How to use Smart Object in Photoshop

1. What is Smart Object?

Smart Object is integrated from Photoshop CS3 version, undergoing a long time of development and upgrade with each different Photoshop version. Smart Objects are really useful and cool but most of us don't use them and general users, mostly ignore this useful tool.

In essence, a Smart Object is a smart object, containing the original data of the layer (layers, images, vectors). Alternatively, you can manipulate a Smart Object like Transform, using the Filter filter without affecting the original properties of the layer.

To distinguish normal layer and Smart Object layer , we know on the icon of that layer. If you see the File icon on the layer like the image below, that layer is a Smart Object .

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 1

2. Convert the normal layer into a Smart Object and vice versa

Step 1: Click on the layer to convert to Smart Object .

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 2

Next, go to menu Layer (1) => Smart Objects (2) => Convert to Smart Object (3) .

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 3

After converting to Smart Object , you will see the icon in the corner of the Layer as shown below.

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 4

Step 2: To convert Smart Object to normal layer, please click Smart Object layer (1) => Layer (2) => Smart Objects (3) => Rasterize (4) .

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 5

3. Add the image into Photoshop and automatically convert it into a Smart Object

Step 1: Click on the menu File (1) => Place Embedded (2) .

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 6

Next, you choose to image file (3) => Open (4) .

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 7

Then, you edit, drag the image to the desired location and press Enter to confirm.

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 8

Then you will see the layer converted to Smart Object format .

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 9

4. Change the template and keep the format with Replace Contents

This feature will help you to store the original information of the layer and apply it to another sample image. Proceed as follows:

Step 1: You right click on the Smart Object layer (1) => Replace Contents (2) .

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 10

Next, you select the image on your computer (1) => Open (2) .

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 11

Step 2: You align and move the photo to the desired position, the effects and filters from before are preserved.

How to use Smart Object in Photoshop Picture 12

With the sharing about Smart Object in the article, you can find this feature very useful and will help you in case of need.

Good luck!

Samuel Daniel

Update 17 October 2020