Smart Objects in separate layers

[Rjsps]

I have a file with over 150 layers. I'd like to convert each layer to a smart object, but can only find an answer to converting them all to one Smart Object, instead of individual ones. Any clues anyone? Is there any Action I can download perhaps? 

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

An action would need to have 150+ layer selection and conversion steps built-in.

Try this script (work on a duplicate file just in case it is not what you are looking for):

// convert all top level layers and layer sets to smart objects.jsx

function main() {

    if (!documents.length) {
        alert('There are no documents open!');
    } else {
        processAllLayersAndSets(app.activeDocument);
    }

    function processAllLayersAndSets(obj) {

        // Process all layers and layer sets
        // Change the following 2 entries of "obj.layers" to "obj.artLayers" to exclude layer sets
        for (var al = obj.layers.length - 1; 0 <= al; al--) {
            app.activeDocument.activeLayer = obj.layers[al];

            newPlacedLayer();

        }

        // Process Layer Set Layers 
        for (var ls = obj.layerSets.length - 1; 0 <= ls; ls--) {
            processAllLayersAndSets(obj.layerSets[ls]);

            newPlacedLayer();

        }
    }

    // Convert to smart object (Cleaned AM code)
    function newPlacedLayer() {
        var s2t = function (s) {
            return app.stringIDToTypeID(s);
        };
        executeAction(s2t("newPlacedLayer"), undefined, DialogModes.NO);
    }
}

activeDocument.suspendHistory('Smart Objects from Layers & Sets', 'main()');

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html

P.S. This code may be a bit slow on 150+ layers, it uses standard JavaScript Reference DOM code, I don't know how to do this via Action Manager code which should be faster.

[jazz-y · Accepted solution]

also not very fast - converting to a smart object is a rather time memory-consuming operation.

#target photoshop

s2t = stringIDToTypeID;

(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('targetLayers'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
var sel = executeActionGet(r).hasKey(p) ? executeActionGet(r).getList(p) : null;

(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('hasBackgroundLayer'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
var shift = executeActionGet(r).getBoolean(p) ? 0: 1

if (sel) {
    for (var i = 0; i < sel.count; i++) {
        (r = new ActionReference()).putIndex(s2t("layer"), sel.getReference(i).getIndex() + shift);
        (d = new ActionDescriptor()).putReference(s2t("null"), r);
        executeAction(s2t("select"), d, DialogModes.NO)
        executeAction(s2t("newPlacedLayer"), undefined, DialogModes.NO);
    }
}

[Stephen Marsh]

jazz-y - Thank you for sharing!

OK, this appears to work on selected layers only...

One possible issue, I had a layer set in my test, the set had a curves adjustment layer above a raster layer. The set was converted as expected to a SO, however,  when I opened the SO created from the set, all of the contents of the SO layer were also SO, even the adjustment layer! Having the adjustment layer turned into a SO obviously destroys it's effect on the lower raster layer.

My expectation is that only root/top level layers and sets should be converted to a SO layer, the contents of the SO layer should remain untouched and should not be converted into SO layers (unless they were already a SO before running the script).

[jazz-y]

This code converts all top-level layers into smart objects, excluding adjustment layers and existing smart objects.

#target photoshop

s2t = stringIDToTypeID;
t2s = typeIDToStringID;

(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('hasBackgroundLayer'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'))
var indexFrom = executeActionGet(r).getBoolean(p) ? 0 : 1;

(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('numberOfLayers'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'))
var indexTo = executeActionGet(r).getInteger(p);

var layers = {}
parseLayerSets(indexFrom, indexTo, layers)

for (o in layers) {
    (r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('layerKind'));
    r.putIdentifier(s2t("layer"), layers[o].id);
    var kind = executeActionGet(r).getInteger(p)
    if (kind != 2 && kind != 5) {
        (r = new ActionReference()).putIdentifier(s2t("layer"), layers[o].id);
        (d = new ActionDescriptor()).putReference(s2t("null"), r);
        executeAction(s2t("select"), d, DialogModes.NO)
        try { executeAction(s2t("newPlacedLayer"), undefined, DialogModes.NO); } catch (e) { alert(e) }
    }
}

function parseLayerSets(from, to, parentObj) {
    for (var i = from; i <= to; i++) {
        (r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('layerSection'));
        r.putIndex(s2t("layer"), i)
        var section = t2s(executeActionGet(r).getEnumerationValue(p))

        if (section == 'layerSectionEnd') {
            i = parseLayerSets(i + 1, to, parentObj[i] = {})
            continue;
        }

        var properties = {};
        (r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('layerID'));
        r.putIndex(s2t("layer"), i);
        properties.id = executeActionGet(r).getInteger(p);

        if (section == 'layerSectionStart') {
            for (o in properties) { parentObj[o] = properties[o] }
            return i;
        } else { parentObj[i] = properties }
    }
}

P.S. I changed the username so that it was not associated with my personal data.

[Kukurykus]

Didn't you like your previous username?

[jazz-y]

🙂

[Stephen Marsh]

Great revision, thank you for sharing!

[Stephen Marsh]

Another option is to create a simple 2 step action, which would convert the current layer or set to a smart object, then select the next layer down:

Then, a script that repeats an action could be run, however, you have to enter in the exact number of repetitions required:

// Repeat action N times
// https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2649334
// https://forums.adobe.com/message/11234144#11234144
#target photoshop
function main() {
    for (i = 0; i < 150; i++) // Change the number 150 to be however many times the action should be repeated
    {
        app.doAction("Run", "Make SO Layer"); // Change the action and action set as required
    }
}
app.activeDocument.suspendHistory("Repeat action N times (history suspended)", "main()");

Then select the very top layer or layer set and run the script.

EDIT: This version uses a prompt GUI to enter the repetition number, rather than hard-coding the number into the script –

// Repeat action N times GUI
// https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2649334
// https://forums.adobe.com/message/11234144#11234144

#target photoshop

// Loop the input prompt until a number is entered
var origInput;
while (isNaN(origInput = prompt("Enter a whole number:", "150")));
// Convert decimal input to integer
var inputToInteger = parseInt(origInput);

function main() {
    for (i = 0; i < inputToInteger; i++) // Variable prompt N times
    {
        app.doAction("Run", "Make SO Layer"); // Change the action and action set as required
    }
}
app.activeDocument.suspendHistory("Repeat action N times (history suspended)", "main()");

EDIT: 7th June 2020 – Original input prompt replaced with more robust code!

[JJMack]

Smart object layers have high overhead, lots of baggage and some restrictions.    Your most likely do not want to have 150 smart object layer in a document. They a a special purpose type layer, not a general use layer type.

[Stephen Marsh]

Another similar thread here (selected layers, not all):

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/script-that-converts-layers-to-separa...