When you add an image to your Photoshop document using File > Place, it automatically becomes a Smart Object.
If you prefer to keep the image as a regular raster layer instead, you can change this setting. Just open Preferences by pressing Ctrl + K (Windows) or Command + K (Mac). Then, go to the General tab and uncheck the option that says ‘Place or Drag Raster Images as Smart Objects.’
Once you do this, Photoshop will stop turning your placed images into Smart Objects.
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