Smart objects and smart filters

A smart object is a layer that contains a whole document of its own. MYLPER redraws it from that original at whatever size it appears, so you can scale it down and back up — or rotate it many times — without losing sharpness.

Creating smart objects

• Layer → Convert to Smart Object turns the active layer (or group) into a smart object.
• File → Place Embedded… adds an image, SVG, PSD or .mylper project as a smart object. PSD files keep their layers inside it.

Editing the contents

Double-click the smart object's thumbnail in the Layers panel (or choose Layer → Edit Contents). Its contents open in a new tab, with all their layers. Save (Cmd/Ctrl+S) or close the tab to update the smart object; changes are also applied automatically after a short pause. Each editing session is one step in the original document's undo history.

Smart filters

With a smart object selected, any filter from the Filter menu becomes a smart filter: it is applied on top of the contents without changing them. Smart filters are listed in the Properties panel, where you can hide one, click its name to change its settings, change the order or delete it.

Rasterizing

Layer → Rasterize Layer turns a smart object (or a shape or text layer) into ordinary pixels, for example to paint on it. Its opacity, blend mode, masks and effects stay.

Limitations

• Smart objects can be nested up to 4 levels deep.
• Smart filter effects stay inside the smart object's box: a blur near the edge is cut off there. Convert a slightly larger area (or add transparent space) if needed.
• Photoshop smart objects with embedded images or PSDs open as smart objects (warped ones and those with Photoshop smart filters open as pixels). Exported PSDs contain smart objects as pixels.
• Linked (external) smart objects are not supported; contents are always embedded.