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Jenny Troester
Participant
May 4, 2016
Answered

Smart object feature in Illustrator?

  • May 4, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 58157 views

Is there a feature in Illustrator that can handle "smart objects" like Photoshop? Working with a client that repeats the same design multiple times in single illustrator file. ( this would be easy in InDesign but Client won't switch) making edits is time consuming as each version of the design needs to have the edits made or replaced. Would love a feature like smart object in PSD that I can edit once and effect all versions in the file. Thank you!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Barb Binder

    What about putting that design in a CC Library?

    • Linked Assets: Edit once - update everywhere.
      Always use the latest iteration or version of your asset with Linked Assets. No matter where your asset is used, if you edit the Library copy, all your projects are updated with the edited asset. Adobe CreativeSync ensures that you get the right and updated asset – each time you reuse assets across desktop and mobile projects.

    4 replies

    S
    scottp17355564
    Participating Frequently
    November 8, 2017

    Its different logic for Illustrator vs Photoshop (from my current workflow with my teams). As in PS, you can drag the object to the Libraries panel and it converts the asset as a 'smart object cloud icon' in the actual layers in PS. You can double click the smart object in either the libraries panel or in the actual file to make edits to the original graphics.

    However, in Illustrator, you'll need to drag the assets to the library, then drag them back to your file in order to create a 'linked smart object'. Just dragging the asset to the library does not make it a linked object.

    J
    Jenny TroesterAuthor
    Participant
    May 4, 2016

    Using CC2016. I'll try both ways and see which is more efficient for workflow and factory usage. Thank you so much for taking the time to ask the question and give ideas to try out. Thanks!

    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 4, 2016

    You are not stating what version of Illustrator you are using.

    Another way in older (and recent) versions of Illustrator would be using symbols. Depends on what exactly you are looking for, of course.

      trashcaneron
      trashcaneron
      Inspiring
      June 11, 2020

      Symbols solved it for me. Was looking for a tool similar to Photoshop's smart objects in Illustrator and this worked nicely. It adds to your symbol library but it does the trick! 

        Barb Binder
        Community Expert
        Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
        Community Expert
        May 4, 2016

        What about putting that design in a CC Library?

        • Linked Assets: Edit once - update everywhere.
          Always use the latest iteration or version of your asset with Linked Assets. No matter where your asset is used, if you edit the Library copy, all your projects are updated with the edited asset. Adobe CreativeSync ensures that you get the right and updated asset – each time you reuse assets across desktop and mobile projects.
        ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
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