Pasting into Photoshop CS5 + Auto Resize

[Guest]

We copy a lot of existing elements from illustrator files into existing Photoshop documents. The dimensions of the Illustrator files are much larger, so we've always pasted into Photoshop and it resizes to the smaller photoshop document.

When I paste into the existing Photoshop document in CS5, I need the image/object to resize to my Photoshop document, instead of pasting in at the actual/original size.

Is there something I can change in preferences? Or a way to do this?

[Guest]

Considering that Illustrator is a vector program and supposedly resolution-independent, I don't know how to change the resolution on an Illustrator document. The only reference I could find in Illustrator to resolution is under the "Document Setup" menu item, in regard to transparency, where it's limited to High, Medium and Low. I've run into this problem when pasting a section from one Photoshop file into another, and it turned out the resolutions were different. That made sense. But I have no idea how to change the resolution of a file in Illustrator. Please enlighten me.

[conroy]

When you create a new Illustrator doc, you can set the raster ppi at 72, 150 or 300 ppi. I thought you would be pasting Illustrator rasterizations of vectors because Photoshop ruins the rendering of imported vector objects that are designed to be pixel-perfect in Illustrator.

[Lamensterms]

Hi CodeLexi,

I am find the exact same issue when pasting from AI to PS.

Generally speaking (in past versions of PS), if the AI clip (not file) is smaller than the PS canvas, the AI clip size would remain.  If the AI clip is larger than the PS canvas, the AI clip is resized (shrunk) to the size of the PS canvas.

The above 'rule' does not apply to PSCS5.

Does anyone know why?  Or if there is a setting to correct the behaviour?

Thanks for any help.

[JJMack]

Lamensterms wrote:

Hi CodeLexi,

I am find the exact same issue when pasting from AI to PS.

Generally speaking (in past versions of PS), if the AI clip (not file) is smaller than the PS canvas, the AI clip size would remain.  If the AI clip is larger than the PS canvas, the AI clip is resized (shrunk) to the size of the PS canvas.

There is a big difference between Placing and Pasting.  When a image is placed into a document the layer is a smart object layer. The layers embedded object is a copy of the placed image file any image format. Layered, Raw or flat. If the composite image pixels  will not fit within the documents canvas the smart object layer may be scaled to fit within the document canvas by the smart object layer's  assocated transform depending on the users Photoshop preference for how place should work.

There is also a Photoshop preference that instructs Photoshop to Place dragged raster images in as smart object layers.

Pasting in works differently. Photoshop preserves the pasted in image size. That is if the contents of the clipboard has a different Image DPI resolution Photoshop will transform the pasted in image to match the document resolution the pasted in image pixels will be transform resample interpolating the number of pixels up or down in size. The results may or may not fit within canvas. If there was a resize during paste it can not be undone for the original pixels have been interpolated and no longer exists. Photoshop supports any size layers the need mot ne canvas size. Only pixels over the canvas will be visible.

Placed image original pixels exists for the layer composite image. The smart object layer associated transform may be transforming that composite's size however you can always change the smart object layers transform to 100% and recover the original pixels.

I do not have AI if you are using drag and drop from AI it may be the other setting in Photoshop preferences to place dragged raster image as smart objects.  I would also think dragging a vector from AI would get into Photshop as a vector layer like a shape layer.   Copy Paste may not work the way you want.

[Lamensterms]

Hi JJMack,

Thanks for the reply.

I appreciate the fact that copy+paste and place are 2 different operations.  Until I found this article this morning... I didnt even realise there was such think as 'place'.

My procedure has always been to copy into the clipboard (CTRL+C) from AI and paste (CRTL+V) into PS (Windows).  In the past I have always achieved good results with this method. Occasionally I would have to tinker with the AI source to get it to look right in PS (colours, line thicknesses, etc).  But I never had any other issues with this method.  When I paste into PS from AI I am promted with a dialogue which allows me to choose how I would like PS to treat/adapt the AI clip (Smart Object, Pixels, ... and a couple other options).

I only realised today that PS was not shrinking the AI clip down to suit the size of the PS canvas.

Thanks again.

[JJMack]

Yes many Photoshop users that know they know how Photoshop Place and Paste work. Even when they do know. Their actual understanding may not comprend the whole story yet. For they have may not had to seen all the variations of Place and Paste and haven't given the subject deep thought.

A lot has to do with size.   Many users think about size differently for there are several sizes when it comes down to it..   When Photoshop documentation states size its best to think "Print Size" You know this has to do document resolution and the number of pixels in the document. It what make the physical print size    When images are Pasted and Placed into some other document Photoshop maintains the new layers  "physical print size"  If the two document do not have the same resolution the image going into the document will be scaled to the receiving document resolution it does not mater how your Photoshop preferences setting are set.  There will be scaling size change made.   The result may or may not fit within the receiving documents canvas.  In the case of place if what is being place in does not fit. What does not fit may be scaled to fit within the receiving document canvas size.  Place images are smart object layers and the object pixels are the original ones for the object.  All smart object layers have a single transform associated with them. This transform may or may not scale the original image.   Image that have the same resolution may just be scale to 100% and have not change in number of pixels.  When the object being place is larger the canvas size depending on the Photoshop's Preference Place object resize option the object may be resized to fit within canvas its print size will be different then the original object.  Its only when you have been puzzled by some Photoshop's Places and Paste operation that you deepen your though process and inveterate the subject thoroughly that you see the whole story

Target a placed in image smart object layer  and use the free transform shortcut key to see the current associated transform. Look in the option bar at its scale setting it may surprise you.

I will admit my knowledge was very faulty till I started scripting place and had to deal with how Photoshop did the operation. I had a lot of problems till I realized what was happening. I then realizes that I could scale the placed object to 100% get it back to its original pixels then transform these pixels to where I needed them to be and scaled to the size I needed.

As wrote I don't have AI. Since AI is an Adobe product  when you use copy in AI and paste in PS  I can beleive that Photoshop may well know that the clipboards contents were copied there from AI and Photoshop may give you options like to use paste or place.   I would think any resizing done to the clipboards pixels is done by Photoshop not AI.

Message was edited by: JJMack