will47 Loc: Indianapolis, IN

I was just reading the following tutorial in regards to sharpening. Using the smart object makes sense but I seem to be missing something. If I have made several adjustments to the image and merge them I will have one layer. And then it says sharpen. So...if I have a photo with several adjustments what happens to all those adjustments if I want to go back and make a correction? Or what if I am just working on a duplicate background layer? I always duplicate the background before working on the image.

https://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-editing/using-smart-sharpen-for-the-best-image-sharpening-in-photoshop/

bleirer

If the adjustments are in adjustment layers they will be above your other layers but apply to the whole image (there is a way to make it apply only to one layer if needed). You can go back and change adjustment layers any time as long as you keep the layers (don't flatten) and save in tiff or any file type that supports layers.

For sharpening, if a layer is a smart object and you choose a filter like smart shapen there will be an adjustable sharpening layer below and associated with that layer. It can be reopened and changed any time.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

If you merge, there goes your smart object.

bleirer

Save it with layers forever. Export or save as a flattened file when you want to post it or print it or send to someone.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

First of all, make a copy of the image/images you are working on and use that copy. This first step will save you a lot of grief if you mess up. Its easy to make a wrong move when you zone-out on a project.

That aside, If you merge your project it into one image, bye bye adjustments layers.

Merging while in the process should be done by grouping everything together, duplicate the group and merging the duplicate.
You will end up with a raster file & a folder group of the original files. Less confusing to look at.
Any further adjustment on the original layers would not affect the merged raster layer but you still have the original layers to go back to if you mess up from that point on.

Keep doing this and every major merging would have a different set of original folders. The files size will bloat so after a 3 or 4 folders, it will be a good time to save & then save-as, make a version 2. Then keep only the immediate bottom folder and delete the others to simplify and then continue editing.

Always keep saving and make duplicate saves if possible so you have further back-ups to go back to.

bleirer

It starts to get into the weeds a bit, but you can merge any number of layers into a smart object nondestructively. Then you don't need any interim saves, everything is in one file but still totally reversible. The contents of the smart object can still be edited by double clicking the object which opens a new window showing the original layers that were merged. If you change anything you hit save and the changes radiate back to the smart object. The smart sharpen can be applied to the merged smart object, which now contains the merged layer and the sharpening is applied to all. This explains pretty well.

https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/how-to-merge-layers-as-smart-objects-in-photoshop/

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

If no raster editing is being done, That is the best way to it.

bleirer

So many ways to get the same result. I'll just add that you can add a blank layer above the smart object and do a lot of raster edits there.

Also if you want to raster edit one of those layers after you put them into a merged smart object you still can by double clicking the smart object. It opens a new window with the editable layers split out. You make your edits then do a save and the edits radiate back.

Another approach is ctrl shift e, which makes a merged non smart layer out of the selected visible layers without altering the original layers. This layer could then be converted to a smart object if desired.

It all works if you can keep it sorted out. That's why it's good to label the layers.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Yep, many ways to skin a cat.
Personally in my workflow, I find editing multiple raster layers mixed with smart objects editing too slow to the point of restricting the flow when designing. Smart objects still require separate saves after adjustment and sometimes cause history issues to come back to & an added complication for sending files.
But for simpler edits, it rocks.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

What I do is save with another name so the original shot remains. You can always go back to the original for further or different post processing -- and again save with different name.