Preserve source content, replace or restore smart-object contents, and find layers by type, visibility, masks, or effects.
Where: Image Editor → Layers → right-click a supported layer → Convert to Smart Object.
Key ideas
- Embedded source and live edits: A smart object keeps source content separately from the current live layer. Updating embedded contents records the current state; reverting restores a stored state. These are different operations and should not be treated as interchangeable undo buttons.
- Replace without rebuilding the placement: Replace Contents chooses new raster content for a supported smart object through a file picker. Use this for alternate imagery while retaining the existing object workflow instead of deleting the layer and rebuilding it.
- Filtering changes the view: Layer filters narrow displayed rows by name, kind, visibility, effects, masks, or smart objects. They do not reorder layers, delete hidden matches, or change selection indexes. Ancestor groups remain visible to preserve context.
Steps
- Select a supported layer and open its context menu. Choose Convert to Smart Object when available.
- Edit the object, then decide whether to Update Embedded Contents or retain the earlier embedded state for later restoration.
- Use Revert to Embedded Contents to restore the current embedded checkpoint, or Revert to Original Source for the original source snapshot.
- For a raster replacement, choose Replace Contents and select the new image. Inspect dimensions, transforms, masks, and effects after replacement.
- Use the Layers filter bar to find the relevant layer by name or narrow to masks/effects/smart objects. Clear filters when you need the full hierarchy again.
- Choose Release Smart Object only when you deliberately want to remove the wrapper; save the editable result before flattening or exporting.
Available context actions
- Convert to Smart Object, Update Embedded Contents, Revert to Embedded Contents, Revert to Original Source, Replace Contents, and Release Smart Object appear according to the selected layer’s capabilities.
- Copy/Paste/Clear Layer Style and Scale Effects work on layer styling; they are separate from replacing object contents.
- Deep duplication preserves independent nested data rather than sharing mutable masks or filters between copies.
Safe restoration workflow
Before replacing a source used in several compositions, keep the original document or a separate version. Embedded checkpoints are document data, not a synchronization promise that editing an external file will update the layer automatically.
Limitations and important notes
- Actions are disabled or absent for unsupported layer kinds. A smart object here is not a claim that every Photoshop linked-file or plug-in workflow is supported.
Troubleshooting
A layer seems to have disappeared.
Clear the active filter and expand its retained ancestor group before changing the document.
Revert gives the wrong checkpoint.
Distinguish the original source from the last Update Embedded Contents checkpoint; use the corresponding restore action.