Pixiq

A Smart Object is a sweet device that allows you to get back to all the qualities of the original file. You can use it for several kinds of files—one of which is a RAW image file. The concept is really pretty simple. A Smart Object acts as a direct link to your original RAW image by embedding the actual RAW file as a layer—you can go back to the RAW file via the Smart Object to adjust the original in whatever way is necessary.

The Smart Object sits as a layer in your image. You access it by double clicking the icon, and it re-opens the layer as the original RAW file. Here is a quick step-by-step primer.

Open a RAW file. When Photoshop opens it, it will open the Camera RAW dialog. At the very bottom of the Preview window you’ll see what looks like a webpage link, underlined and colored as blue—that is the button to your workflow options. Click it.

There you will see the box “Open in Photoshop as Smart Objects.” Check it.

When you hit OK to return to the Camera RAW screen, you’ll note that the “Open Image” tab now reads as “Open Object.”

Hit “Open Object.”

This transports you to Photoshop’s main screen where, with your layers palette open, you’ll see your image with this cute little icon.

Double-click that icon, and you are right back to Camera RAW and your RAW adjustments, where you can make changes to the RAW file, save them, and apply them immediately to your image layer. How cool is that?

The Smart Object workflow is a huge revolution. They are extremely flexible layer tools, and you can do anything to them that you can do to any other adjustment or image layer.