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didiermazier
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 6, 2025
Question

Smart Object selection

  • August 6, 2025
  • 16 replies
  • 441 views

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

16 replies

didiermazier
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 7, 2025

Hi Dave

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

 

Must be missing something…

davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 7, 2025

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
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 7, 2025

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 ?

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 7, 2025

@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
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 6, 2025

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?

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 6, 2025

@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