Exploring limits of ACR smart object
Jun 19, 2019 21:04:04 #
I did this as an exercise to see for myself how far I could take photoshop before I had to rasterize my raw files and lose the connection to ACR. I got a lot of help from some UHH members, so thank you. I'm not trying to make a tutorial so skipping a lot of steps. I hope you will add your own tricks as far as editing in photoshop without having to rasterize. If you want to debate over whether you should or shouldn't do parametric editing, we could save that for another day, please.
I started with two basic raw images, one hibiscus and one petunia, did my usual lightroom this and that and then opened them both as smart object layers in one photoshop file. At this point I can click either object and it will open ACR and I can do whatever edits I want.
My first test was to see if I could do basic healing brush, etc. type things. I tried it and right away it said I had to rasterize the file. But wait, I learned here that I could add a layer above the smart object and do the healing brush and more there. So far so good.
Next I tried filters. No problem because they attach as smart filters to a smart object.
Next I wanted to dodge and burn. Ran into a similar roadblock, but was shown two ways to do this. One was to add a grey layer and use the brush tool with either a white or black brush to dodge or burn. Another was to do a smart layer via copy (this unlinks the two smart objects) with a layer mask, go back into ACR and lighten or darken it strongly, then brush on the mask to reveal parts of the lighter or darker image below. So I still have the raw smart object intact.
Finally I wanted to composite the pictures so I could add the petunia to the hibiscus pic. I thought this would lose the smart object for sure but as it turns out not problem, just mask as usual and use the move and transform tool to position everything. I put in two of the same petunia and retained the ability to adjust both in ACR together because I did duplicate instead of copy.
Here are the files I used and the final result, remember the purpose was learning about the techniques, so not looking for critique or praise.
What else can one do in photoshop before rasterizing a smart objects? What is impossible?
I started with two basic raw images, one hibiscus and one petunia, did my usual lightroom this and that and then opened them both as smart object layers in one photoshop file. At this point I can click either object and it will open ACR and I can do whatever edits I want.
My first test was to see if I could do basic healing brush, etc. type things. I tried it and right away it said I had to rasterize the file. But wait, I learned here that I could add a layer above the smart object and do the healing brush and more there. So far so good.
Next I tried filters. No problem because they attach as smart filters to a smart object.
Next I wanted to dodge and burn. Ran into a similar roadblock, but was shown two ways to do this. One was to add a grey layer and use the brush tool with either a white or black brush to dodge or burn. Another was to do a smart layer via copy (this unlinks the two smart objects) with a layer mask, go back into ACR and lighten or darken it strongly, then brush on the mask to reveal parts of the lighter or darker image below. So I still have the raw smart object intact.
Finally I wanted to composite the pictures so I could add the petunia to the hibiscus pic. I thought this would lose the smart object for sure but as it turns out not problem, just mask as usual and use the move and transform tool to position everything. I put in two of the same petunia and retained the ability to adjust both in ACR together because I did duplicate instead of copy.
Here are the files I used and the final result, remember the purpose was learning about the techniques, so not looking for critique or praise.
What else can one do in photoshop before rasterizing a smart objects? What is impossible?
Jun 20, 2019 07:38:21 #
Jun 20, 2019 10:33:07 #
It's a nice composite if I am understanding your post. I would never know otherwise. Crisp & Clean.
Jun 20, 2019 14:01:03 #
Yes it is a composite from the first two pics, I was trying to see if I could keep both active as raw files and still merge them.
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