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tysonjamesdale
tysonjamesdale
Inspiring
June 30, 2018
Question

Smart Object Issue - Cannot get illustrator to update my photoshop edits.

  • June 30, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 3733 views

Hi all,

I've built assets in illustrator, and I'm trying to texture them in photoshop, to then resend back to illustrator to use. I cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong.

I copy and paste the illustrator asset into photoshop.

Photoshop then asks me how I would like to paste the asset. I choose "smart object."

I then create the texture I'd like to use and then save the file.

I can't figure out how to get illustrator to update the file to show the texture from photoshop. What principle am I missing here?

I've attached a quick test of some shapes to show the steps I'm taking, and where I'm running into problems.

Thanks so much!

Tyson

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

barbara_a7746676
Community Expert
barbara_a7746676Community Expert
Community Expert
July 1, 2018

The key is that the files must be Linked. When you Paste, the file is embedded, not linked.

In Illustrator save the Illustrator file. Then in Photoshop, under the File menu, choose Place Linked and navigate to the Illustrator file you saved. Now when you make edits to the Illustrator file Photoshop will update the file.

When you want to place the Photoshop file into Illustrator, in Illustrator choose File > Place. Be sure to tick Linked in the lower left corner of the Place dialog box.

    tysonjamesdale
    tysonjamesdaleAuthor
    Inspiring
    July 2, 2018

    Hi Barbara,

    This is a distinction that I wasn't making on my own, so thank you for clarifying the difference between imbedded files and linked files. It solved my problem.

      barbara_a7746676
      Community Expert
      barbara_a7746676Community Expert
      Community Expert
      July 2, 2018

      YAY!

      Bill Silbert
      Community Expert
      Bill SilbertCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 30, 2018

      The smart object that you make when you paste your Illustrator file into Photoshop no longer has a direct link to your original Illustrator file. You can continue to edit it through the Photoshop file by double clicking on its Smart Object icon in its layer in the Photoshop file and it will take you back to the Illustrator program for editing but the file you are now editing exists in a "nether region" that is not easily accessible by the user. You can do a "save as" of this Illustrator file to any place on the computer that you wish creating a new Illustrator file but it will then have no more connection to the Photoshop file. If you do not do a "save as" and you keep it as a smart object then when you do a regular save and then go back to Photoshop the smart object will show the updating in the PSD.

        tysonjamesdale
        tysonjamesdaleAuthor
        Inspiring
        July 2, 2018

        Great. Thank you so much! Very informative and very helpful for my application.

          Ton Frederiks
          Community Expert
          Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          June 30, 2018

          It's one way.

          If you place the AI object as Smart Object, you can modify the AI object by double clicking and changing it in Illustrator.

          It will update in Photoshop.

          If you want to update a Photoshop file (that can include a smart object) in Illustrator, place the .psd file as a linked file.

            tysonjamesdale
            tysonjamesdaleAuthor
            Inspiring
            July 2, 2018

            Great thanks for the help! I appreciate it.

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