Question Re: Using Mini-Bridge

[DorrieH.]

I noticed in the recent video by Jen White on "Dos & Don'ts of ArtPlay Clusters" that when she dragged her png image from Mini-Bridge to her scrapbook page it did not turn into a Smart object, yet mine does. Is there something I'm doing different or wrong to cause this. If I do not use the Mini-Bridge, then the transfer png image does not become a Smart Object.

Can some explain the difference of what's actually happening here.

[dmrdm]

I believe in the video she said if you open it the normal way you want get that.

Or you can try an Go to Preferences> and UNCHECK place or drag raster images as smart objects. See if that works for you or not.

[DorrieH.]

Thank you Doris. I was aware that if you opened the image outside of Mini-Bridge you would not have it be a Smart Object, but I wasn't aware that there was a Preference> that you could uncheck. Her's must have been unchecked, because she only had to double check inside the image to get rid of the X leaving no Smart Object. I also realize that you can rasterize the layer to get rid of the Smart Object.

Now tell me, if you can, what is the advantage or disadvantage of having the image as a Smart Object, or what, if any, difference it makes by leaving it as a Smart Object.

I'm asking these questions only because I'm trying to learn Photoshop & Bridge/Mini-Bridge. I'm sure I could do all this successfully in PSE, but I would rather understand how to use PS. Any help would be appreciated.

[Jen White]

Smart Objects ... that is a very loaded question. it is rarely talked about because of the depth and complexity of Smart Objects. Let me give you my 'in a nut shell' understanding. Just keep in mind - I'm going to make it sound simple, but it's really very complex in how it works and how you use them to your advantage.

The biggest (and most understandable) advantage of a Smart Object is that you can transform and resize it over and over without losing quality. The edges will not become ragged or blurred.
You could compare this concept with that of vector images (shapes before they've been rasterized) or type layers before they've been rasterized.

If you work with RAW files, Smart Objects are your friend! That is because when working with a Smart Object in PS, the contents 'within' the Smart Object is not altered. It's part of the magic of PS that I do not pretend to understand.

A Smart Object layer is kind of like a Group on steroids. It has the ability to take lots of layers and put them together in one compact layer (that contains hidden layers within) without altering each individual image/object. This is helpful if you want to run a filter on a bunch of different layers without merging them all together.

this is just the very tip of the iceberg. (which is about the extent of my understanding!)

so to answer your question - there are LOTS of advantages to Smart Objects, but if you are not planning to utilize the crazy benefits, then you are better off just turning them off and avoiding the road blocks that PS will throw at you when you try to do something that Smart Objects do not support.

[mariah]

This is helpful if you want to run a filter on a bunch of different layers without merging them all together.

That sounds terribly interesting and I would love to know more about that. I am making an album with the March Premier kit and need to run a filter on each photo to get the same colouring. Can you explain how to do that with smart objects please?

[DorrieH.]

Jen, Thank you so much for taking the time to explain briefly about Smart Objects. I did watch a You-Tube video on Smart Objects, just recently, so your explanation above did make some sense to me. I guess I will just rasterize the layer as needed. Never know when one day it might be needed .

[Jen White]

That sounds terribly interesting and I would love to know more about that. I am making an album with the March Premier kit and need to run a filter on each photo to get the same colouring. Can you explain how to do that with smart objects please?

Hi Mariah. I don't think Smart Objects are intended for what you need. If you have many images that you'd like to run a filter on, I'd do that in Bridge.