P: Want to change Layer Comps inside a Smart Objects

thanks for the merge - I missed this conversation originally.

OK, so we have linked smart objects now - sweet. But is there a way to take it a step further to combine smart objects with Layer Comps so that I can select different states of a linked smart object? For example - if I am building a webpage with smart objects that link to a header that contains all of my navigational elements - it would be amazing if I could create layer styles for dropdowns/active states etc etc and then be able to select them at will from the linked smart object so that it wouldn't require the save that changes the link across multiple pages (since I normally build out each unique page in it's own file). Just thought it would be a cool idea. Possibly undoable and/or un-useful to many. Linked files are already making me happier on a day to day basis - so this would just be icing.

I agree with everyone, this is a really needed feature. I would love a way to be able to use layer comps with smart objects.

This reminds me of Flash Symbols that have frames to be displayed.

i would only use it as a 2nd level of context menu.

like:

Display As >
........................menu item 1
........................menu item 1 hover
........................menu item 1 down
........................menu item 1 disabled

For a web designer it would be ultimately helpful if i can make a smart-object for example a product item which is duplicated X times to interpret a product list in the e-shop design.
But the same way it can be a button or anything else what can have more states.

This smart object will be used X times in the design, but i need to show different states of it.
Like selected, Zoomed detail view on hover.. and any other states.

This i would like to have prepared inside of the Smart object as a Layer Comps.
And i would like to set in parent PSD which state should be used on which instance of it.

Imagine then all the consequences.
To define states of each object from which webpage is build up and one day maybe also export it as a files.

So in other words:

Make it possible that layer comps inside of smart objects can be accessible in parent file as maybe a part of layer setup.

Even if this isn't done with an SO (maybe a new type of object instead), this functionality is really needed.

Whether this is done through an SO or some other method, this is *really* needed.

Totally agree this is really needed.

It seems like a reasonable request to me.

Layer comps conceptually, from my understanding, are already a method to predefine perspectives into a document. When a user sets up layer comps, they're defining a fixed number of static states in which to view the document.

Asking for a containing document (or for that matter, the viewer in Bridge, an OS-level preview renderer, a third-party tool like the Unity game engine, etc.) to have the ability to choose which angle they'd like to see into the black box from — which layer comp they'd like to use — does not seem to violate the design principles of layer comps, smart objects, or (as a general concept) black boxes. To me, the features seem to be made for each other.

I understand the implications may lie in that layer comps currently may not be powerful enough to validate a change like this— the folks at Adobe may want to prepare a true “Layer Comps 2.0” (with comping beyond visibility, position, and styles, I imagine) before it would be a remarkable improvement to tie to Smart Objects, not just a minor improvement. Bullet-point features sell upgrades, and users don't necessarily take well to things shifting around seemingly unnecessarily in each version.

My stance: I'd like to see it. I don't see any reason why it would be difficult from design or tech perspectives. And I'm a little surprised it isn't already present, given the nature of Photoshop to provide simple, usable pieces that combine well into something greater. In the last few major revs, it seems both Layer Comps and Smart Objects have been forgotten about.

Could you just store previews of the layer comp states? Like a set of tumbnails for the smart object, only of course in full resolution.

How about Smart Objects 2.0 ? 🙂