To convert a layer or multiple layers into a Smart Object in Photopea, simply select the desired layer(s), right-click, and choose "Convert to Smart Object" from the context menu.
Understanding Smart Objects in Photopea
Smart Objects are powerful containers that allow you to keep the original content of layers intact while applying edits non-destructively. This means you can scale, rotate, skew, or warp a Smart Object without losing the original image quality. You can also apply filters as Smart Filters, which can be easily edited, removed, or hidden at any time.
Step-by-Step Guide to Converting Layers
Converting your layers to a Smart Object in Photopea is a straightforward process. Here's how you do it:
- Select the Layer(s): In the Layers panel, click on the layer you want to convert. To select multiple layers, hold down the
Ctrl(Windows) orCmd(Mac) key while clicking on additional layers. You can also holdShiftto select a range of layers. - Access the Context Menu: With the layer(s) selected, right-click directly on one of the selected layers in the Layers panel or in the document window.
- Choose the Conversion Option: From the menu that appears, select "Convert to Smart Object".
What Happens After Conversion?
As described in the reference, when you convert selected layers to a Smart Object:
- The selected layers are removed from their current position in the Layers panel.
- A new PSD file is created internally. The contents of the removed layers are placed into this new PSD file.
- This new PSD file becomes the source for the Smart Object.
- A new layer containing the Smart Object is added to your main document in place of the original layers.
This process effectively bundles your chosen layers into a single, editable container.
Why Use Smart Objects?
Using Smart Objects offers several key advantages:
- Non-Destructive Transformations: Resize, rotate, and transform without permanent quality loss.
- Smart Filters: Apply filters that can be easily modified or removed later.
- Maintain Original Data: The original pixel or vector data is preserved within the Smart Object.
- Efficient Workflow: Edit the contents of the Smart Object (the linked PSD) and have those changes automatically update in your main document.
- Layer Organization: Combine multiple complex layers into a single, cleaner layer entry.
| Feature | Standard Layer | Smart Object |
|---|---|---|
| Transformations | Destructive | Non-Destructive |
| Filter Application | Permanent | Smart Filters |
| Source Data | Modified Directly | Preserved (Editable PSD) |
| Re-editing Filters | No | Yes |
| File Size (Potentially) | Smaller | Larger |
Editing a Smart Object
To edit the contents of a Smart Object, simply double-click on its thumbnail in the Layers panel. This will open the source PSD file (or other format) in a new tab. Make your edits in this new tab, save the file (Ctrl+S or Cmd+S), and the changes will automatically update in your main document.
By converting layers to Smart Objects, you unlock a more flexible and powerful editing workflow in Photopea, keeping your design options open.
