          RoséJellié
          Participating Frequently
          November 4, 2020

          @ Jeff Arola 

          This doesn't not keep the transformations. Let's say I convert several layers to a smart object, move the smart object to a different position, and make the smart object smaller to fit into the design appropriately. Once I choose "Convert To Layers", the element does not keep its exact position and size.

           

          What I had to do was duplicate the smart object so that I had 2 copies of the element. They both sat directly atop one another — already perfectly positioned & sized within the layout. Then I converted one of the smart objects to layers — it grew larger & moved across the artboard after it was "unpacked". Then I used the first copy of the smart object (still a smart object) as a guide for placement of the second element (the smart object that I converted to layers). I had to re-position & re-size that second element (the one that was once a smart object but has now been converted to layers). Then after it was resized and repositioned, I deleted the smart object that I used as a guide for placement of the unpacked layers.

           

          I wish all those transformations happened automatically with the "unpacking" of the smart object.

           

            retouchMOJO
            retouchMOJO
            Participant
            October 13, 2010

            Under the menu "Edit/Menus..." Be sure you are in the "Menu For: Application Menus" tab.

            Choose "Layer/Rasterize" and assign the keyboard shortcut of your choice.

            T
            team_graham99Author
            Participant
            October 13, 2010

            Thanks Michael but I was looking for a non-destructive way to toggle the smart object layer into an expansion of its contents.

            T
            team_graham99Author
            Participant
            October 15, 2010
            Thanks Michael but I was looking for a non-destructive way to toggle the smart object layer into an expansion of its contents.

            Thats the point, it can't be non-destructive if the containing document (what Chris is calling the parent) is a different resolution, mode or bit depth.

            If you mean you would like to be able to return multiple layers of the Smart Object intact, into the containing document - then this is a good Feature Request. Of course this could only happen by contextually converting mode, dumping the Adjustment Layers, and resampling the contents of the Smart Object. So a dialog warning would be necessary. This would be a useful feature because it would allow the temporary 'embedding' of layers, to simplify layer structure on complex documents - another use for Smart Objects!  Its a feature I would use.


            Yes Mark, you are correct. I would like to be able to return multiple layers of the Smart Object intact to the containing document. And the reason being is just as you said, when you have a long and complex layering system, it's handy to convert layer groups (and adjustment layers) into Smart objects which can easily be selected and manipulated.

            I look forward to seeing this in the next CS!

              Chris Cox
              Chris Cox
              Legend
              October 13, 2010

              No one step way to do it, and only rarely could it even be done without significant loss.

              Smart Objects can have a different depth, resolution, color mode, and profiles relative to the parent document.

              Only if EVERYTHING perfectly matched could we take the contents out of a Smart Object and put them in the parent document without loss.

              But you can already do that by opening the child and dragging the layers to the parent.

              T
              team_graham99Author
              Participant
              October 13, 2010

              Thanks Chris. I was hoping there'd be an easy one-step way to do it, but you're right, there could be many characteristics distinct to the smart object that would not toggle back appropriately to the parent.

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