Modifying pixel-based adjustments

[PediatricOphthalmologist]

This is a complicated question, so here’s the summary in advance:  what’s the most efficient workflow for an image in which I would like to make both pixel-based (ie clone-stamp, dodge/burn, etc) and filter-based (smart filters, of course) adjustment AND be able to modify any of the changes.

The details: I have an image for which I would like to make two or more pixel-based adjustments as well as use (smart) filters.  I would also like to use only one pixel-based tool per rasterized layer. I’m still a rookie here (hence my official rank as “Community Beginner”) but I thought the best workflow strategy would be to put the pixel-based layers (again, one tool per later) just above the background layer, duplicate each of those rasterized layers and merge one copy of each of them into a smart layer on which to use the filter-based changes.  Modifying the smart filter adjustments is of course a cinch, but what if I also wanted to be able to modify the pixel-based adjustments after creating the smart layer above them?  Having retained a copy of each rasterized layer, I could then make the change(s), duplicate those layers yet again (in case there’s another iteration), again merge one copy of each rasterized layer into a smart layer and copy the smart filters into this modified smart layer and delete the previous smart layer.

I suspect there’s an easier, more efficient way to do this.  Any suggestions?

[Barbara Ash]

You could open your image in Photoshop without making it into a Smart Object layer at the beginning. If it is already a smart object layer, right click on it and choose rasterize so that it is no longer a smart object.

Then convert it to a Smart Object layer. Any filters you apply will be applied to the smart object layer and be easy to edit non-distructively at any time. If you want to make pixel adjustments, you can double-click on the smart object layer. It will then open as a temporary file in a new window in Photoshop where you can make pixel adjustments. To keep the adjustments, save the temporary file -- do not change the name of the file -- and then close it. The smart object layer will be updated.

[Bojan Živković]

If I can understand your question then look at instructions by @Barbara Ash and I want to add: the trick is to convert Normal layer to Smart Object layer, not Background what is default if you use Place command.

• Open image
• Convert Background to normal layer by clicking on padlock on the right side of layer
• Convert layer to Smart Object
• Aplly filter to Smart Object layer
• Edit Smart Object layer content
• In SO editing mode create new layer and clone on that separate layer
• You can edit Smart Object layer at any time and every time you update content Photoshop will reapply filters applied to Smart Object.

[PediatricOphthalmologist]

Thanks to you both for the expert recommendations and Happy New Year!