How to Convert to Smart Object Photoshop CS3

Photoshop’s Smart Object features allow you to work with outside images, graphics and even vector files inside of Photoshop without having to go back and forth between programs to make changes. Smart Objects preserve a file’s original properties while still allowing you to apply many of Photoshop’s effects and filters. Converting an imported file to a Smart Object is a simple process.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Photoshop CS3 software
• Existing document with object to convert

Instructions

1. Open Photoshop CS3 and open your document from the application menu by selecting “File > Open.”

2. Click on the Layers palette to the left of your workspace and select the layer containing the object you want to convert to a Smart Object. Select “Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object” from the application menu. The converted layer will now be displayed as a thumbnail with a small page icon at the bottom right-hand corner of the image in the Layers palette. Some of the editing options will not be available for Smart Objects.

3. Repeat this process on any layer with an image you would like to convert. Save your conversions by typing “Ctrl"-S” (“Command"-"S” on a Mac.)

Tips & Warnings

• Images placed onto the canvas using the “File > Place” method are automatically imported as Smart Objects. You can also convert a Smart Object back to a raster image by selecting “Layer > Rasterize > Smart Object.” This will once again allow you to make some of the edits and apply some of the drawing tools and filters to the image.

References

• Adobe: About Smart Objects
• Adobe: Create Smart Objects