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eliv75610801
eliv75610801
Participant
August 22, 2022
Answered

Can I temporarily unlink a linked smart object to retain its current state?

  • August 22, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 379 views

I'm currently Photoshopping a card-game board UI, using linked smart objects for the cards, which all use the same master-PSD as a template. Problem is, I'd like to have multiple cards on screen at once, but I don't know how to do that with a single, commonly linked PSD without some fancy save-macro. Ideally, I'd like to be able to set the linked PSD to a specific state (i.e. card), save, then in the board PSD, sever the connection of the linked layer where I want that card to stay, save, and then repeat with each card. Is this possible?

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Correct answer c.pfaffenbichler

I am not completely sure what you mean. 

 

Have you considered setting up Layer Comps in the SO and applying those in the containing document to the SO instances in the Properties Panel? 

3 replies

PECourtejoie
Community Expert
PECourtejoieCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 22, 2022

Hi, a smart object can contain another smart object, and you can create new instances, as explained in this video:

 

https://jkost.com/blog/2019/01/3-2-1-photoshop-duplicate-and-copy-smart-objects-in-photoshop-cc.html

 

It is possible also to use Layer comps to have different designs inside a smart object, and activate them at will: https://jkost.com/blog/2021/09/layer-comps.html 

 

or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA_SFUcZTpg

 

I hope this helps.

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    August 22, 2022

    I am not completely sure what you mean. 

     

    Have you considered setting up Layer Comps in the SO and applying those in the containing document to the SO instances in the Properties Panel? 

      eliv75610801
      eliv75610801Author
      Participant
      August 24, 2022

      Amazing! Layer comps are not only the exact solution I was looking for, but an additional tool for controlling linked elements modularly. Thanks so much!

        PECourtejoie
        Community Expert
        PECourtejoieCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 25, 2022

        Here's more on the topic for those interested: https://www.adobe.com/max/2020/sessions/photoshop-skills-part-3-layer-comps-smart-objects-l6162c.html

         

        And: Smart objects put to use in the third part of @Earth Oliver 's masterclass on Frequency Separation: https://www.adobe.com/max/2020/sessions/frequency-separation-20-part-3-problem-solving-tec-l6153c.html

          Mylenium
          Mylenium
          Legend
          August 22, 2022

          I don't think so. PS has no deeper insights into SOs and more or less treats them just as a layer and the states. What you want to do will always require to duplicate a layer and rasterize it to produce persistent data.

           

          Mylenium

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