Linked Files in Photoshop

I need to create a large multi-page website using many photoshop files. I'm wondering if there is a way to have a "source" photoshop file that is used in many other psd files and, when updated, automatically updates that file in all of the psd files it's used in... like when you link art in Illustrator or InDesign.
So, for example, if I create the header navigation in a psd file named "header.psd" and then place that into a file called "home_page.psd" and "contact_page.psd", if I need to update the original header.psd, is there a way to only update the original and have the changes cascade to home_page.psd and contact_page_psd?

An additional note to this less than efficient scenario... pretend you are not programming the actual website, you are asked to hand off a layered PSD file for each and every page, screen, and module within the website. This is a requirement regardless of whether there may be more efficient scenarios using Fireworks combined with Dreamweaver. Additionally, you have no say as to what the developers use to program the site nor how they receive the files.
What I'm trying to avoid here is laying out 200 photoshop files and, when the client says, "Oh sorry, we gave you the old logo" I have to go into ever Photoshop file and replace the logo. I understand that there are better ways to accomplish this by using software other than Photoshop. If I were to build this in Illustrator, for instance, I could maintain a file for each page that, when placing the psd into ai, it would maintain a link to that file. Therefore, when I updated the logo.psd and reopened any of the ai files, the logo would update in those files. Or, in Fireworks, I could maintain a common library of graphics.
My current solution would involve setting up a master PSD file that had a layer comp for each page so that I can cascade changes globally throughout the file and, when it comes time to deliver the required separate PSD for each page, screen and module, I can export layer comps as separate PSDs using the automated script in Photoshop.
Any other suggestions? Please share.

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Can you place linked files into Photoshop CS4?

If you place a .psd or .tif file into an InDesign file, you are alerted if any changes are made to that file (as I'm sure most of you know). Is there any way to do this within Photoshop? I have several dozen carpet sample .tif files that are to be used in several hundred "montage" type "carpet sample groups" layered .psd files that will then be saved as images for the web (does that make sense?). Is there any way to do this so that if there's a change in the original .tif file it will automatically change any .psd file in which it's being used? I know the easiest way to do this is in InDesign, but I have two problems: 1) the conversion from InDesign to a web image is laborious, and 2) the person doing the work does not know InDesign at all. I can show him how to use it, but that's a small part of the battle.
Any suggestions? I'm using CS4 for Windows.
Thanks,
Lloyd

Thanks for your comments. The problem arises because we have to create that intermediate Photoshop step.
We have, say, a dozen individual carpet swatches that are used to create hundreds of combinations (which are all separate layered .psd files). If one swatch changes (color, for example), then we have to open every .psd file in which that swatch appears and change it (or place the changed one). I'd love to be able to change the original and have it update every layered file in which it appears, just like InDesign does with placed/linked files.
Maybe there's a plug-in (wishful thinking)?
Also, I'd really like to have it changed in the web development end of things, but we're working with a company that is (obviously) using templates and we can only give them single images, hence the need to create the intermediate Photoshop files.

I cant edit linked files in photoshop

When i click edit original it opens in preview mode how do i edit in PS

Using the tools your operating system provides, you need to link the image type to Photoshop.

Update multiple linked files?

I made a timeline animation from some pngs, then I updated the png files - now I cannot figure out how to get all of the linked files in Photoshop to update to the new version of the pngs. I can do them one at a time, but there are 99 of them and NOPE.
Any clues?

If the animation psd files have linked placed smart object layers I would think that Photoshop would update these layers during open That all you would need to do would be to render the animation out the new animation and save the updated psd. There should only be one copy of the png files. The smart object layer does not contain a copy of the png file just a link the single png file and pixels rendered for the png. If the png file has a newer version then the pixels rendered for the link Open should render new pixel for the smart object layer so the are in sync with the png file.
I don't think Adobe Photoshop would be able create a list of files that use the pgn files as a linked smart object. For often document you place in linked smart object layer may not be saved yet so the is no backing file yet and backing files may be renamed or more the one saved out. And the animation files do not contain linked png files the are rendered from documents that have them. If you use linked object you will need to do some bookkeeping to keep tract of where files are used. So you will be able t sync them. Renaming the png files will also break links. Photoshop has an options that allows the users to resolve broken link during open. Also in menu Layer>Smart Object>Resolve Broken Link.

Is there a way for photoshop to AUTO UPDATE all linked files after modified?

Using the new Photoshop 2014 (version).
This is a very frustrating task for anyone using a lot of linked files.
As a web developer, I may have 50 files that contain one linked element. If I go edit that element, I then have to find the layer on each and every file it's contained in and click "Update Modified Content". There HAS to be an easier way. I really hope I'm missing something here.
Thanks to everyone looking to help.

OK. Now I see what you meant.
And you correctly understand workaround instruction. The problem is it does not work and I don't know why.
I'm not so familiar with Automator and indeed seldom use it except for a simple services wrapper under 10.6. So I don't know of any workflows off the shelf which use "Ask for Confirmation" action. But it is easy to create a workflow that, for instance, consists of "Ask for Confirmation" action only and is set to receive no input or input from Finder or input from other application and test to see if it gets keyboard focus. As far as I can tell, this action obtains keyboard focus automatically.
Here's another workaround you may try. Replace the "Ask for Confirmation" action with a "Run AppleScript" action with the following contents. This will show similar dialogue to let you choose two options.
on run {input, parameters}
    tell application "Finder"
        activate
        display dialog "Are you sure?" with title "Permanently delete"
    end tell
    return input
end run
The workflow will look like this.
Regards,
H

Linked files broken in Photoshop CC 2014 when working in the cloud across multiple computers (PC and Mac)

I'm using the new linked file option in Photoshop CC 2014, which is great. I'm working with my files in the cloud, however because I'm working on both a PC and Mac it breaks them links every time I save the file. Is there a way around this?

Hi, yes I'm having the same issue. The problem is that Adobe is not correctly connecting the linked files. They are using absolute paths user/folder/folder this is just crazy and I hope they fix this.
Changing this will fix our issue.
I'm a professional web designer and I find the use of linked items really good. My workflow consists of creating a UI folder with different elements linked into photoshop documents saved in another folder.
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etc.
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Importing Illustrator CS6 File into Photoshop - Are they linked?

I am teaching out of the Photoshop CS6 Classroom in a Book book and Chapter 8 talks about working with vector shapes and smart objects. On page 227, under the Importing a Smart Object section, the following statement is made: You can import vector objects from Adobe Illustrator as Smart Objects. If you edit the original object in Illustrator, the changes will be reflected in the placed Smart Object in your Photoshop image file. You’ll work with a Smart Object now by placing text created in Illustrator into the toy-store poster.
Is this a true statement? I have found the only way you can edit this Smart Object is if your right click the layer, choose Edit Contents, then work on a temporary file that must be saved in a temporary location. This doesn't edit the original linked document.
I'm finding no way to edit the original AI file which I would consider the "original object in Illustrator", then see the change in Photoshop.

Hi Matthew,
Here's the Help doc that talks in more depth about Smart Objects:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WS41A5B796-6846-4e95-8459-95243441E126.html
And here's a section that goes into more detail on Placing files:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-78f2a.h tml#WS634E6022-BC34-4aa8-857B-21D88D4C8D50a
We have multiple request to add support for externally linked files and certainly see the value. There also are a couple third party solutions that offer linked file behavior (I'm not sure what versions of Ps they work with). You can see and add to the request (and find the third party solutions) here:
http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/please_consider_a_references_tool_to _create_links_to_layers_or_folder_groups
regards,
steve

Can you link files between illustrator and photoshop and maintain layers?

Want to be able to open an AI file in photoshop, maintain the layers I have in illustrator and be able to edit the AI file and have those edits automatically appear in photoshop. I think this is possible.

Do you mean you want an Illustrator Smart Object’s Layers represented as Photoshop Layers and still be linked to one ai/pdf file?
If so I have to disagree with your assumption:
I think this is possible.
While Photoshop Smart Objects have Layer Comps capabilities in Photoshop CC 2014 Illustrator Layers (and pdf Layers) are quite different from Photoshop Layers.
What exactly are you trying to achieve?

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Refer to this:
Direct Download Links for Adobe Software
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Mollysnoot wrote:
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This weekend I rented a Canon 5D Mark iii. I have downloaded the files and all of the thumbnails in camera raw say CR2 and when I try to open Photoshop does not recognize this product.
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Canon 5D Mark ii
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Hi I recently had a problem opening CR2 files in PHotoshop cs4. I had to reinstall into a new computer, so obviously it installed the basic programme and not the updates.
After trying everything, even calling the help desk, there was apparently nothing that can be donw as they no longer support cs4.
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Corolla...

Hello guys,
Thanks for your replies first of all.
To answer your questions John, please refer to the Print Screen in this link: http://i32.tinypic.com/2vhzvvm.jpg
I highlighted in yellow the most important things related to this topic in the pic, also referred to in my previous email.
I got the psd file from a public filehosting site and many users thanked the uploader for his great upload; thus I must have something wrong or I'm doing it wrong as the others seem not to have this prob!!!
As regards Ed's question, no indeed, I don't have any problems if I create a psd file myself closes it and opens it whenever I want.
And the filesizes are not at all small as the ones I'm talking about and which I'm having the problems with are sized from 20MB to 32MB.
Reference to your last question Ed, no I haven't tried to trash/reset preferences as per the FAQ as I have only been using Photoshop very recently.
Thanks in advance.
Corolla
Seems like strange I don't know.

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What else might cause this behavior, and how can I resolve it?
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Linked Files in Photoshop

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