Select Window > Layers.
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Learn the basics
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Create and manage layers
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Color adjustment and fill layers
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Smart objects
- Smart Objects - overview and benefits
- Create embedded Smart Objects
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- Embed Linked Smart Objects
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- Filter the Layers panel by Smart Objects
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Crop, resize, and transform
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Resize and adjust resolution
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Resize and adjust resolution
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Make selections
- Get started with selections
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Automatic and color-based selections
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- Make precise selections using Select People
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- Improve hair selections with the Refine Hair tool
- Mask all objects in a layer
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- Paint a selection with Quick Selection tool
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Refine and modify selections
- Move a selection or selection border
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- Hover layer bounds in the Move tool
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- Remove a matte from a selection
- Create masks
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Repair and retouch
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Remove objects and fill space
- Remove background in your images
- Replace background with Generate Background
- Retouch tools overview
- Blend objects and people into any background with Harmonize
- Remove objects with Content-Aware Fill
- Adjust Content-Aware Fill settings
- Tools to fine-tune sampling and fill areas
- Apply or cancel Content-Aware fill changes
- View full-resolution preview in the Preview panel
- Heal and clone
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Clean and restore images
- Enhance image quality with Generative Upscale
- Define planes to adjust perspective
- Manipulate the planes to adjust perspective
- Edit different perspectives in the same image
- Keyboard shortcuts to adjust perspective
- Get started with Photomerge
- Create panoramic images with Photomerge
- Create 360-degree panoramas
- Remove imperfections with the Spot Healing Brush
- Retouch a large area with the Healing Brush tool
- Repair an area with the Patch tool
- Remove red eye in flash photos
- Define an image as a preset pattern
- Erase parts of an image with the Eraser tool
- Auto Erase with the Pencil tool
- Create smoother brush strokes using stroke smoothing
- Change pixels to transparent with the Background Eraser tool
- Remove similar pixels with the Magic Eraser tool
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Remove objects and fill space
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Adjust color
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Apply painting techniques
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Brushes and presets
- Get started with brush presets
- Display the Brush Settings panel and brush options
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Draw shapes and paths
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Text and typography
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Effects and filters
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Artistic and stylize filters
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- Overview of Liquify filter
- Overview of distortion tools
- Use Liquify to distort an image
- Freeze or thaw areas
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Use grids and measurement guides
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Add video and animation
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Create animation frames
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- Copy frames with layer properties
- Create frames using tweening
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- Choose a frame disposal method
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Create animation frames
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Automate tasks
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Save and export
- Save files
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Export files to different formats
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- Export video files or image sequences
- Photoshop file formats overview
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- Image file formats supported in Photoshop
- Export your work using the Quick Export as option
- Fine-tune export settings with Export As
- Export settings and export location preferences
- Export files in different sizes
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Share and collaborate
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App integrations
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Troubleshoot
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Edit the contents of a Smart Object
Last updated on
Oct 27, 2025
Learn how to modify the source file directly, save it, and have Adobe Photoshop update the Smart Object in your document.
Editing a Smart Object allows you to refine artwork, raw files, or linked logos without compromising quality, as all changes are reversible. When you save the source file, Photoshop automatically updates all linked instances to maintain consistency in your design.
Select the Smart Object layer in the Layers panel.
Select Layer > Smart Objects > Edit Contents.
Select OK, if a dialog box appears.
Edit the source file in the application that opens.
Smart Objects open in the application that matches their format, such as Photoshop for PSD files or Illustrator for AI files.
Save the file to update the Smart Object in your Photoshop document.
The Smart Object in your Photoshop document updates with the saved changes, and all linked instances stay in sync.
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