Suggestion: Add the ability to 'Relink to file' smart objects from Dataset environment

[Robert389767770l7y]

I'm using Photoshop's Data-Driven Graphics with data sets extensively, and overall it's a fantastic feature. However, there's a major limitation when it comes to image replacement — specifically, the inability to apply perspective transformations automatically.

Currently, if I want an image to appear in perspective (e.g. skewed or distorted to match a mockup), I have to pre-warp each image individually before importing it via data sets. This is time-consuming and defeats much of the automation potential.

Smart Objects already solve this problem manually — if I relink the contents of a Smart Object, the replacement image automatically inherits the Smart Object's transforms, including perspective. This works beautifully.

My suggestion (or plea!) is to allow Smart Object relinking via data sets, in the same way that pixel replacement works now — by supplying a filename in the dataset. Conceptually, this seems like a relatively simple addition, as it could trigger the same relink behavior that already exists in the UI.

I understand this might have been requested before, and there may be technical or design reasons against it, but as someone newer to Photoshop, I haven't found much official explanation — only user frustration.

The absence of this functionality limits the full potential of Data-Driven Graphics for many workflows.

Thank you for considering it!

[Stephen Marsh]

Photoshop Variables (Data Driven Graphics) predate Smart Objects, so it's not surprising that they don't play nice.

That's not to say that more couldn't or shouldn't be done from a development perspective.

For example, only having the ability to output PSD in a single step/pass isn't ideal.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/using-datasets/td-p/2665594/page/2#U1...

There are many Mockup scripts which do handle Smart Object replacement gracefully, as long as your source images are consistent. You might want to look into this, search the forum. Many scripts have been made for ecommerce (possible search terms: mockup, phone cases and T-shirts).

Everyone seems to have different requirements, so it can be challenging to create a generic smart object script. The late JJMack offered a couple in his collage script collection:

https://github.com/MarshySwamp/JJMack-Archive

Another option here:

https://github.com/joonaspaakko/Batch-Mockup-Smart-Object-Replacement-photoshop-script

[Robert389767770l7y]

Hi Stephen,

    Thanks for your reply,  and I agree in part that things like only outputting the datasets as PSD files is not ideal and there are script out there for mockups (at an additional cost).

But if you don't want to use generic images created by a mockup generation script that someone else has created then the only option now if want to use smart objects is write your own script. And for a lot of people that is beyond their ability, they are designers not programmers. Which is where the simplicity of data sets is still useful for some.

Now I have done programming in my past but that was back in the days of visual basic, which is quite different to the script language Photoshop uses, so my only options would be use an AI like ChatGPT to create a script, which it can with time debugging, but that has limits on how well you describe what you want. Or pay an external programmer to write one, but then I'd have to pay each time I wanted a simple change to it.

Hence, why even though Data sets is a older tech part of Photoshop it should not get over looked for updates. As if it's there, people who can't program and want something different from the off the shelf mockup generation scripts still can.

And one other note, the script language doesn't seem to handle multiple Art boards in one file from what I can see. Which Datasets does..

Rob

[Stephen Marsh]

@Robert389767770l7y 

I agree, more can and should be done.

The scripts that I posted are free, as are many others to be found in these forums.

As I said, everyone has different requirements, so a generic script may only get you so far. Artboards need specific consideration and more work for programming.

You can wait for Adobe to possibly add smart object support to variables, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I was you.

I'm happy to take a look at adjusting or creating a custom smart object replacement script for your needs, however, a lot more information and sample files would be required.