P: Linked Smart Objects enhancement

Hi Daniel,

Yes, text as part of a Layer Comp is a really interesting idea. I'll talk to the developers about the feasibility of doing this.

Can we start a separate thread for this request?

Hi Stephen/Chris, any thoughts on our request? This would really help my workflow.

Stephane that sounds great. Getting way ahead of this request - but going meta and being able to switch smart objects within a smart object would make incredibly powerful.

So for example, if I am designing a friends list layout, I could have one smart object, with an instance of a profile image and a variable for the text.

I suppose I could have different layer comps inside a smart object that would allow me to change between a multitude of profile pictures, but making layer comps is currently a little time consuming since there is no layers > layer comp option. I would have to manually change the visibility until I get the layer I need, give it a name, rinse and repeat.

But if I were able to have the user picture as a smart object with a dynamic image inside of it, I would be able to repurpose it infinitely! If I were working on a huge grid of similar objects (which is quite a common scenario) instead of a smart object bloated with hundreds of images inside it, I could have one dynamic, lightweight and reusable tool!!

Regarding Text Variables in smart objects, we could use the same trick than Text Template between Premiere Pro and Atfer Effects:
• Enable Text Variable
• Then Locked not editable Layers
• Non-Locked Layers Field on SO Instances in the Properties panel

And that would be important to memorize Text Label (variable) in Layer Comps, so that we could have several states of a button and variations...
For example, in some Photoshop Dialog Box the "Cancel" button have Normal and Clicked states, but with the Alt/Option key its label become "Reset".

Agree 🙂

Thank you Marcus 🙂

Photoshop 2014 is an amazing update, based solely on the layer comps integration into smart objects alone. It's an incredible addition to our workflow, and I cant tell you how much time it is already saving myself and others, and also the opportunities it is opening up! Thanks so much for listening.

Just raising a feature request for something I have needed for a long time, and following on from Stephane Baril's excellent suggestion from a few months ago:

"To enhance the graphic webdesign workflow, that also would be great to have the ability to have an option (in the Properties panel for example or in the Option Bar) allowing a Text layer, inside a Smart Object, to become a Variable.
So that, on each Instance of the Smart Object (in the main Photoshop file) we'll have the possibility to customize it in the Properties panel."

http://feedback.photoshop.com/photosh...

Couldn't have put it better. This is currently the only thing holding us back from widely using linked smart objects in every workflow we do. For example in app interface design at the moment, if we were able to specify a text layer as a variable, we could use one single linked psb for pretty much all common elements in a project.

A good example would be a navigation bar. Using one single linked navbar psb, we could change the heading for each page in each individual mockup we do by simply editing it in the properties panel! Rather than having to copy the elements to each individual file.

It could also be used for titles, buttons, etc - the possibilities are endless and it would drastically increase our application design workflow!

This is currently the only thing holding us back from widely using linked smart objects in every workflow we do. For example in app interface design at the moment, if we were able to specify a text layer as a variable, we could use one single linked psb for pretty much all common elements ie. a navigation bar. Then using this linked file, you could change the title of the page for individual mockups and layer states. It could also be used for titles, buttons etc, the possibilities are endless and it would drastically increase our application design workflow!

Thank you Marcus!
And a big thanks to the Photoshop Team to considered this request and implemented it 🙂

It is now possible to modify contents of each duplicated 'Linked' layer/psd/instance using layer comps properties of linked files in ccPS 2014

Example
- Place a linked file with multiple layer comps (eg a btn with up, down, selected etc)
- duplicate the single linked PSD file 3 times (eg from within 'new.psd')
- Select linked layer > view properties panel > modify specific layerComp
- repeat for each duplicated layer
- You can now apply unique layerComp (states) to each instance :)

The UX is a little clunky, but fully functional, no more crazy duplicated .psb hacks!

http://bjango.com/articles/photoshopc...
June 18th 2014 Quote: "In a fairly unexpected move, Layer Comps and Smart Objects can now be used together — Layer Comps contained within Smart Objects are exposed to the host of the Smart Object, allowing many states to be saved within the Smart Object."

Big thanks to Stephane, adobe team and Bjango for actioning, this has saved me writing my own extension to do the same.

I also did another feature request which could resolve part of your suggestion:
http://feedback.photoshop.com/photosh...

By enhancing Layer Comps and targeting them in the instance of the Smart Object, I expect that probably be helpful in your workflow?