Layers to Individual Smart Objects

Script for Adobe Photoshop

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

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Description

Layers to Individual Smart Objects helps you choose layers and groups from the active Adobe Photoshop document and convert every selected item into a separate Smart Object. Its resizable, hierarchy-aware interface provides expandable groups, advanced search, quick filters, flexible selection tools, Smart Object handling options, and persistent settings.

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Features

The script combines precise layer targeting with a focused conversion workflow.

• Individual conversion. Converts each selected layer or group into its own Smart Object instead of combining the selection into one object.
• Hierarchy-aware layer tree. Displays top-level and nested content in Photoshop layer order with indentation and connecting tree lines.
• Expandable groups. Uses distinct folder icons and hover states for collapsed and expanded groups.
• Layer status indicators. Marks existing Smart Objects, effectively hidden content, and layers affected by their own or a parent group's lock state.
• Advanced search. Searches layer names and complete hierarchy paths and supports structured type and state queries.
• Quick filters. Provides All, Groups, Layers, Top Level, Visible, and Unlocked scopes.
• Precise selection. Supports single, additive, range, checkbox-only, and scope-aware bulk selection.
• Flexible navigation. Supports arrow keys, paging keys, scrollbar controls, mouse wheels, and trackpad gestures.
• Smart Object treatment. Lets you skip existing Smart Objects or wrap them in new Smart Objects.
• Persistent workspace. Restores the dialog size, search text, quick filter, group expansion, and Smart Object treatment between runs.
• Safer processing. Processes nested selections deepest-first and groups eligible conversions into one Photoshop history operation.
• Useful results. Selects converted Smart Objects in the Layers panel and reports failures with full paths, layer IDs, error numbers, and messages.
• Adaptive interface. Supports Photoshop dark and light themes and provides native-control fallbacks when custom controls are unavailable.
• Built-in assistance. Includes a searchable User Guide and direct website and support links.

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Installation

1. Download the Layers to Individual Smart Objects.jsx script file.

2. Place the script in your Adobe Photoshop Scripts folder:

⮑ Mac: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop (Version)/Presets/Scripts/

⮑ Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop (Version)\Presets\Scripts\

3. Restart Adobe Photoshop if it's already running.

4. Access the script via File > Scripts > Layers to Individual Smart Objects

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Using the Script

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➊ Prepare the Document

Open the Photoshop document containing the layers or groups you want to convert. The script requires an active document with at least one layer.

• Select one or more layers in Photoshop before launching the script if you want them preselected in the dialog.
• Top-level layers, nested layers, and groups are included.
• Hidden and locked content remains visible in the list and is marked with status icons.
• The script stops without modifying anything when no suitable document or layers are available.

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➋ Explore the Layer Tree

The custom list mirrors the document hierarchy and keeps related content visually connected.

• A closed folder identifies a collapsed group.
• A folder with a plus appears on hover to show that the group can be expanded.
• An open folder identifies an expanded group.
• An open folder with a dot appears on hover to show that the group can be collapsed.
• Indentation and tree lines identify each item's nesting level.
• The Smart Object icon identifies an existing Smart Object.
• The eye-off icon identifies effectively hidden content, including content inside a hidden parent group.
• The lock icon identifies effectively locked content, including content inside a locked parent group.

Click a group's disclosure or folder area to expand or collapse it. While search or a quick filter is active, matching descendants are exposed automatically even when their parent group was previously collapsed.

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➌ Search the Full Hierarchy

The rounded Search field filters the list as you type. Matching is case-insensitive and checks the complete hierarchy path rather than only the layer name.

• Search icon. Indicates that the field is ready for a query.
• Clear icon. Clears the current query when clicked.
• Escape. Clears an active query before closing the dialog.
• Result counter. Shows the number of direct matches and excludes parent rows shown only for context.
• type:group. Finds groups only.
• type:layer. Finds non-group layers only.
• is:hidden. Finds effectively hidden layers and groups.
• is:visible. Finds effectively visible layers and groups.
• is:locked. Finds locked layers and groups.
• is:unlocked. Finds unlocked layers and groups.
• is:smart. Finds existing Smart Objects.
• is:smartobject. Provides an alternative Smart Object search token.

Tokens can be combined with ordinary path text. For example, type:layer is:visible logo finds visible non-group items whose hierarchy path contains the word logo.

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➍ Apply Quick Filters

Use the filter bar beneath Search to narrow the current list scope. Search terms and quick filters work together.

• All. Shows every layer and group while respecting normal group expansion.
• Groups. Shows groups and any ancestors required to explain their hierarchy.
• Layers. Shows non-group layers and their contextual parent groups.
• Top Level. Shows only top-level layers and groups.
• Visible. Shows effectively visible layers and groups.
• Unlocked. Shows layers and groups that are not locked.

Context-only parent rows remain visible so nested results are understandable. Select All and Invert Selection ignore those contextual rows.

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➎ Build the Selection

Use row clicks, checkboxes, modifier keys, or the bulk controls to create the exact conversion set.

• Click a row. Selects only that row and clears the other current selections.
• Command-click or Ctrl-click. Toggles one row without clearing the other selections.
• Shift-click. Selects a continuous range from the selection anchor.
• Click a checkbox. Toggles only that item without changing other selections.
• Select All. Selects every selectable matching row in the current scope.
• Deselect All. Deselects every selectable matching row in the current scope.
• Invert Selection. Reverses the selection of selectable matching rows in the current scope.

Selections hidden by search, filtering, or collapsed groups remain preserved. The status bar reports the total selection and, when Skip is active, the number of selected Smart Objects that will not be converted.

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➏ Navigate the List

The layer list supports pointer, keyboard, and scrollbar navigation.

• Use a mouse wheel or trackpad gesture to scroll.
• Use the scrollbar arrows, track, or draggable thumb.
• Use Up and Down to move the current row selection.
• Use Shift with Up or Down to extend the selected range.
• Use Command or Ctrl with Up or Down to move the keyboard cursor without changing the selection.
• Use Page Up and Page Down to move by nearly one visible page.
• Use Home and End to jump to the beginning or end of the list.
• Use Tab and Shift-Tab to move between supported custom controls.

Keyboard focus indicators appear while navigating with the keyboard. Pointer interaction and scrolling do not add an unnecessary focus outline.

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➐ Choose Existing Smart Object Treatment

Use the Smart Objects selector at the lower left to decide how selected Smart Objects are processed.

• Skip. Leaves existing Smart Objects unchanged and excludes them from conversion.
• Wrap. Converts existing Smart Objects again, placing each one inside a new Smart Object wrapper.

The Convert button is enabled only when at least one selected item is eligible under the current treatment.

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➑ Resize the Dialog and Restore Settings

Resize the window to display more or fewer layer rows. The list expands vertically while the selection tools and status bar remain anchored at the bottom of their panel.

• Dialog width and height are restored between sessions.
• Search text and the selected quick filter are restored.
• Skip or Wrap treatment is restored.
• Collapsed group IDs are restored for the same document.
• Settings are saved in Documents/ScriptBox/ps_layers-to-smart-objects_settings.
• If the settings file is missing or deleted, the script returns to its defaults and creates a new file when settings are next saved.

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➒ Convert the Selected Items

Review the current scope before starting the conversion.

1. Confirm the selected and skipped totals.
2. Choose Skip or Wrap for existing Smart Objects.
3. Click Convert to process every eligible selected item separately.
4. Wait for the completion summary before continuing work in the document.

When a group and one or more descendants are selected, the deepest descendants are processed first and the parent group afterward. Eligible conversions are requested inside one Photoshop history operation named Layers to Individual Smart Objects, allowing the batch to be reverted with one Undo in normal conditions.

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➓ Review Results and Resolve Problems

After processing, the script attempts to select every successfully converted Smart Object in Photoshop's Layers panel. A converted child may no longer be independently addressable if its parent group is subsequently converted, although the child conversion can still be valid.

• Complete. Every eligible item converted successfully.
• Completed with errors. At least one item converted and at least one layer or history operation failed.
• Failed. No selected item converted successfully.
• Detailed summary. Reports converted and failed totals, up to twenty converted names, and up to twenty failures.
• Failure details. Include the complete hierarchy path, original layer ID, error number, and error message.
• Missing filtered layer. Clear Search and choose All to restore the normal hierarchy view.
• Disabled Convert button. Select an eligible item or choose Wrap when every selected item is already a Smart Object.
• Conversion failure. Check the reported layer path, lock state, parent state, and Photoshop document restrictions.
• Native fallback. When custom controls are unavailable, the script uses native ScriptUI controls so the conversion workflow remains accessible.

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☻ Wrap-Up

Layers to Individual Smart Objects turns repetitive layer conversion into a precise, searchable workflow. Use the hierarchy tools, filters, selection methods, and Smart Object treatment to define the conversion scope, then review the selected results and detailed completion summary. Persistent settings keep the workspace ready for the next session.

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