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wazzzzo
Inspiring
July 15, 2019
Question

Placed layer comps don't keep overrides when amending originating PSD

  • July 15, 2019
  • 6 replies
  • 4330 views

Illustrator seems to have issues with maintaining layer comp visibility in placed objects (multiple versions placed within same file) when the original file is amended. i.e. PSD files with layer comps placed into Illustrator, each referencing a different layer comp. PSD file amended and all instances in Illustrator default to current photoshop state. From there they need reimporting (relinking) and the layer comp to be reselected.

Here's the process:

- Photoshop file with layer comps used to define a number of possible different states of the file.

- Placed instance 1 with Layer Comp A in Illustrator with "Keep overrides" checked.

- Placed instance 2 with Layer Comp B in Illustrator with "Keep overrides" checked.

All good so far.

- Return to Photoshop file and amend something.

- The result is that both instances in Illustrator default to the current state of the Photoshop document.

There is then no way of viewing the layer comp list from the placed PSD to subsequently change it to the desired layer comp.

The only way is to relink the placed object and select the correct layer comp for all instances.

Thanks for any help.

Andy

    6 replies

    W
    wazzzzoAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 23, 2022

    I think I have solved this one.

    It's all to do with the colour profile of the PSD document. In short, an RGB PSD with layer comps, placed into an Illustrator file reverts to "Last Document State" when updating an element in that PSD. The same thing doesn't happen with a CMYK PSD placed in the same way.

    In my testing, it also seems that even an RGB PSD file as above, converted to a CMYK file still maintains the original RGB file issues mentioned above.

    From now on it should be a simple case of starting with CMYK PSD files if layer comps are going to be needed.

      D
      dDembicki
      Inspiring
      June 23, 2022

      Interesting. So you're saying all the files need to be in the same color space? All CMYK, or all RGB? 

      D
      dDembicki
      Inspiring
      June 23, 2022
      I think so.
      Importantly, it seems that you can't change your mind. If you start in RGB
      and then decide to utilise some Layer Comps then you can't change the mode
      to CMYK. Even in this case of technically placing in a CMYK file into
      Illustrator the layer comps still fail when something is changed. So you
      would need to start a brand new file originated as CMYK and then place that
      one. I haven't, however, tried doing this and dragging all the original
      layers over as a test.

      Hmmm. Total PITA, agreed, and THANK you for the workaround. It would be nice if it worked like it does in InDe. I'm sure if I go search in the AI feature request page I will find something already created to upvote. 

      stidthesquid
      stidthesquid
      New Participant
      April 14, 2022

      I'm currently also experiencing this issue, even with the latest update (26.2.1). You explained it exactly right. 

      Illustrator is just disregarding the selected layer comps for placed PSDs.
      I've had to keep relinking and reselecting the intended layer comp.

       

      This even happened to me when opening a previous document that I worked on yesterday. It all looked right when I saved it. When I reopened, it updated the links and didn't even ask me if I wanted to.

       

      I started using this workflow because I was placing PSDs into other PSDs and wanted the option to switch object states quickly and easily. (PS has a handy drop-down in the Properties window) I've also used the same PSDs in InDesign and they've kept their selected states. But Illustrator let me down on this one.

      Would love to get a fix!

        schroef
        schroef
        Inspiring
        March 5, 2021

        Is see this also happening on Windows using v25. At work on old 2017 version it works flawless. Thought it was related to saving as legacy, but test it and still reverts to the last comp in the file. Its quite anoying to relink it each time. Overtime i wont recall that i need to do this and thus errors happen. Result unhappy customers!!

         

        I tried narrowing the issue down. In this screengrab the images are simply placed using both options. Now it seems to work as expected. I think the issue is because i duplicated the original masked version and then used relink feature from the panel. Perhaps this has an issue?

        Hmm i also tried making a mask and duplicating it. Now it does work as it should. Not sure why those other keep failing.

        schroef
        schroef
        Inspiring
        March 5, 2021

        Hmmm not sure, so i replaced those 2 faulty versions and now it seems to work fine. I cant seem to replicate it again.

         

        Ill keep this post in mind if notice it again and do more research on it

        schroef
        schroef
        Inspiring
        September 6, 2022

        Back at it again, shows same again. Tried all methods and still reverts to last saved layer comp. First thought it was because layercomps had same name, so adjsuted that. Still showed the issue

        D
        dDembicki
        Inspiring
        May 9, 2020

        I am having the same issue. My layer comps in this case are different colored coffee cups (each a layer comp) placed in illustrator, as the cup colors and accompaniments change for different flavors. If I update the flavor image on one, say take out the leaves on my hazelnuts, and save, when I go back to Illustrator it updates all instances to the last visible state from the photoshop file, irregardless of the overrides. And the only way to "fix" it is to relink each instance to its appropriate layer comp again.

         

        My PDS file is saved in PSD format. It is linked and not embedded. I must be missing something...  Please advise thanks.

          Myra Ferguson
          Myra Ferguson
          Adobe Expert
          July 15, 2019

          I think what is happening is that on Place, you're embedding the artwork. If you place and leave it linked, you don't get the Photoshop Import Options dialog where you select the Layer Comp. If the artwork is linked (as opposed to embedded), Illustrator detects the change and presents an alert that says, "Some files are missing or modified in the Links panel. Would you like to update them now?" Click yes to update.

          schroef
          schroef
          Inspiring
          March 5, 2021

          Did you try what the OP asked? Because i still see this issue in v25. On OSX 2017 version still works flawless. Windows illustrator feels so buggy compared to OSX version. 

          Mike_Gondek10189183
          Mike_Gondek10189183
          Adobe Expert
          July 15, 2019

          Sorry your issue did not  happen to me oN Mac OS High Sierra, CC2019.

          I placed layer comps of the same image

          Added a big red dot in Photoshop and saved.

          I

          llustraror updated, but images did not change, as that red dot did not belong to any layer comp.

          Can you please clcik the icons in left column to test status of your layer comps is as you believe they are

          This is the setting I used, which sounds  as you are using the same, btu jsut posting to confirm.

          Does your .psd filename have any charachters like slashes or colons in the filename, adn confirm you are using the .psd format and not another layered format?

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