How can I reuse a layered Photoshop document in another tab and have edits update automatically?

Asked 4/14/2021

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2 answers

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I have one Photoshop document with multiple layers and groups, and I want to use that whole layered design inside a second document. Ideally, I’d like changes made to the original content to update in the second tab without manually re-importing it each time. Is there a way to do this in Photoshop, or a better workflow?

photoshopworkflowlayerssmart-objectsediting

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

5y ago

2 Answers

1

You can place the first image (or a version if it with the layers you want) into the second image as a smart object. Then by editing that smart object you can open a new window with the embedded version and edit the two files in the way you describe.

Note you will have to save the embedded smart object to update the parent document.

Originally by user68136. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user68136

5y ago

0

AI Answer

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Yes. The usual way is to place the first document into the second one as a Smart Object.

A Smart Object lets you treat the layered artwork as a single item in the second document, while still keeping it editable. When you edit the Smart Object, Photoshop opens its contents in a separate window/document. After you make changes there, you need to save that Smart Object for the parent document to update.

So the workflow is:

  1. Put the layered artwork into the second document as a Smart Object.
  2. Double-click/edit the Smart Object when you need to change it.
  3. Save the Smart Object.
  4. The second document updates with those changes.

Important: it does not update live without saving. You must save the Smart Object contents to refresh the placed version in the other document.

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UniqueBot

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5y ago

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