Basic smart objects questions

I dragged some images from my desktop into a PS document and they come in as Smart Objects.
1. Is there a way to control whether they come in as smart objects or not?
2. When does it become a smart object vs, not?'
Thanks.

Preferences > General > Place or Drag Raster Images as Smart Objects

Similar Messages

CS5 Smart Object Question

I just migrated from CS4 to CS5 , I have a .psd that has layers with that are photos which contain blending layers inside their original psd's. They were converted and imported to the main.psd as jpgs. Is there a way to convert each of those layers to a smart object and in my case edit the blended layer which contains a blackborder so I can make the border smaller?
Or do I need to get the original jpg photo, create a new border and resave as a jpg?
rd

I don’t quite follow, but I would assume that one should place the files without the borders and possibly just apply the Layer Style Stroke.
One can certainly convert a Layer to a Smart Object, but if that Layer has been transformed before that won’t improve image quality and it certainly would not change a flattened layers back to a previous multi-layer-state – but like I said I may be misunderstanding the question.

Smart Objects Question

I'm working on a large format banner. The printer has asked for a 75 dpi photoshop document at size. What bothers me is that this banner includes a couple vector logos and some type that I want to keep crisp. So if I place the type and logos as smart objects, will they remain vector when the file is output or will they be rasterized at the current resolution of the psd? (75ppi)
And if they will remain vector, do I have to send the printer the Illustrator files that the smart objects link to, as well as the main psd?

Try asking them if they'll accept a PDF instead. If you save your PSD as a PDF, that will preserve the vector and type data.
...or...will Phototshop use the vector data when printing out of PS directly, or does it simply use the rasterized version of the whole file? This I don't know.

Smart Object Question

I am not a regular to this group and I have to admit I am a little
behind with my Photoshop learning curve. I just started going thru some info on smart objects and I am really confused about where these smart objects get saved.
When you go to edit the SO, a dialogue box prompts to save to commit the changes but then the next paragraph of the dialogue says the file must be saved in the same location....is that referencing the saving of the ORIGINAL tif or psd?
Thanks for any enlightenment on this! CS3
kristin

Thanks, Marek!
So, if the original and "placed" image is moved from its location or deleted...then what happens to the SO status?
Also, in another scenario, what if the SO does not exist before a layer in a file is converted to a SO...is this SO saved anywhere else or is it just some sort of extension to the file in which it was originally just an ordinary layer?
kristin

Basic Smart Objects

1. In CS5, If I drag a layer from one file to another, does PS always place the image as a smart object into the new file?
2. I understand that the idea behind smart objects is that I can edit the smart object without making permanent changes, though what does that really mean? I could always go back to the new layer and revert it to the way it was when I first dragged it in?
Thanks.

1) No. Use File > Place to place a doc as a smart object, or convert the dragged layer to a smart object using Layer . Smart Object > Convert to smart object.
2) For resizing the smart object layer, that would be a way of thinking of them. Another thought would be filters applied to smart objects are editable, so you can change their settings if, and when, you need. You can also stack smart filters on top of each other, which can be quite useful. Yes, you can revert the new layer, just open the smart object (SO) and copy/paste out the original layer.
An example would be a square sheet of paper with type on it that you've made into an SO and then warped to make it look like it's fluttering in the wind. You can open the SO and add more type to the piece of paper -- the type you add is typeset with straight baselines, but the final object has those curves you desired (and got just right) -- maybe some rotation or even a blur to simulate depth-of-field. Decide you'd like to make that paper the constitution? Just copy and paste a pic of the constitution into the SO and presto! It's a-fluttering.

LR2:DNG - PSCS3:'Smart Object' workflow question

Hello, I've just started working with DNG files exported as Smart Object from LR2 to PSCS3 and I would appreciate some feedback on my experiences thus far.
Let us assume that I've made basic corrections to _DSC1190.dng within LR2. I then want to apply a filter to a particular region of the DNG file with all of my LR2 adjustments applied.
1. Here are the steps I currently follow:
1.1. Right-click on the DNG file and select 'Edit In'->'Open as Smart Object in Photoshop...'. This results (I believe) in the DNG file with all of my LR2 changes being embedded within a smart object and the resulting temporary file being opened within PSCS3.
1.2. I perform my edits in PSCS3 and save the file as a PSD (i.e. _DSC1190.psd). As long as I was smart about things, I can now go back at any time and alter any of the changes I made in PSCS3, as well as access the DNG file within the smart object to make and ACR changes I desire.
1.3. If I want the new PSD file to be added to my LR2 catalog, I then need to navigate to where it was saved and manually add it.
1.4. If I want to make any exposure adjustments, or really, any adjustments that I'd normally make within LR2 or ACR to _DSC1190.psd, I need to open the file within PSCS3, double click on the smart object to get the ACR dialog, make my changes, and voila!, the PSD composite now reflects those changes.
1.5. If I make any changes within LR2 to the original DNG file (i.e. _DSC1190.dng), those changes are *not* reflected within the PSD file.
1.6. Questions
1.6.1. Is what I've described the expected behavior?
1.6.2. Although it might seem silly to some, and may present a technical challenge not worth the trouble, it seems it would be beneficial to have the smart object exported from within LR2 to PSCS3, contain a link to the original DNG file, and not now have two separate DNG files, one visible to the file system, and the other embedded within the smart object saved as presumably a PSD. I'm sure there are a lot of corner cases to consider, but it just seems very strange to now have two files wherein if you want to change something you would normally do through LR2 or ACR, you now have to do it in two different programs to two different files. Is this a problem Adobe has considered, i.e. any discussion about supporting this perhaps in an update to LR2 along with PSCS3/4?
Thanks much for any help/insight,
Matt

I haven't tried doing what you are in CS but do you have the embed xmp into file enabled or are you updating the xmp by saving it out of LR CTRL-s? Do you have ACR set to read the xmp data? I don't have access to LR at the moment but will have a play l8r and get back to you if no one else does.

Open as "Smart Object" from ACR to PS questions.

I have 2 questions associated with opening from ACR as a Smart Object in Photoshop. I'm using CS4.
1. Is there a way to retrieve the original filename (complete with path) using a script or a setting somewhere to do this? I'm currently using Bridge Talk to ask Bridge what the active folder is then adding that to the document's .name property and taking off the " as Smart Object-1" part. Then I add a .psd extension to it and then I have to save it to retain that name unless there's an answer to #2 below.
2. Is there a way to change the Document's name as described above from "Filename as Smart Object-1" to "Filename.psd" without actually saving it?
It seems to me there would be a simple way that I might be overlooking here.
Thanks
Mike

Sorry, I guess I need to explain better.
I wrote a script to do this, but here is this portion of the workflow:
1. Open CR2 file in ACR and make adjustments.
2. Open as Smart Object in PS.
3. Script Events Manager activates this script on Document Open, checks to see if it was opened as a Smart Object. We'll assume it did.
4. The script asks me if I want to make another layer. I pick yes. The script copies the SO layer, sets an inverted mask, and opens to edit settings in ACR again.
5. I adjust the settings for that layer in ACR and click OK.
The script will keep looping between 4 and 5 as long as I pick YES.
This gives me more local control of areas. If I want to bring out eyes a bit, I can up contrast, saturation, sharpness, brightness, exposure, or whatever looks best for the eyes in ACR, then unmask the eyes as much as I want on that layer in Photoshop. There is more data to pull from in the RAW file vs trying to do the same thing within Photoshop.
Opening as a regular image file then converting to a SO doesn't give me the same control. I would have to reopen the file separately, make the adjustments in ACR, open to PS then copy that document and paste as a new layer in the original.
Duplicating the document might work also, but I can also just save as .psd at that point since I'd have to know the path name by then anyway. I'll give that a try, though, and see if it might work better. The only catch with the save part is it slows me down waiting for it to write the file and if I have 5+ SO layers, it takes awhile. Once I unmask where I want, I flatten to a rasterized layer and continue.
Thanks

Questions about smart objects in CS3-CS5.

Hi.
Two questions.
When I replace content of smart object in CS2 the content takes the size of previous state of smart object in pixels.
It was very useful when need to replace some background to another and it autoresized to the new size and proportion.
For example, when I replace content of smart object with external size 100x90px and 100x90% proportion (can see with Ctrl-T) with file with 200x300px size, i have new smart object with old size 100x90px and new proportion 50x30%.
When I try to do the same in CS3-CS5 I get smart object with size 160x216px and proportion 100x90%.
Haw can I return the old behaviour?
Second.
In CS2 I use files with a lot of smart objects each of them may consists with some others smart objects and so on.
But i can`t use this scheme in CS3-CS5 because of very high consumption of scratch memory.
Very-very simple example. In CS2 create file 4000x3000px, create new layer and draw there black square 300x300px.
Convert the "square" layer to smart object. Then duplicate it with Ctlt-J 30 times. Save the file and reopen.
The scratch size is about 280 MB and practically not changing when moving layers with movetool.
Open this file in CS5. The scratch size is about 2.5 GB and quickly increase to 5 GB and above when i try to move layers. And this is a very simple file.
If i will try to open several such files in CS5 the amount of useing memory will be fantastic.
Why there is such behaviour whis memory in cs3-cs5 photoshops?
PS. sorry for my english. hope you understand me.

Hi,
What version of Ps and AI are you using?
1. In Ps, there's no controls for the AI layer visibilty, but the visibility attributes should be respected.
2. The placed file is an embedded copy, not a link to an external file. However, there is a script that you might find useful for your purposes. I'm not sure if the Win support improved with CS5.
http://ps-scripts.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3045%20Brilliant%21%21
regards,
steve

I have an Adobe Indesign to Photoshop question - Smart Objects

I have an Adobe Indesign to Photoshop question - Smart Objects
I am copying and placing InDesign photo silhouettes and placing them into a Photoshop document for an online graphic.
I believe that the color holds up very well. It's when the JPG goes through a CMS ingest that the colors warp. A photo technician is able to correct the color.
I just need to get some insight on my process that (I think) I invented - since I don't see any discussions or videos online that back me up.
Any thoughts - or who could I access that might have an answer for me.
Thanks!

You haven't invented anything. Your server-side processing (based on something involving ImageMagik with PHP most likely) is simply stripping/ ignoring color profiles and converting the colors. This is very much the same issue as in your other post - your procedures just don't realyl make sense and you're basicalyl screwing yourself by using this methodology.
Mylenium

Linked Smart Objects - File Size Question

Hey guys,
first time using linked smart objects and I was pretty excited about it at first. I have a large photoshop file with 1920x1080 image assets. The file size is about 1GB and everytime I make a minor change the entire file has to be re-uploaded to my Dropbox.
So I figured that I could make all these image assets linked smart objects so that I can keep the master file down in file size since most of the actual assets don't change. However, even the PSD that contains nothing by linked smart layer objects is already 400MB large. And that's in addition to the external PSD's it is now linking to.
Even if I duplicate a linked smart layer object in this PSD file it increased the file size by an additional 10MB per duplicate. Is this supposed to happen? Why does it take so much space to just link to external objects? I was super excited about using linked smart layer objects but this doesn't look like it would be helping much to decrease file size.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Philipp

Hey Chris,
thanks again! I guess I just had different expectations. In my mind I was going to see a parent file around 10MB or something with all of the content being dynamically loaded from the linked smart objects.
Maybe that could be a feature requests for future versions.

Smart Objects back-end question? How did it get so smart?

When i am working on a master PSD file with smart objects, i can see how those smart object layers are linked to the actual source files on my local computer hard drives.
When i go to edit a smart object layer on the master PSD file by double clicking on the SmartObject layer Icon, but on another computer, Photoshop recalls that source file even though it doesn't exist on that new computer.
It creates a file in the file path:
System Hard Drive
var
tmp
folders.501
TemporaryItems
source_file.psd (but named with the actual source file name).
How does this work? How does photoshop generate a new source file?
What happens to that source file? does it always live in that file path?

<<i can see how those smart object layers are linked to the actual source files on my local computer hard drives.>>
I'm afraid you're seeing wrong. Smart Objects are linked to nothing external to your PSD file. The original (raster, vector, RAW, PDF) image or object is IN you master PSD file. It's embedded. When you mess with the visible Smart Object, Photoshop consults the internal original but doesn't alter it.
When you edit a Smart Object, what's opening is a temporary file... merely a place for Photoshop to access the original image or object that is the basis for the Smart Object.

Help! Smart object resolution question

I just upgraded from CS2 to CS4. In CS2, when I placed (as a smart object) a 72 dpi image into a 300 dpi image, often it would come in enlarged to the full size of my document. But after accepting the placement and then selecting 'Transform,' the info bar at the top would tell me it was enlarged 200% (or whatever percentage it was), thus indicating the true resolution of my new smart object image. I would then scale it down so I could use it at an acceptable size.
In CS4, it acts differently. If I place a 72 dpi smart object image into my 300 dpi image, once again it imports it blown up to the size of my window. But after placing it and hitting Transform, the percentage may say 100%, or even 60%... when I know that the smart object should be much much smaller. So what it seems is that smart objects are coming in to match physical size - and interpolating as they are placed - rather than staying true to their original resolution. I can drag the 72dpi image into the 300 dpi image and the 72 dpi image will come in physically smaller, at it's native resolution. I can then convert it to a smart object, but that's a time consuming workaround.
Is there a preference setting I'm missing? I haven't found this problem in the forums or in help. I have tried going into my General prefs and turning off 'Resize image During Paste/Place' but all that does is bring my 72 dpi image in at it's full physical size, blown up and interpolated to a fuzzy mess. Hitting transform shows it at 100%... so no help from that.
Hope I've explained it clearly - thanks for the help.

> I can then convert it to a smart object, but that's a time consuming workaround.
it's only one click on a menu.... or you could make a keyboard shortcut? it seems like much less work than changing the ppi.
smart objects are the best feature in the suite.

Smart Object Workflow Suggestion/Question

Sorry if this is a noob comment/discussion I have been looking around for more info on this stuff and can't find it.
I really love using smart objects to help me organize my workflow. But I am frustrated at the lack of control I have over how to save my smart object conversions.
There are no settings, that I can find, in preferences where I can tell CS5 this is where I want my smart object conversions automatically saved to. (it currently uses the temp cache folder? I believe thats where it places them.) I would like set the save location in my preference.
It would also be nice to organize the smart object psb files in a folder system similar to the layers in my PSD file. keeping that consistency will allow me to go through my folder system in the same manner I go through my layers.
Sorry if this workflow already exists. I'm having trouble finding any in depth information on saving psb files. hitting export on every smart objects is very tedious.
Here is an example of what I mean
PSD FILE:
FOLDER1
>SubFolder1>
>> image
>> image
>> image
>>>Sub_Subfolder2>
>>>>> image
>>>>> image
>>>>> image
Convert each folder to Smart Object
SmartObject_FOLDER1
>SmartObject_Subfolder1
>>>SmartObject_SubSubfolder2
PSB SAVED LOCATION:
USER SETS LOCATION
C:/whereever/smartfolders/
autosave
files structure:
Directory
SmartObject_FOLDER1.PSB
SUB DIRECTORY
>SmartObject_Subfolder1.PSB
SUB SUB DIRECTORY
>>>SmartObject_SubSubfolder2.PSB
I know I can export each smart object individually but is there a preference function to do this automatically?
Does this exist and I just don't know it?

Check out the PS links panel here:
http://ps-scripts.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3045

LR/PS Smart Object workflow question

I have a RAW image (let call it image A) that I have sent to Photoshop as a smart object. I applied some smart filters and saved it (call image B). I see two images in LR. Now I've changed my mind and apply a bunch of adjustments to image A. Is there a way to update image B (contains smart object of A) so that it will reflect the change in A? Thanks in advance.

Not an automatic way. I'm not sure any of the alternatives is ideal, so you may as well create a new smart object file (which you'll delete afterwards), then open both files in PS and shift drag the updated smart object into the other file. You can then drag filters to the updated smart object.

Smart Object And Action Question

I have a smart object layer in one document and I want to drag it over to another document and record this in an action. If I just drag it over, the action records it as select previous document. Copy and paste doesn't transfer the layer as a smart object.
Is there any way to do this in an action?
Thanks!

The place suggestion worked. It's too bad that it has to be so wasteful on space though. It looks like placing a file makes it a smart object which then contains the original smart object I wanted to transfer over.
Thanks!

Basic smart objects questions

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