What Are Smart Objects?
The default setting in Photoshop Elements is to turn your files into “Smart Objects” when you move a file from the Photo Bin onto another document. Find out what a smart object is, what it does, and why I disagree with the default setting.
Video 02-08: What Are Smart Objects? (4:02)
In this lesson, we'll discuss the pros and cons of using Smart Objects. If you recall, when we set up our preferences, I had you check Disable Smart Objects. I'm going to uncheck that so I can demonstrate what you'll encounter when Smart Objects are not disabled.
To demonstrate, I'll use the practice files from Part 2, lesson 8 of your class downloads. There's a layered PSD about a birthday and a confetti element. My plan is to move the confetti onto the birthday card via the Photo Bin. So open the Photo Bin and click and drag the confetti onto the card. When I let go of my mouse over the photo, the confetti lands above the photo layer in the Layers panel. I'll use the Move tool to click and drag the confetti up and into place. I use my arrow keys to move that over just a little bit. And then I'll close the Photo Bin.
Look at the Layers panel at the confetti layer, and you'll see an icon in the lower right corner of the thumbnail. This is the icon that tells you this layer is a Smart Object. In the full professional Photoshop version there are some great ways to use Smart Objects. But in Photoshop Elements there's one and only one benefit you get by using a Smart Object. Every time you resize a photo or element, it starts over with the original image so you have the least loss of quality possible. It's true that resizing an object multiple times will eventually show visible decline in quality. This is especially true with low resolution files like a small image downloaded from the web, or a small image sent in an email.
Most of the files you'll be using though won't be small files and resizing again to make a small adjustment isn't going to show any visible loss of quality even when you zoom way in to check. I personally often resize files a second and occasionally a third time without noticeable loss of quality. But again, this is with large high resolution files. If you are worried that there might be a loss of quality, the original file is right there in the Photo Bin. And all you have to do is drag the first file to the trash and move the original file onto your document again. So having Photoshop Elements access that original file, each time you resize is the one benefit of Smart Objects.
In contrast, there are many reasons not to use Smart Objects. I can't use a filter on a Smart Object. If I choose Filter, Filter Gallery, I get a dialog box that says this smart layer must be simplified before it can be edited. Would you like to proceed? If you're new to Photoshop Elements and have never heard of smart layers, this can be very confusing. I'll just click Cancel.
I can't use the enhancements offered in the Enhance menu. I get the same message and again, I'll click Cancel.
If I want to remove a few confetti pieces that overlap the type by using the Eraser tool, I get that same notice. Just about anything you try to do with a layer other than resize it will result in this pop up. So if you become an expert user of Photoshop Elements, which is my goal for you, you have two options. Be willing to constantly simplify your layers or uncheck Smart Objects in preferences. I could click OK to simplify this layer but I'll click Cancel and show you another way to do it. Right click on the layer and choose Simplify Layer. And now I can easily erase the unwanted confetti. I hope this helps you understand why I recommend you check the option in preferences to disable Smart Objects.