Raster vs Smart Objects

Raster vs Smart Objects

Learn the key differences between working with Raster-based images vs Smart Objects in Photoshop.

When to use

Using Raster images and Smart Objects will depend on the type of work you are looking to create, but there are more benefits to using one over the other. 

Instructions

Resizing A Raster Image

• In your New Document, click and drag one of the photos from the resources over into your file.
• After bringing in your photo, press Command/Ctrl+T to initiate a Free Transform.
• Click and drag inwards from any of the four corners of the bounding box around the image to scale it down until you can barely see it.
• Press 'Return' on the keyboard to apply the transformation.
• Press Command/Ctrl+T once again, and now scale the image back up by dragging outwards from any of the four corners of the bounding box while holding the Alt/Option Key.
• Once the image is scaled up, press 'Return' on the keyboard once again to apply the changes.
• Notice that you will barely be able to make out the image because it is too blurry. 

Resizing A Smart Object

• Go to the File Menu and choose 'Place Embedded'.
• Navigate to a different photo and then choose 'Place' from the lower right corner of the dialog box.
• After importing your photo, press Command/Ctrl+T to initiate a Free Transform, and then scale the image down so you can barely see it.
• Press 'Return' on the keyboard to apply the changes.
• Next, press Command/Ctrl+T to initiate a Free Transform once again, and this time scale it back up until the image fills your canvas, and then press the 'Return' key on the keyboard to apply the transformation.
• Notice that the quality of your image is the same as it was when we first imported it.

Added Benefits Of Smart Objects

• Another great benefit of working with Smart Objects is that you can apply adjustments to the original image and still retain the size, position, and rotation of the image in your main document.
• Double-click on the Smart Object layer to go inside of it. 
• Click on the Adjustment Layer Icon at the bottom of the Layers Palette (the icon that looks like a half white and half black circle).
• Apply a Hue/Saturation Adjustment to the image.
• Increase the Saturation by moving the slider to the right.
• Click on the Adjustment Layer Icon once again and apply a Brightness/Contrast Adjustment Layer to the image.
• Increase the Brightness, and then reduce the Contrast by moving the sliders to the right and left respectively. 
• Press Command/Ctrl+S to save the file and you will be prompted with a dialog box asking you to flatten your image.
• Click 'OK' to continue.
• Next, select the bottom layer in the Layers Palette, hold the Shift Key, and select the top Adjustment Layer so all three of your layers are selected at the same time.
• Hold the Control Key and click on any of the layers, and then choose 'Convert To Smart Object' from the dropdown menu.
• After converting your layers into a Smart Object, click and drag the layer into your other Photoshop document.
• Double-click on the layer name of the original Smart Object layer that we imported and copy it by pressing Command/Ctrl+C.
• Double-click on the layer name of your new Smart Object and paste the name by pressing Command/Ctrl+V.
• You can now select the Raster image layer and the original Smart Object layer by selecting one, holding the Command/Ctrl Key and then selecting the second, and deleting them both by clicking on the Trash Bin Icon at the bottom of the Layers Palette. 
• Select the only remaining Smart Object layer and press Command/Ctrl+T to initiate a Free Transform.
• Press Command/Ctrl+0 to Fit To Screen.
• Scale the image down by clicking and dragging inwards while holding any of the four corners of the bounding box while holding the Alt/Option Key until your layer fits nicely in your document and then pressing 'Return' on the keyboard to apply the changes.
• You can now double-click on the Smart Object Layer to go inside of it, make any adjustments you'd like, and then saving it by pressing Command/Ctrl+S on the keyboard.
• Close out of the Smart Object by pressing Command/Ctrl+W and you will see the changes updated and applied in your main document. 

Hints & tips

• Scaling an image by clicking and dragging from any of the corners of the bounding box after doing a Free Transform (Command/Ctrl+T) will resize it from that corner.
• Scaling an image while holding the Alt/Option Key will resize it from the center of the image.
• Resizing a Raster image will cause the image to lose quality over time.
• Resizing a Smart Object will allow you to retain the image quality over time.
• Working with Smart Objects allows you to apply adjustments inside of a nested file.
• The keyboard shortcut for saving a file or a Smart Object is Command/Ctrl+S on the keyboard.
• The keyboard shortcut for closing a tab is Command/Ctrl+W on the keyboard.