Smart object how is this done?

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
July 24, 2025
1 reply
299 views

Hi I have been given a document that has a non visible smart layer at the top it seems to link to 4 other layers in the same document so if I make a change it updates the other 4 layers, in this case it is a picture in a frame which I was asked to update I did the work and sent it off they came back saying i need to update it in the non-visible smart layer. i did as they asked and saw it automatically update in the other layers.

How does that work seems like it some sort of master layer.

Correct answer Stephen Marsh

For an embedded smart object, this is by design and the standard behaviour when the layer is duplicated/copied.

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/using/create-smart-objects.html#duplicate-embedded-smart-object

Stephen Marsh

Correct answer

Community Expert

For an embedded smart object, this is by design and the standard behaviour when the layer is duplicated/copied.

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/using/create-smart-objects.html#duplicate-embedded-smart-object

shift-F5Author

Participant

Thanks for the reply, does it have to be linked? I have to say I am not a noob in PS and I could not replicate this but with PS everyday is a school day

Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

The help link that I sent is fairly detailed.

You can use File > Place Linked to explicitly link, or use Place Embedded to embed. Most (all) other ways that I can think of off the top of my head create an embedded smart object. Linked can be converted to embedded, and embedded can be converted to linked.

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