Resolution of vector smart objects when printing

[samueld6911674]

I have a few myths I need debunking about smart objects and vector graphics in general.

Let's say I link a vector file from illustrator to a photoshop document that is fully rasterized (pixels). I know that this vector link is now infinitely scalable in the photoshop document i.e. whatever size I print at the vector smart object will look good, independent to the rasterized image. However, what exactly designates "good" for a vector smart object when printing. More specifically, what is the ppi of the vector smart object when I print. Can I control this? Does a vector smart object in photoshop print as well as printing the .ai file directly? In digital space, say I export this hybrid illustrator/photoshop file as a pdf. Will my vector smart object appear crisp and smooth? How smooth?

[Monika Gause]

The vector smart object will be automatically rasterized in the size it has within that PSD file. You can scale it to a different size inside Photoshop, but soon as it's printed, it gets rasterized.

So yes, quality is better when printing it from Illustrator or a layout application

[Mariam Hovhannesyan]

Try to save photoshop file in maximum quality jpeg or png and save as illustrator file in 600dpi png, then make your full design in indesign and save your file as 600dpi and print, I think that's the best way to work

[Monika Gause]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Mariam+Hovhannessian  schrieb

save as illustrator file in 600dpi png,

Vector files don't have a resolution.

So it's best to save the Photoshop content as a raster file format at whatever appropriate resolution for the printing process. And save the Illustrator file as AI/PDF. Then combine both in InDesign.

[Danny Whitehead.]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Mariam+Hovhannessian  wrote

Try to save photoshop file in maximum quality jpeg or png

No. Don't use lossy formats to take into InDesign. Use PSD or perhaps TIFF.

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Mariam+Hovhannessian  wrote

save as illustrator file in 600dpi png

No. Save your Illustrator file as a vector AI or PDF.

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Mariam+Hovhannessian  wrote

then make your full design in indesign and save your file as 600dpi

No. Save your file as a resolution independent PDF.

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Mariam+Hovhannessian  wrote

think that's the best way to work

I'd struggle to invent a worse way to work!

[Danny Whitehead.]

In addition to Monika's accurate information, vector shapes and live type set in Photoshop (but not vectors in smart objects) do remain vector, but only if you save the Photoshop files as PDF.

[samueld6911674]

when you mean "set in photoshop" you mean created in photoshop, correct? i.e. text or shapes that I create using the ps type tool or the pen tool, respectively. On the other hand, anything linked to a photoshop file, such as an illustrator file, will always raster -- I'm assuming.

[Danny Whitehead.]

samueld6911674  wrote

when you mean "set in photoshop" you mean created in photoshop, correct? i.e. text or shapes that I create using the ps type tool or the pen tool, respectively. On the other hand, anything linked to a photoshop file, such as an illustrator file, will always raster -- I'm assuming.

You got it!

[John Mensinger]

Try to save photoshop file in maximum quality jpeg or png . . . then make your full design in indesign.

When the image destination is an InDesign layout for print, there is no reason to save in any format other than Photoshop's native.psd.

[Danny Whitehead.]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/John+Mensinger  wrote

Try to save photoshop file in maximum quality jpeg or png . . . then make your full design in indesign.

When the image destination is an InDesign layout for print, there is no reason to save in any format other than Photoshop's native.psd.

Everything about Mariam's post was wrong!