Smart Objects without tmp files

I am trying to place/ import a .psd as a smart object into a composite and have Photoshop keep referenceing that same psd witout it creating a local tmp file.
does anyone know fi this can be done?
Thanks!

Embedded objects are independent of any original file. Embedded objects are a copy of whatever (file, layer, group, etc) anything supported by Photoshop. You can have smart object layers in a document that share a common object. If you replace that common shared object all the smart object layers that share that the object pixels will change and be transformed by the smart object layer's associated transform. This is often used for creating picture packages. However the replacement object must be the same size as the original object for all the transforms to work correctly.
In fact when you update a smart object layer by double clicking on a layer's smart icon in the layers palette. Photoshop copies the object into a unique file in your user id temp space the first time you double click on a layers smart icon as a work file. This file will remain there till the document containing the object the temp file was created for is closed in Photoshop. If you make more the a single edit to a smart object layer in an edit session the same file will be use only a single temp file is used any given object. Photoshop will delete any temp files it created for a document when the document is closed in Photoshop. When users commit changes to the temp work file Photoshop will update the documents embedded object. The work file may be updated by Photoshop or a Plug-in like ACR.
There have been threads about creating metadata links for Smart Object layer to help user try to keep things in sync. I don't know if its possible or that is that desirable not to have versions of objects

Similar Messages

Can you have the same smart object in two files?

The situation:
I have a 'base' file A, with two (different) smart objects B and C. Now I want B and C to both contain a third smart object D, and I can't get that to work.
I can place the same file as a smart object in B and C, but it becomes two different smart objects, which are seperately editable. I would like to be able to edit smart object D and the changes to be visible in both B and C and in turn in A.
Is this at all possible?
and please, I'm not looking for workarounds. I have plenty of those, but it would save me a lot of time time if this were possible.
thanks
btw working in photoshop CS5

@PECourtejoie
That's exactly what I need,
but,
some technical issues prevent it from working in Windows Vista or Windows 7
, I'm on win7
@c.pfaffenbichler
That's no problem. just 2 times a ctrl-s. Takes no time at all

Smart objects as tiff files?

If I want to animate a logo with objects I created in Adobe Illustrator in Motion, can I then save the vector pieces as smart object tiff files in Photoshop in order to make scalable images for the animation? Thanks!

Ah - sorry for misreading - See if specialcase's Illustrator to Motion Shape script won't help you:
http://www.motionsmarts.com/downloads.html
Patrick

Raw file settings missing from smart objects in tiff files after upgrade to CS6

Yesterday I was using Photoshop CS5 and RAW 6.4 (?) in a Windows environment.
When editing photographs, I generally open the photo in Camera Raw, make development changes (ie exposure, contrast, etc) and then open the developed image as Smart Object in Photoshop. I then clone, add layers, masks, etc. and then save the final image as a tiff.
Yesterday, I upgraded to Photoshop CS6 and RAW 7.0. Now, when I open my tiff files and Smart Objects in the RAW editor, my exposure, contrast, and black settings are missing (reset to zero). My graduated filter settings are also missing.
It seems to me that the embedded sidecar data in the tiff / Smart Object is not being read correctly.
How can I update my old tiff / Smart Objects? Re-developing thousands of photos is impractical.
NOTE: As a side note, I opened a RAW file with xmp data (not stored as a tiff/Smart Object) and had no problems.
Many thanks.

You need to set the ACR engine to the 2010 version in the prefs.
Mylenium

Unable to Save my Smart Object without "Flattening the Image"

Hey there, I am helpless.
I am Using Photoshop CC 2014, always the newest version, on a mac.
Here's the problem: I am usually working in PSDs with many layers, and some smart objects. Inside of the smart objects, I have content that I can change.
So when I save the contents inside of a Smart Object, it also changes them inside of the main PSD.
BUT - since months, I can't save the changes inside of a Smart Object. Photoshop is telling me:
Can't save this document back to its original file format. Flatten layers and discard extra data as necessary and choose File > Save again.
When I flatten the image, the Smart Object has no usage for me, because it's like a rasterized layer.
Someone help me? I didn't find a solution in the internet!
Btw: I already tried reinstalling Photoshop. The issue is still there.
Thank you.

If that is not the case please read this with regard to general trouble-shooting, restoring Preferences after making sure all customized presets like Actions, Patterns, Brushes etc. have been saved might be of special interest:
http://blogs.adobe.com/crawlspace/2012/07/photoshop-basic-troubleshooting-steps-to-fix-mos t-issues.html

How can I duplicate a smart object and then edit it, without affecting the original?

I have a vector element from illustrator that I am placing in a tshirt mockup in photoshop. I have the layout essentially how I would like, but I am trying different color variations. I would think to just duplicate the first placement and then edit the color of the resulting copy, but this affects both the copy and the original. I looked into it a bit further, and found that I should try the "replace contents" option under smart objects, and that this would change the copy. So I go back to illustrator, made a copy of the original vector, and then made the color change I had in mind, and then saved it as a separate document that I could then use in replacing the contents of the copied. This however, is still affecting both smart objects!
I have tried this as both linked smart objects and embedded smart objects without success.
Ultimately, I simply want to maintain the position of the original layer with the duplicated and edited layers. If you know of a better way, please share!

I'm on CC on a Mac.
What 21 is talking about is making some sense.
I am able to create new smart object via copy, then create a variation on the original file linked in the parent smart object. Then I save that from illustrator with a different file name. Then I go back to photoshop and replace contents of the new smart object, linking it to the newer illustrator file.
This gets around the problem, but it takes a few more steps than the same thing did it in earlier versions of photoshop.

Return file to resolution of Smart Object?

I often make a photo into a Smart Object within my file and then resize my file smaller for web.
That way I can keep a copy of my original photo at full size but apply colour correction, sharpening etc at the web size.
So lets say the image dimensions are 300px wide but that file holds a smart object that is much larger.
Is there an easy way to return the file to the larger size without losing my color adjustment layers etc?
I know I can just make it larger but I want to return to the exact size of the smart object without having to open said smart object, record the size and then go back and enter it.

emil emil wrote:
conroy wrote:
Sudarshan Thiagarajan wrote:
After you resize your SO to the size it originally was not in, hit Cmd + T or Ctrl + T (Win) to go to Free Transform mode. Then on the menu bar, resize the W & H values to 100%. It will revert the SO to its 100% dimension.
Follow that with Image > Reveal All.
This will work only if the rest of the layers are adjustment layers without having any masks. If there are masks they will not scale along.
I believe all that menu "Image>Reveal All" does is simply add canvas to the document so that the canvas size will not mask off any pixels of any layer. No other resizing is done. The canvas size may actually be larger then the smart object image layer layer's size after the Image Reveal All. The actual Smart Object Image layer will still be 100% image size and may be smaller then canvas size. So IMO conroy is correct. The smart object layer will be still be 100% images size after the image reveal all operation and none of its pixels will be masked off by the canvas size..
If other layers are involved that create a composite image. Image Size would be the proper tool the resize all the layers involver. How well the other layers resize back up depends of the layers. Transforming only the smart object image layer is not the proper thing to do. It would be best to group all layers involved in the composite including the smart object image layer into a single smart object layer before the original down size.
Message was edited by: JJMack

CS5 is opening raw files as a smart object to files im currently working

I just bough new CS 5 and find this big error. When i open raw file in Camera Raw and i have opened some jpg in CS5, it always opened as a smart object to this small jpg i have opened before. The same is doing my CS 5 when i drag some file from desktop, it always ended as a smart object in file im currently working with. Normaly it has to open as a new file not as a smart object in this file im already working with.

How are you opening your RAW files? If you are dragging and dropping them onto Photoshop, on top of an already opened file's workspace - all files will be placed as smart objects. If you drag the files to anywhere else in the interface, for instance the grey area on top of the workspace, they should open as usual. If you are opening them via Bridge or by double-clicking them in Explore, they should open as normal.

Lightroom Unable to Import HDR Image File Opened as Smart Object

I just started using Nik HDR Efex Pro and created an image file in PS CS4 Extended which was opened as a smart object and saved to play around with later. The image shows up in Photoshop as "[image number]_hdr.tif" and both PS CS4 Extended and CS5 have no problem opening it. But I cannot import it into LR3. LR3 gives me a dialogue box which says in effect that the image file cannot be imported because it is corrupt or unsupported. I am guessing the latter because (perhaps) as a smart object the image file is 32bit(?) In any event, has anyone tried and had luck importing to LR3 in this circumstance? Is it "operator error" or just something LR cannot handle? Also, if you have encountered this problem, do you have a workaround? Thanks in advance.

Hi,
The backend for middleware should be same as what it was in MI.
the erro comes when the corrosponding structure in a bapi doesnot exists in current backend.
Please check if the structure ZEFLMI_DOC_HDR_T51 exists in backend.
Thanks,
Rohit

Smart objects generate huge ( 10 GB) temp files ??

Hi folks. I think there's a bug in CS3's smart object handling. Everytime I move (not resize!) a smart object, the temp file's size increases by some 100-200 MB. I easily get over 10 GB just by moving around a single object repeatedly.
I find that quite weird, given that normal layer moving does not significantly alter the temp file's size. And PS only has to store the smart objects new X and Y coordinates as the object itself does not change. Am I missing something ? Anybody knows what's going on ?

Converting Smart objects back to embedded layers would be a very useful addition. "Return to layers" would be a good term for it.
If you are looking for real world examples where this would be useful Chris
to simplify and bring down the file size of a file that has got out of hand with smart Objects. Some sort of global command "embed all Smart objects" in the layer/smart objects menu would also be useful for this purpose.
Objects of the same res and profile could then be non-destructively edited by swapping them in and out of smart objects for direct editing within the master document.
would be particularly useful when for example you need to detach a single instance of a duplicated SO from the others.
There is sometimes a need to return layers, and adjustments back into the master document to directly modify how they interact with their surroundings in terms of color and masking - for compositing. Its useful for simplicity to have them tucked away as SO's still
Of course data loss due to resampling, bit depth and modes could be greeted with a warning, perhaps the warning could be contextual "this operation will result in data loss, will decrease file size by 75%, change its mode from LAB, and resample the embedded pixels to 120%".
What happens to the smart-filters? if they are there, a choice either to rasterise them or abandon them

Can I create a File object without writing it to the disk?

I need construct a mechanism where I can "write" instructions to a file and then FTP this file to a remote system. It is basically a Telnet-like integration for a system that does not support Telnet. Once the file is on the remote device, it knows how to read the file and process its instructions.
I would like to logically create this File object, by that I mean that I would like to use a FileWriter object to write the text instructions to the File, then use the Jakarta Commons NET API to FTP the file to the remote system. My question: can I create this File object without the file actually being written to the file system? Can the File just be memory resident for this creation and FTP?
There could be tens of thousands of these transactions per day and I would like to just avoid any kind of deletion strategy, if I can. Thanks.

Apart from the questionable decision to try and mess with the File object, I think the answer to (my guess at) your original question is "Yes".
Jakarta Commons/Net FTP can upload to a server from any input stream you like. It doesn't have to be a FileInputStream. In particular it could be a ByteArrayInputStream, which reads from a byte array in memory.

Batch Replace Smart Object With Different Image Quality and Sizes

Hi there,
I need help. I have this template that is in 1000x1000pixel and 300 dpi. I'm trying to replace the smart object inside with various JPEG that I have. These JPEG comes in large image sizes but lower than 300dpi. The issues is, when I run the script that I have, some of the pictures become really pixelated. Beforehand, I resized them to fit into the empty place in sizes that I find fit the best (8 cm x 6 cm). Some of them work okey, but then some of them just pretty bad. I'm wondering if you can help me fix the script that I have so I didn't have to resized the images before running the script, and for all of them to automatically fit into my template without altering the quality of the image that I put in.
below is the script that I am using and the screenshot of my template:
#target photoshop
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
var theName= myDocument.name.match(/(.*)\.[^\.]+$/)[1];
var thePath = myDocument.path;
var theLayer = myDocument.activeLayer;
// psd options;
psdOpts = new PhotoshopSaveOptions();
psdOpts.embedColorProfile = true;
psdOpts.alphaChannels = true;
psdOpts.layers = true;
psdOpts.spotColors = true;
// check if layer is smart object;
if (theLayer.kind != "LayerKind.SMARTOBJECT") {alert ("selected layer is not a smart object")}
else {
// select files;
if ($.os.search(/windows/i) != -1) {var theFiles = File.openDialog ("please select files", "*.psd;*.jpg;*.jpeg;*.tif", true)}
else {var theFiles = File.openDialog ("please select files", getFiles, true)};
if (theFiles) {
// work through the array;
for (var m = 0; m < theFiles.length; m++) {
// replace smart object;
theLayer = replaceContents (theFiles[m], theLayer);
var theNewName = theFiles[m].name.match(/(.*)\.[^\.]+$/)[1];
//Raise color picker for Back cover;
try {
app.activeDocument.activeLayer = app.activeDocument.layers[app.activeDocument.layers.length - 1];
// =======================================================
var idsetd = charIDToTypeID( "setd" );
var desc7 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
var ref2 = new ActionReference();
var idcontentLayer = stringIDToTypeID( "contentLayer" );
var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
ref2.putEnumerated( idcontentLayer, idOrdn, idTrgt );
desc7.putReference( idnull, ref2 );
var idT = charIDToTypeID( "T " );
var desc8 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idClr = charIDToTypeID( "Clr " );
var idsolidColorLayer = stringIDToTypeID( "solidColorLayer" );
desc7.putObject( idT, idsolidColorLayer, desc8 );
executeAction( idsetd, desc7, DialogModes.ALL );
} catch (e) {};
//save jpg;
myDocument.saveAs((new File(thePath+"/"+theName+"_"+theNewName+".jpg")),psdOpts,true);
////// get psds, tifs and jpgs from files //////
function getFiles (theFile) {
if (theFile.name.match(/\.(psd|tif|jpeg|jpg)$/i) != null || theFile.constructor.name == "Folder") {
return true
////// replace contents //////
function replaceContents (newFile, theSO) {
app.activeDocument.activeLayer = theSO;
// =======================================================
var idplacedLayerReplaceContents = stringIDToTypeID( "placedLayerReplaceContents" );
var desc3 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
desc3.putPath( idnull, new File( newFile ) );
var idPgNm = charIDToTypeID( "PgNm" );
desc3.putInteger( idPgNm, 1 );
executeAction( idplacedLayerReplaceContents, desc3, DialogModes.NO );
return app.activeDocument.activeLayer

Thank you for your answer.
I was resizing it before from bigger image size to a smaller one (121 cm to 8 cm) which fit my template size. But the dpi remains in 72 which makes the picture pixelized.
I am wondering if I can find a script that will keep the size of the first image that I put on the template for other images that I place, regardless the size they are imported to. Basically, how to make them all fit into the template regardless the size.
Thank you for the info about the scripting forum. I will write there too.
Sorry, I'm so new to this

PS CC Video Layer Smart Object error

I think I have found a bug, I'd like to see if it's reproducible for others. I don't know what the actual error is, but the error message says 'Photoshop could not complete the request because of a program error' (which I'm guessing is just a general error message that could be any number of things). To cause the bug, create a new blank video layer, and draw something on a few frames. Convert the layer to a smart object, and make a copy of the object on the timeline. Add transform key frames to each layer. Save the file. At this point, the file should still be able to play what is on the timeline (for me it does). Close the file, and attempt to reopen. PS should be unable to open the file.
Additional Info:
Whether the Smart object is composed of a single layer, or multiple layers, the error occurs.
I've only tested it so far with scale/rotation transformations, may happen with opacity and position
Altering the opacity and position of the second smart object without setting key-frames doesn't cause the error (just altering the opacity from the layers panel for example, or moving the video layer with move tool).
Timeline frame rate doesn't seem to affect it one way or another.
A few times when I didn't cause the issue intentionally for testing, I was still able to open the file, but attempting to start playback would then cause the error, which would crash Photoshop altogether. In those cases, I was able to find that one of the smart object layers in particular would crash photoshop when visibility was enabled/disabled, so I was able to drag all the other layers into a new file, only loosing one layer.
EDIT: Just to add, my question was: Can other people reproduce this bug?

I can also reproduce this bug.
It is also reproducible by creating a regular document.
Add a few layers with content.
Convert a few of those layers into a smart object.
Animate the contents of the smart object.
Everything works as expected. Timeline plays. Looks good.
Save: Get PS error "Photoshop could not update smart object because of a program error"
Save the animated file as it's own PSD just in case.
Close.
Re-open: Nothing works. Cannot scrub timeline, cannot save for web, cannot play timeline, cannot move objects.
Everything results in the error: "Photoshop could not complete the request because of a program error"
I have inadvertently lost a few hours of work a couple of times now due to this bug. It sucks because the work is there right in front of me but none of it is accessible to me.

Photoshop CS6: Pros and Cons of Using Smart Objects

I haven't had Photoshop CS6 for that long, and have only just got past feeling uncomfortable with using Curves, now I've learnt how to use them properly.
My concern is - I am currently learning about Smart Objects. The concept, at first, seemed like 'the best thing since sliced bread', being able to non-destructively use filters, Shadows/Highlights command, Unsharp Mask, endlessly scale using Free-Transform etc etc, without harming pixels at all.
However, the more articles I read about their use in Photoshop, the more I am afraid to start using them in my workflow.
I understand that when you convert to a Smart Object, this process is non-destructive, i.e. I can perform as many readjustments to a filter, for example, and Photoshop will always work from the embedded container file (which has had no filter adjustment made to it) to adjust the filter to your most recently adjusted settings. If you later decide you don't want to use a filter at all, and rasterize the Smart Object back into a regular layer again, is this process non-destructive as well?
Then there is this article, which I struggle to understand properly:
http://bjango.com/articles/smartobjects/
Please see the part 'Smart Objects Created in Photoshop'. It seems to say I can't scale with a Smart Object without causing interpolation and blurry edges. Please can somebody clarify what the writer of this article is trying to get across, because it is well documented that Smart Objects can be endlessly rescaled non-destructively.
Please understand I use Photoshop primarily for editing photographs.

There is much modern focus on "non-destructive" editing, but keep in mind if you don't overwrite or destroy the original file there is no destruction at the highest level. Put in layman's terms, you could always start over with the raw file.
That thought segways into my next one: Non-destructive editing makes sense if you need to use the same information for a variety of somewhat related purposes, or if the work product may need to change (e.g., to suit the whims of a fickle client).
But at another extreme, if you're editing for a particular purpose - say creating the best possible print from an exposure - sprinting right for the finish line by changing pixel values directly and being done with it can be an extremely effective approach. This requires that you get things right the first time, and that takes practice.
Some folks do their Photoshop work by building up layer after layer and using smart objects, smart filters, etc., and this can be effective but no computer has yet been built that can composite all that stuff in real time with a big image. So there IS a cost to doing it. What you might gain by being able to re-do things, you might not have needed to gain if your control responses were instantaneous and you could tweak the intermediate result at every step very easily. Note the number of posts about how slow Photoshop CS6 is/was at editing deep documents, some by people using 2012 computers.
As with most things, it's horses for courses. It's good that Photoshop gives us rich tools and choices for how to work.
Regarding your specific question, bear in mind that what's communicated to the parent document from each of its embedded Smart Objects is a flat, rasterized image. Think of the embedded smart object kind of like going off and opening another document, making the changes you want, saving the document, then flattening it and pasting the pixels into your parent document.
In the very first example in the linked article, they show how the smart-object-rasterized image of a vector circle, subsequently scaled by resampling the parent document in which the Smart Object is used, becomes fuzzy as it is scaled up. Once you understand this you realize that of course you could scale up the smart object itself, e.g., to a size equal to or larger than what's ultimately needed by the parent document, and then it could be crisp in the parent document where it's used.
Of course, having all your smart objects at a size larger than you need takes up even more resources.
-Noel

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.

Smart Objects without tmp files

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