How To Use Smart Filters In Photoshop

Written by Steve Patterson.

In this tutorial, I show you how to use smart filters in Photoshop! You'll learn everything you need to know about smart filters, including what smart filters are, and the advantages they have over Photoshop's regular filters. You'll learn how to apply and edit a smart filter, how to add multiple smart filters to a single image, how to control which parts of your image are effected by the smart filters, and more! We'll even learn how to apply Photoshop's most powerful filter, the Camera Raw Filter, as an editable, non-destructive smart filter!

I'll be using Photoshop CC but smart filters are available in any version of Photoshop from CS3 and up. Let's get started!

What are smart filters?

A smart filter is really just a normal Photoshop filter, but one that's been applied to a smart object. A smart object is a container that holds the contents of a layer safely inside it. When we convert a layer into a smart object, any changes we make are applied to the container itself, not to its contents. This keeps our changes both editable and non-destructive. And when we apply one of Photoshop's filters to a smart object, the filter automatically becomes an editable, non-destructive smart filter!

The main advantage of smart filters is that we can change a smart filter's settings any time we need without any loss in quality, and without making any permanent changes to the image. But there are other advantages as well. We can turn smart filters on and off, change the blend mode and opacity of a smart filter, and even change the order in which smart filters are being applied. Smart filters also include a built-in layer mask, giving us control over exactly which part of the image is being affected. And because smart filters are entirely non-destructive, they give us the freedom to experiment with different filters and filter settings without worrying about messing anything up. The truth is, if you're not using smart filters, you're missing out on one of Photoshop's best features, so let's see how they work!

Download this tutorial as a print-ready PDF!

How to apply a smart filter in Photoshop

For this tutorial, I'll use this image that I downloaded from Adobe Stock. Since our goal is to learn about smart filters, not to create a specific effect, you can easily follow along with any image of your own:

The original image. Photo credit: Adobe Stock.

Converting a layer into a smart object

Before we can apply smart filters, we first need to convert our image into a smart object. In the Layers panel, we see the image on the Background layer:

The image opens on the Background layer.

To convert the layer to a smart object, double-click on the name "Background" to rename it:

Start by renaming the Background layer.

In the New Layer dialog box, give the layer a more descriptive name. I'll name mine "Photo". Click OK to accept it:

Renaming the Background layer.

Back in the Layers panel, we see that my Background layer is now the "Photo" layer. To convert it to a smart object, click on the menu icon in the upper right of the Layers panel:

Clicking the Layers panel menu icon.

Then choose Convert to Smart Object from the list:

Choosing "Convert to Smart Object".

A smart object icon appears in the lower right of the layer's preview thumbnail, telling us that our layer is now a smart object:

The smart object icon.

Related tutorial: How to create smart objects in Photoshop

Applying a Photoshop filter as a smart filter

Once we've converted a layer to a smart object, any filters we apply to it from Photoshop's Filter menu will be automatically converted into smart filters. For example, let's start with something simple, like the Gaussian Blur filter. Go up to the Filter menu in the Menu Bar, choose Blur, and then choose Gaussian Blur:

Going to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

We can use the Gaussian Blur filter to blur the image, and we control the amount of blur using the Radius option at the bottom of the dialog box. I'll set my Radius value to 10 pixels:

Adjust the blur amount with the Radius slider.

Click OK to close the dialog box, and here's my image with the blur applied:

The image after applying the Gaussian Blur filter.

Viewing the smart filters

If we look again in the Layers panel, we see our Gaussian Blur filter now listed as a smart filter below the "Photo" smart object. All we had to do was apply it to a smart object and Photoshop instantly converted the filter into a smart filter:

Smart filters are listed below the smart object they've been applied to.

How to edit a smart filter

The main advantage that smart filters have over Photoshop's regular filters is that we can edit a smart filter and change its settings after it's been applied. To edit a smart filter, double-click on the filter's name:

Double-click on a smart filter to reopen it.

This reopens the filter's dialog box. I'll increase the Radius value from 10 pixels to 20 pixels, and then I'll click OK:

Editing the smart filter.

My new filter setting is instantly applied to the image. And because smart filters are non-destructive, there's no loss in image quality. The new filter setting simply replaces the previous setting, as if the previous one never happened:

The same image after editing the Gaussian Blur smart filter.

Changing a smart filter's blend mode and opacity

Along with being able to change their settings, another advantage of smart filters in Photoshop is that we can change a filter's blend mode and opacity. If you look to the right of a smart filter's name in the Layers panel, you'll find an icon with two sliders. This is the filter's Blending Options icon. Double-click on it to open the Blending Options dialog box:

Each smart filter will have its own Blending Options icon.

Here we can change the blend mode and the opacity of the filter. In other words, we're changing how the effect of the filter is blending with the contents of its smart object. This is different from the Blend Mode and Opacity options in the Layers panel, which control how the layer blends with the layers below it. Here, we're affecting the filter itself.

I'll change the blend mode of the Gaussian Blur smart filter from Normal to Soft Light, and I'll lower the opacity to 50%. Then I'll click OK to close the dialog box:

Changing the blend mode and lowering the opacity of the smart filter.

Changing the blend mode of the blur effect to Soft Light increases the contrast and color saturation of the image, creating a soft glow. And by lowering the opacity of the filter to 50 percent, I've reduced the intensity of the effect:

The result after changing the Blending Options for the Gaussian Blur smart filter.

Related tutorial: Photoshop's Top 5 blend modes you need to know

Turning a smart filter on and off

Another advantage of smart filters is that we can toggle them on and off. To see what your image looked like before applying a smart filter, turn the filter off by clicking the visibility icon beside its name. Click the same visibility icon again (the empty spot where the eyeball appeared) to turn the filter back on and view the effect:

Use the visibility icon to toggle a smart filter on and off.

Adding more smart filters

So far, we've applied a single smart filter, but we can add multiple smart filters to the same smart object. Let's add a second one, this time from Photoshop's Filter Gallery. Go up to the Filter menu in the Menu Bar and choose Filter Gallery:

Going to Filter > Filter Gallery.

The Filter Gallery opens with a large preview area on the left, and the filters we can choose from, along with their settings, on the right:

Photoshop's Filter Gallery.

I'll choose one of my favorite filters, Diffuse Glow, which is found in the Distort group of filters. Click on its thumbnail to select it:

Selecting the Diffuse Glow filter.

In the settings for the Diffuse Glow filter, I'll set the Graininess to 3, the Glow Amount to 5 and the Clear Amount to 8. Then I'll click OK to close the Filter Gallery:

The Diffuse Glow filter settings.

And here's my image with Diffuse Glow applied:

The effect using the Diffuse Glow and the Gaussian Blur smart filters.

In the Layers panel, we now see two smart filters listed below the smart object. Any filters that are part of the Filter Gallery are listed simply as "Filter Gallery" rather than by the name of the specific filter that was used:

The Layers panel showing both smart filters.

Editing the effect

If I wanted to try different settings for the Diffuse Glow filter, I could double-click on the name "Filter Gallery" to reopen it and make my changes. But in this case, I just want to reduce the intensity of the effect, so I'll double-click on the filter's Blending Options icon:

Opening the Blending Options for the Filter Gallery.

In the Blending Options dialog box, I'll leave the Blend Mode set to Normal but I'll lower the Opacity to around 80%. Then I'll click OK:

Lowering the opacity of the Diffuse Glow filter.

With the opacity lowered, the Diffuse Glow effect is now a bit less intense:

The result after lowering the opacity.

Download this tutorial as a print-ready PDF!

Changing the order of smart filters

The order in which we apply smart filters is important because Photoshop applies them one after the other, from bottom to top. In my case, it's applying Gaussian Blur first, and then applying the Diffuse Glow filter on top of the blur effect. We can change the stacking order of smart filters by dragging them above or below each other in the list. I'll click on my Gaussian Blur filter, and then I'll drag it above the Diffuse Glow filter (the Filter Gallery). When a highlight bar appears above the Filter Gallery, I'll release my mouse button to drop Gaussian Blur into place:

Drag smart filters up or down to change the order in which they're applied.

And now the Diffuse Glow filter is being applied first, and then Gaussian Blur on top of it:

Photoshop is now applying the filters in the opposite order.

The difference can be subtle or more obvious depending on the filters you're using. In my case, it's subtle but noticeable. In this "before and after" comparison, we see that moving the Gaussian Blur filter above the Diffuse Glow filter added a bit more brightness and contrast to the effect (right) compared to the way it looked originally (left):

The original (left) and new (right) version after changing the order of the smart filters.

Editing multiple smart filters

Here's an issue you'll run into when editing multiple smart filters. With the Gaussian Blur filter now sitting above the Filter Gallery, if I double-click on its name to edit the filter:

Double-clicking on "Gaussian Blur".

The Gaussian Blur dialog box reopens as we would expect. I'll click Cancel to close it without making any changes:

The Gaussian Blur dialog box reopens.

But watch what happens if I double-click on the words "Filter Gallery" below the Gaussian Blur filter:

Double-clicking on "Filter Gallery".

Instead of the Filter Gallery opening right away, Photoshop instead pops open a message. The message tells us that any smart filters sitting above this filter will be temporarily turned off while we're making our changes. Again, the reason is because Photoshop applies smart filters from bottom to top. Since my Gaussian Blur filter is sitting above the Filter Gallery, Photoshop needs to turn off the Gaussian Blur filter so it can show an accurate preview of the Filter Gallery. Once I'm done making changes and I've closed the Filter Gallery, Photoshop will turn the Gaussian Blur filter back on. When you see this message, just click OK to accept it:

Any smart filters above the selected filter will not preview until we're done with the edits.

As soon as I close the message, the Filter Gallery reopens to my Diffuse Glow settings. I'll again click Cancel to close it without making any changes:

Click OK to close the message and edit the smart filter.

Experimenting with smart filters

Since smart filters are completely non-destructive, we can safely play around and experiment with different filters and filter settings just to see what they do, and to see if we like the result. One of the filters I used for my Falling Snow Effect was the Crystallize filter. To see how it looks with this image, I'll select it by going up to the Filter menu, choosing Pixelate, and then choosing Crystallize:

Going to Filter > Pixelate > Crystallize.

The Crystallize filter breaks an image into sections, or cells, of color. We control the size of the cells using the Cell Size option at the bottom. Since I'm just experimenting here, I'll set my Cell Size to 40, and then I'll click OK:

The Crystallize filter dialog box.

And here's the result. It's an interesting effect, and one that I'm sure I'll find a use for in the future. But for this image, it doesn't really work:

The Crystallize filter's effect.

How to delete a smart filter

If you try a smart filter and don't like the results, not a problem. You can just delete it. In the Layers panel, we see the Crystallize filter now listed as a third smart filter above the others:

The image now has three smart filters applied to it.

To delete a smart filter, click on its name and drag it down onto the Trash Bin at the bottom of the Layers panel:

Drag a smart filter onto the Trash Bin to delete it.

With the filter deleted, the image instantly reverts back to the way it looked before the filter was applied:

The effect after deleting the Crystallize smart filter.

Applying Camera Raw as a smart filter

Let's add one more smart filter. This time, we'll add the most powerful filter in all of Photoshop, the Camera Raw Filter. Note that the Camera Raw Filter is only available in Photoshop CC, so you'll need Photoshop CC to follow along with this part.

Go up to the Filter menu and choose Camera Raw Filter:

Going to Filter > Camera Raw Filter.

This opens the image in the Camera Raw Filter's dialog box. The Camera Raw Filter gives us access to the exact same image editing features that we'd find not only in Photoshop's main Camera Raw plugin but also in Adobe Lightroom. And by applying it as a smart filter, we're keeping the filter's settings completely editable:

The Camera Raw Filter dialog box.

In the Basic panel on the right, I'll lower the Clarity value to -25. This will add a bit more softness to the effect by reducing contrast in the midtones. Then, to reduce the color saturation, I'll lower the Vibrance value also to -25:

Lowering the Clarity and Vibrance settings in the Basic panel.

I'll click OK to close the Camera Raw Filter's dialog box, and here's the result so far:

The result after softening the image and lowering the color saturation.

Editing the Camera Raw Filter settings

In the Layers panel, we see the Camera Raw Filter listed as a smart filter above the Filter Gallery and the Gaussian Blur filter. To reopen its dialog box and make further edits, just double-click on the name "Camera Raw Filter":

Reopening the Camera Raw smart filter.

I forgot that I also wanted to add a vignette effect to the image. So in the panel area on the right, I'll switch to the Effects panel by clicking its tab:

Switching from the Basic to the Effects panel.

Then, in the Post Crop Vignetting section, I'll drag the Amount slider to the left, to a value of around -30:

Adding a vignette to the image.

I'll click OK once again to close the Camera Raw Filter dialog box. And here's the result, not only with the Clarity and Vibrance adjustments that I made initially but also with the new vignette effect in the corners:

The result after making more edits in the Camera Raw Filter.

Using the smart filter layer mask

And finally, another big advantage that smart filters have over regular filters is that smart filters include a built-in layer mask. The layer mask lets us control exactly which parts of the image are affected by the filters. In the Layers panel, we see the white-filled layer mask thumbnail beside the words "Smart Filters":

Use the layer mask to control the visibility of the smart filters.

I want to lower the brightness and restore some of the detail in the woman's face, so I need to reduce the impact of the smart filters in that part of the image. I can do that just by painting over that area on the layer mask with black. First, I'll click on the layer mask thumbnail to select it. The highlight border around the thumbnail tells me that the layer mask, not the smart object, is selected:

Selecting the layer mask.

I'll select the Brush Tool from the Toolbar:

Choosing the Brush Tool.

And still in the Toolbar, I'll make sure my brush color (the Foreground color) is set to black:

Photoshop uses the Foreground color as the brush color.

Then, using a large, soft-edge brush, I'll paint on the layer mask over the woman's face. Notice, though, that instead of simply reducing the impact of the smart filters, I'm hiding them completely, which isn't what I wanted to do:

Painting with black on the layer mask hides the effects of the smart filters.

Painting with a lower opacity brush

I'll undo my brush stroke by going up to the Edit menu and choosing Undo Brush Stroke:

Going to Edit > Undo Brush Stroke.

This restores the smart filters in the area where I painted:

Undoing the brush stroke restored the filters.

Then, in the Options Bar, I'll lower the Opacity of my brush from 100% down to around 40%:

Lowering the opacity of the brush to 40%.

And this time, painting over the same area with a lower opacity brush simply reduces, rather than completely hides, the smart filter effects:

Paint with a lower opacity brush to reduce, not remove, the effects of the smart filters.

Related tutorial: How to use layer masks in Photoshop

Showing and hiding all smart filters at once

Earlier, we learned that we can toggle an individual smart filter on and off by clicking the visibility icon beside the filter's name. But if you've applied multiple smart filters to a smart object and need to toggle all of them on and off at once, click the main visibility icon beside the layer mask thumbnail:

Use the main visibility icon to toggle all smart filters on and off at once.

Click it once to turn all the smart filters off and view the original contents of the smart object:

Viewing the original image with the smart filters turned off.

Click it again to turn the smart filters back on and view the effects:

The effect with the smart filters turned on.

And there we have it! That's everything you need to know to start using editable, non-destructive smart filters in Photoshop! For more tutorials on smart filters, learn how to create a colorful twirl art effect, how to create a watercolor painting effect, or how to use smart filters with text! Or visit our Photoshop Basics section for more tutorials!

How to Use Filters in Photoshop CS6

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Working with the Smart Filter mask

When you apply a filter to a Smart Object, a filter mask appears on the layer automatically. If you create a selection before applying the first filter to a Smart Object, the selection will appear as the white area in the mask. A filter mask can also be edited using the same methods as for a layer mask. For an illustration of how this works, see the next two pages.

To edit a filter mask

Click the filter mask thumbnail. Do either of the following: Click the Brush tool, then apply strokes with black to hide the filter effect, or with white to reveal areas you’ve hidden. For a partial mask, use black and lower the tool opacity (A–E, next page). To hide the filter effect gradually from one side of the image to the other, click the Gradient tool, then drag across the image (A–C, page 348).

To display the filter mask by itself in the document, Alt-click/Option-click the mask; repeat to redisplay the full Smart Object.

To soften the transition between black and white areas in a filter mask, click the filter mask thumbnail, then on the Properties panel, adjust the Feather value. To control the overall opacity of the mask, use the Density slider.

If for some reason a filter mask was deleted and you want to restore it, do as follows.

To create a filter mask

Optional: Create a selection. Right-click the Smart Filters listing on the Layers panel and choose Add Filter Mask.

To deactivate a filter mask temporarily

Shift-click the mask thumbnail (a red X appears over the thumbnail). Repeat to reactivate the mask.

To delete a filter mask

Do either of the following:

Drag the filter mask thumbnail to the Delete Layer button on the Layers panel.

on the Layers panel. Click the filter mask thumbnail, then on the Properties panel, click the Delete Mask button.

Diminishing a Filter Effect To reduce the effect of a Smart Filter, lower its opacity via the Blending Options dialog. Or if you applied the filter to a duplicate image layer (not to a Smart Object), lower the opacity of the upper layer. Solving Memory Problems If you encounter memory problems when applying filters (Photoshop memory, that is, not your own forgetfulness!), try choosing Edit > Purge > All to free up memory, or exit/quit other open applications. Also bear in mind that the processing time may vary for any given filter slider or option. For instance, a higher setting that produces many small shapes may take longer to process than a setting that produces just a few large shapes.

Working with Smart Filters: An Example

A This is the original image.

B We duplicated the Background, converted the copy to a Smart Object, pressed D to reset the default Foreground and Background colors, then applied Filter Gallery > Sketch > Charcoal (values at left).

C We reduced the Opacity of the Smart Object to 62%.

D We clicked the filter mask, then with the Brush tool at 50% Opacity and black as the Foreground color, applied strokes to partially restore the tiger’s face to its virgin state.

E This is the Layers panel for the image shown at left.

A Next, to wipe the filter mask clean so we could try a different approach, we clicked the mask thumbnail, pressed Ctrl-A/Cmd-A to select the whole mask, pressed Backspace/Delete, then pressed Ctrl-D/Cmd-D to deselect.

B With the Gradient tool (100% Opacity, “Black, White” preset, radial type), we dragged from the center of the image outward. The filter effect is at full strength where the mask is white, and it fades to nil where the mask is black.

C The gradient in the filter mask is diminishing the impact of the filter in the center of the image—the tiger’s face—right where we want the focal point to be.

Filters and an Adjustment Layer

Layer Masks and Smart Filters Photoshop

I watched tutorials on Layer Masks and Smart Filters in Photoshop, and I thought it would be helpful to share what I learned about them. Both allow you to control the amount of visibility of a certain aspect of a layer, but the difference lies in what aspect they allow you to control. First off, the reason why you would want to use a layer mask in Photoshop is if you want to alter photos while being sure you won’t destroy the original version. On the other hand, you use smart filters to also non-destructively control the application of filters on layers.

Layer masks allow the user to control a layer’s transparency. This is like using the Opacity effect on the image, but it is different because while the Opacity effect changes the transparency of the entire layer at once, the layer mask allows the user to make only certain parts of the layer transparent, and even transparent to different degrees. To create a mask for a layer, select the layer from the layer panel, go to the bottom of the layer panel and click the “Add Layer Mask” button. Now you will see in the layer’s panel a link to a white mask. In order to manipulate the mask, make sure the white mask in the panel is selected and select the brush tool.

Once you have the layer mask actively open and the brush tool ready to paint on it, you need to set your foreground color to either white or black, depending on what you want to do. If you don’t want part of a layer to be visible, paint over it with black. If you do want part of a layer to be visible, paint over it with white. You can change your brush style and size in order to make your masking more accurate. You can also use a selection tool, make a selection, and fill that selection with either black or white to do your masking.

Smart filters allow the user to apply filters to layers and control the visibility of the filters. They also let the user stack images and rearrange their order for different effects. In order to use a smart filter, first convert your object to a smart object. Next, simply choose a filter from the filter menu and apply it to the smart object. You can easily and safely edit the filter by double clicking on the layer panel.

So hopefully by now you understand the difference between the two and how they can be used to alter and improve your projects. Both of these tools are very useful, and once you learn how to use them you will find yourself making masks and smart filters all the time. They really help make your project easy to manipulate and to edit later on.

By: Margo Osborne