Smart Object selection

[didiermazier]

Hi y'all

When you save a selection within a smart object, it would be nice to be able to get it back in the main document.

Maybe an option when saving : Smart object or main file?

On the other hand I aknowledge that sizes and rez are often not the same in the smart objects that in the main file…

Thoughts?

Best

Didier

[jane-e]

@didiermazier 

I agree and would also like to see this.

What I do for now is to Save the Selection while in the SO, then Load the Selection when back in the .psd. At least it gets the job done.

Jane

[didiermazier]

Hi Jane,

It doesn't work for me. Video added on YT : https://youtu.be/RyMJFZZd9oY

Open the SO

Make a selection

Save it ("TEST")

Save the SO changes

Can't find TEST when looking for selections

What did I miss?

[Stephen Marsh]

@didiermazier 

Assuming that the parent document and the embedded child smart object have the same canvas size, then save the selection to a new document, then load the selection from the new document in the parent file (as the child smart object will presumably be closed). Otherwise, don't close the child smart object until you have loaded the selection in the parent doc.

[didiermazier]

Thanks Stephen for this smart method to get the back from the SO to the main file selection.

But it is way too complicated process, it would be more useful to be able to save from the SO an find it back in the main file, of xourse if the sizes/rez are the same…

Also maybe there is n easier way to get back the SO saved selection by copying its alpha channel ?

[davescm]

You can save the selection made in the SO directly into the main document. Just use menu Select > Save Selection then in the dialogue that opens, under document choose the main document. It will save as a channel, ready to be loaded.
Dave

[didiermazier]

Hi Dave

The SO selection saving window doesn't offer main document as destination, only the PSB and New doc…

Must be missing something…

[M-H]

@davescm Are you able to provide screenshot showing how to save selection to a different document than one you are currently in?

@didiermazier "save selection" is just creating an extra channel with the selection in it and channels can be just moved (drag-n-dropped) between documents. It doesnt even need to be saved as selection/channel, you could just create a layer/mask with the same selection and just move that between you main doc and the content of SO

[davescm]

@M-H Sure. This is the Save selection document in the open smart object. The destination gives options to save the selection in the main document, the smart object or in a new document. I've just checked though, the main document and the SO have to be the same size (in pixels) for that option to be in the list.

Dave

[didiermazier]

Yes Dave when you save from the master file, I agree with you.

But the issue is when saving a selection from the smart object.

And I may be wrong but you cannot drag an alpha channel from the SO to the master file tab

So again : It would be nice when saving a selection from a SO to have the master file proposed as a destination, which is not the case actually.

Thank you all anyway for your time and dedication

[davescm]

@didiermazier I was in the opened smart object when I did that and took the screenshot. The destination is the file to save to, hence I chose the master file from the drop down choices when you click the down reveal arrow. The only caveat is that the smart object and the master file were the same size otherwise the master document does not appear in the list.

[didiermazier]

I do not understand since when I try the same the master file doesn't show in the drop down menu . There is only New and the PSB. Size is the sme for both master and SO.

Also your drop down snapshot shows a jpg file. It looks like another open doc and not the master PSD.

Could you send me a video capture to understand what i am doing wrong.

Maybe it is because within your exemple the Jpg was not yet saved as a PSD…

[M-H]

And I may be wrong but you cannot drag an alpha channel from the SO to the master file tab
By @didiermazier

Yup, you were wrong, ive just dragged the sunglasses mask/channel from the smart object back into master file:

[M-H]

@davescm "and the SO have to be the same size (in pixels) for that option to be in the list" that was the crucial bit i was missing before when I've tried. Just simple drag and dropping selection channel seams so much easier and less clicks for this

[davescm]

@didiermazier Your screenshot shows the channel not the document destination.

Steps below:

1. I opened a jpeg image, from an old SFTW challenge,  converted to smart object and saved it. I closed it and reopened it :

2. I opened the smart object and made a selection of the chest

3. I used Select > Save Selection and under destination document chose the main document (not the smart object) and also chose new channel

4. After clicking OK, I switched to the main document and the channel with the selection was ready for use in the channels panel

That was it.

Dave

[jane-e]

In case someone reads this later, the selected alpha channel can be loaded as a selection from the Channels panel several ways, including:

• Option/Alt click the thumbnail
• Click the circle icon with the marching ants at the bottom of the panel

Jane

[didiermazier]

Thank you Dave and all of you for your help.

I finally find the reason of this issue.

The SO was duplicated several times. In this case when saving a selection from the SO the masterfile doesn't appear in the drop down menu.

I added a new SO to this very same doc (which was 8b/c) to test it. With this non duplicated SO it worked and the master file was listed in the menu.

Problem solved

Again thank you all for your time