Smart Objects

KEV145

KEV145

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Name
Kevin
Edit My Images
No
Hi all, I edit my images as much as possable in raw and have started to open them as a smart object. Have been told that this is a better way to open images in photoshop as it is non destructive. Any thoughts on this and do others feel this is the way to go.
 
It's my understanding that opening them as smart objects doesn't have anything to do with non-destructive editing. It simply allows you to do things like using smart filters with them.

Here are the basics of non-destructive editing:
1) Start off by duplicating your background layer and never touching it again; that way you can always go right back and start from scratch.
2) Use Adjustment Layers rather than doing tone and colour changes on the image itself.
3) Do any pixel editing, such as brush work, either on a duplicate layer or select the part of the image you want to edit and press Ctrl+J to bring just that part onto a new layer on its own, then work on that. Examples would be touching up skin or lightening and sharpening eyes.
4) Do cloning/healing on a separate blank layer with the clone/healing brush set to 'Sample all layers'.
5) Do dodging and burning on a layer filled with 50% grey and set to Soft Light blend mode; then use a white brush to dodge and a black one to burn, set to about 10-20% opacity.

There's probably a lot more I've left out but it's late and my brain hurts :). Anyway, you'll pick it all up in time. If you need to know more, just ask.
 
Hi Gary, thanks for the quick reply, what you describe is much the way I go about things, just thought that there may be a better way with smart objects, hope others reply and give their views.
 
I love smart objects as the do give you a lot of freedom.
Let's say you want to add noise or blur to the image. If you do it on a stamped layer and don't like the effect you need to delete the layer stamp it again and use the filter again. That's a lot of time used and if you have a ssd and do a lot of editing your writes counter goes up quickly. With smart objects on the other hand you just convert the layer to smart object run your filter and than the smart object gives you the ability to adjust it to taste without having to delete, merge visible, etc. again
 
Thanks for the reply's, very interesting links Joan, have been using smart objects to double process the foreground and sky and then save as tiff's. Any advantage in doing it this way? would like to hear others opions.
 
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