Best Way to Convert Text to a Smart Object in Photoshop

Converting a type layer to a smart object in Photoshop is a great way to add filters to your text and still keep the text editable. But editing text in a smart object can lead to unexpected results. In this video, I show you the problem with editing smart object text, and a simple trick to get around it.

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VIDEO CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
0:46 - Converting text to a smart object the usual way
1:08 - Applying a filter to the smart object
1:33 - The filter is converted to a smart filter
1:51 - Opening the smart object to edit the text
2:13 - The smart object canvas size
2:38 - Editing the text and seeing the problem
3:35 - Closing the smart object
3:50 - Part of the text is missing
4:18 - A better way to convert text to a smart object
6:14 - Reapplying the filter to the smart object
6:32 - Editing the text in the smart object
7:15 - The entire text remains visible
7:27 - Centering the text in the document

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Hi everyone, Steve here. Converting a type layer to a smart object in Photoshop is a great way to add filters to your text and still keep the text editable. But editing text in a smart object can lead to unexpected results. In this video, I show you the problem you can run into when editing smart object text, and a simple trick to get around it. As always, I hope this video is helpful, and thank you so much for watching!

[HernandezMFotografia]

Awesome Steve, always learning clever ways to work with PS. Thanks!

[ahmedsuleiman]

Thanks hugely for this timely tip and trick in converting text to a smart object, editing it and not letting it cut out. Mr. Steve, you did a great job here that many gurus of Photoshop have found difficult to do.

In fact, some do extend the canvas of the text/type by expanding or cropping it. Some works, but this technique is the BEST of them all.

God bless, my boss. More power to your elbow and I hope you will do more and more solid tutorials for us as we have greatly benefited over the years.

[stevejarvis]

Hi Steve BTW this is a great video. I've been an Adobe Photography Plan member now for some years BUT I hardly ever go into Photoshop because I find it intimidating, non intuitive etc, but I`m determined to get a bit more into it this year and learn at least the basics. I've not yet gone anywhere near Text though and although I sort of understand Smart Layers and Smart Objects and Smart Filters etc a bit better over the last few weeks of watching YT videos I hadn't realized that this could happen with a Text layer, so thats another video saved into my little Photoshop Learning folder. Many thanks for that Steve.

[biabis]

This is a very clever technic!
Great tut
Thnks!

[arigustisatria]

If I convert font to smart object. is that count as image? so the font will still the same without having the font? Except we open the smart object and save it.

[drlisarains]

How do you duplicate the same photo to fit 1 page so you can print and save paper?