What is the difference between 'Place Embedded' & 'Place Linked'?

[zcrhb]

Hey! In Adobe Photoshop CC what is the difference between placing something that is embedded and placing something that is linked?

[PECourtejoie · Accepted solution]

Hello, Zack, these new entries in the file menu have a dedicated help page that explains them: http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/create-smart-objects.html

Basically, linked puts a link to an external file that can be updated, embedded places the smart object inside the file.

[Martin_Bns]

Hi Zackrabie, ,

When I work on very large files I prefer to use Place Linked. The size of the final file is pretty the same but I like more because your final project will update it self if you make some changes to the linked file. In this way  your final composition will be your delivery file and you can edit easily smaller files stressing less your computer.

For exemple right now I'm working on a huge compositing which will be printed 20m. My final final file will contain 6 sections of the compositing so if I need to edit one piece, I do not have to open the BIG file but just the smaller portion of it.

Hope it can help.

Martin Benes

[JJMack]

Martin_Bns wrote:

I do not have to open the BIG file but just the smaller portion of it.

The big file will not be update till you open the document in Photoshop. If you open the linked objects file update and commit the update. The file image is still the old version.  That will remain that way unless you open the big file.  Only then  Photoshop will discover  the linked object has been updated so Photoshop will render new pixels for the smart object layer and apply any smart filters and adjustment needed.

[headTrix Training]

Another way to look at it... is if you are working on a CD Cover, if you LINKED the files... you could have few designers working on various parts of the CD. So one person could be designing the cover, one person could be designing the back cover, and you could be designing the tray, and they can all be linked into the 1 FULL CD Template. And by LINKING, the FULL CD Template file does not become HUGE as it would when you EMBED the files. When you EMBED the file, if you change the original .PSD that you embedded, it will NOT update your main file. To update you would double-click the layer to open the .psb (Photoshop smart object) that was embedded into your new file.

hope that helps!

cheers!
mark