Web Design » Photoshop » How Do I Use Smart Filters in Photoshop?

How Do I Use Smart Filters in Photoshop?

Last updated on September 24, 2022 @ 1:34 pm

Smart filters are a great way to non-destructively edit your images in Photoshop. By non-destructively, we mean that the original image data is never actually altered, so you can always go back and make changes or even remove the filters entirely if you need to.

This is in contrast to regular filters which permanently change the image data.

So how do you use smart filters? First, open up the image you want to edit in Photoshop.

Then, go to the “Layer” menu and select “Smart Objects” followed by “Convert to Smart Object”. This will create a new layer that contains your image data as a smart object.

Now, go to the “Filter” menu and select whichever filter you want to apply. For this example, we’ll use the “Gaussian Blur” filter. When you select a filter, a new dialog box will appear asking you to set the options for that particular filter.

PRO TIP: Smart filters can be a powerful tool in Photoshop, but they can also be destructive to your image if used incorrectly. When using smart filters, be sure to create a backup of your image beforehand in case you need to revert back to the original. Also, take care when adjusting the settings of smart filters, as they can easily change the overall look of your image.

After you’ve set the options for the filter, click “OK” and the filter will be applied to your smart object. You’ll see the filter listed as a smart filter in the Layers panel.

At this point, you can go back and double-click on the smart filter in the Layers panel to re-open the dialog box and adjust the settings. You can also toggle the visibility of the smart filter on and off by clicking the eye icon next to it.

If you decide later that you don’t want to use a particular smart filter anymore, you can simply select it in the Layers panel and press “Delete” on your keyboard. This will remove the filter without affecting your original image data.

In conclusion, smart filters are a great way to non-destructively edit your images in Photoshop. By following the steps above, you can easily apply smart filters to your images and make changes at any time.

Drew Clemente

Drew Clemente

Devops & Sysadmin engineer. I basically build infrastructure online.