Smart Object Must Be Rasterized - Why It Happens and How To Fix

Smart Object Must Be Rasterized – Why It Happens and How To Fix

Learn why “smart object must be rasterized” occurs and how to fix it. Discover the key steps to resolve this common Photoshop issue.

Shohidur Rahman
June 4, 2024
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To understand the “smart object must be rasterized” issue, we must first understand what is a Smart Object and what is rasterizing.

We will also talk about why this issue happens and how we can fix it.

What Is a Smart Object

To put simply, Smart Object layer is a Photoshop layer that can be edited in a non-destructive way.

You can make the smart object bigger, smaller, add a filter or even make another smart object layer inside a smart object layer.

If you want to know more, read our article about smart objects.

What Is Restarizing

In this context, Rasterizing means destroying the smart object layer to make it a regular layer. To put it in simpler terms, converting it to pixels.

Rasterize is not related only to Smart Objects, but to Text layers, vector shapes, etc. E.g. if you wanted to erase a part of the letter in a text layer, you would need to rasterize it (convert it to pixels).

Why The “Smart Object Must Be Rasterized” Happens

Think of smart objects like a protective cover for regular pictures. You can’t change them directly. To edit a smart object, you have to turn it into a regular picture first.

How to Fix “Smart Object Must Be Rasterized” Issue

To fix this, you first need to right-click the smart object layer in the Layers panel and then choose the “Rasterize Layer” option.

restarize layer

Shohidur Rahman
Hey, I’m Shohidur, the content guy behind Bulk Mockup. In the past, I ran a print on demand tshirt store, where I learned the nitty gritty of the industry. Being in the industry for 7 years I understand the challenges faced by print on demand entrepreneurs of now. My main goal is to help print on demand sellers through the content I produce for Bulk Mockup.

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