Smart Objects in CS2 …who can clear up my confusion?

F
Posted By
Fudo
May 11, 2005
Views
452
Replies
4
Status
Closed
Hi guys,

I’m a bit stumped on how to make smart objects work best for me in PS. Here’s the deal:

I’m working for a toy company and it seems like a great thing to make various images of products smart objects so I can use them in catalogues, brochures, packaging, etc. and be able to scale them non-destructively and change the master anytime I want and thus change all the dependent files.

What is confusing me is how to create an intelligent workflow.

I have my original TIFF I’ll call toy.tiff.

I then have created a toy.psd with the background around the item deleted and several adjustment layers added.

I’d like to make this a smart object and use it in package.psd. Sooo, I select all the layers of toy.psd and select LAYER > SMART OBJECT > GROUP INTO NEW SMART OBJECT. I get the appropriate demarcation in my layers palette.

I then drag this (what I think is a smart object) into package.psd but if I make changes to toy.psd after I drag it into package.psd no changes are updated on package.psd. So I doubleclick on the smart object layer on package.psd and a new file opens… A .psb file. So I’m assuming this has become the ACTUAL Smart Object. But what’s not clear is how/where it’s stored (they seem to live in some temporary items folder), how to best access them assuming they are informing several documents, what a smart workflow is, how the files are named and integrated with Version Cue.

Is it me or is this insanely confusing?

I’ve looked for info online but most all information about smart objects refers to importing Illustrator files which I’m not concerned with at this time.

I’m ready to bag the whole idea of using Smart Object in PS unless someone can help bring some clarity to the whole process.

Thanks a million for your help with this,

Fudo
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CH
crunch.hardtack
May 12, 2005
Indeed, the "psb" file is embedded within the photoshop document. As of right now I’m unaware of a way to link an external raster file to a photoshop document… Maybe someone else has an idea or knowledge on this…
However, I do believe that if you select "place" under the file menu, and import an Illustrator document, that WILL be linked and external changes to that file will be dynamically updated. I haven’t tested this yet but that’s how I read it.
HTH

CH
CH
crunch.hardtack
May 12, 2005
from the help file:
"Using the Replace Contents command lets you update one or multiple instances of a Smart Object at the same time.
Select the Smart Object, and choose Layer > Smart Objects > Replace Contents.
Navigate to the file you want to use and click Place.
Click OK. The new content is placed in the Smart Object. Linked Smart Objects are also updated."

It looks like this is how you’d want to work with external files. Also in reading the help files it looks like placing a PDF or Illustrator file into PS as a smart object also embeds that data, so that if you modify the original file it’s not updated in the PSD. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.
With the "replace contents" option though, coupled with an action, I would think this would be a good answer to your workflow issue…
CC
Chris Cox
May 15, 2005
Smart Objects are not linked files, they are always embedded. You have to replace the contents, or edit the Smart Object directly to change it.

Chris

In article <BEA6EE4F.192ED%>, Fudo
wrote:

Hi guys,

I’m a bit stumped on how to make smart objects work best for me in PS. Here’s the deal:

I’m working for a toy company and it seems like a great thing to make various images of products smart objects so I can use them in catalogues, brochures, packaging, etc. and be able to scale them non-destructively and change the master anytime I want and thus change all the dependent files.
What is confusing me is how to create an intelligent workflow.
I have my original TIFF I’ll call toy.tiff.

I then have created a toy.psd with the background around the item deleted and several adjustment layers added.

I’d like to make this a smart object and use it in package.psd. Sooo, I select all the layers of toy.psd and select LAYER > SMART OBJECT > GROUP INTO NEW SMART OBJECT. I get the appropriate demarcation in my layers palette.

I then drag this (what I think is a smart object) into package.psd but if I make changes to toy.psd after I drag it into package.psd no changes are updated on package.psd. So I doubleclick on the smart object layer on package.psd and a new file opens… A .psb file. So I’m assuming this has become the ACTUAL Smart Object. But what’s not clear is how/where it’s stored (they seem to live in some temporary items folder), how to best access them assuming they are informing several documents, what a smart workflow is, how the files are named and integrated with Version Cue.
Is it me or is this insanely confusing?

I’ve looked for info online but most all information about smart objects refers to importing Illustrator files which I’m not concerned with at this time.

I’m ready to bag the whole idea of using Smart Object in PS unless someone can help bring some clarity to the whole process.

Thanks a million for your help with this,

Fudo
Sep 3, 2005
I’d like to make this a smart object and use it in package.psd. Sooo, I select all the layers of toy.psd and select LAYER > SMART OBJECT > GROUP INTO NEW SMART OBJECT. I get the appropriate demarcation in my layers palette.

I then drag this (what I think is a smart object) into package.psd but if I make changes to toy.psd after I drag it into package.psd no changes are updated on package.psd. So I doubleclick on the smart object layer on package.psd and a new file opens… A .psb file.

Hi.
I’m not really sure, if i know everything about smart objects… 🙂 ….but, SmartObjects are not externally linked. They are just imported data. So, they won’t update automatically.
But you can update SmartObject content by ‘Replace’ from layers palette context menu. Updated object should appear exactly in the same place and dimensions. That’s the deal 🙂

Michal

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