PhotoCraft smart objects and smart filters: what to check

Distinguish source content from placement

PhotoCraft’s official product page describes smart objects and smart filters. Begin with an imported sample whose embedded source you understand, and keep the original project available.

Check whether the current build lets you inspect or edit that content. Change a small, obvious detail in the test copy and observe how it appears in the parent document. Moving or scaling an object on the canvas is a different operation from changing the content inside it.

Test duplication before relying on linked behaviour

Duplicate a test object using the available command, then change one instance’s content. Observe whether the other instance changes too. This establishes the behaviour of the particular command and file you used.

Do not assume that every duplicate stays linked, or that two objects with similar thumbnails share a source. Embedded and externally linked content can also have different portability requirements. Record any external file the document depends on before handing it to someone else.

Try a smart filter only when the relevant controls are available. Toggle the effect and revisit its settings to check whether it remains adjustable.

Verify the object after a round trip

1. Save a new layered copy and keep the original.
2. Reopen the result and compare the object’s visible appearance.
3. Check whether its source content can still be edited.
4. Revisit filter settings and any duplicated instances.
5. If exchanging a PSD, repeat the required checks in the recipient’s app.

A successful render does not establish that embedded content, editable filters or links were preserved. Treat any difference as a workflow limitation to investigate rather than an invisible detail.

Use the compatibility checklist to define which properties matter for delivery.

Official sources: PhotoCraft product page (opens a new tab) · File-format assessment (opens a new tab) · Feature parity assessment (opens a new tab).