Smart Objects, Dumb Links

Smart Objects, Dumb Links.

The Vector Smart Object feature in Photoshop has been a godsend to many designers. It provides a brilliant use a graphic elements in a clean compact resourceful manner. It's great having a file that you can link into your PSD that holds many hi-res elements in one nice cleanly packaged layer. But keep in mind what that Vector Smart Object contains, such as more linked files.

On occasion, the Illustrator file that you have linked into your PSD file may contain linked files of it's own. You may then have that PSD containing the Vector Smart Object linked to another Illustrator file. If you package up your job without collecting the links from that Vector Smart Object Illustrator file, that Illustrator file cannot be edited. This may be what you want...to ensure no one can change your design after it leaves your hands. In that case you should rasterize the Vector Smart Object in the PSD to prevent editing.

But if you want to ensure full editing capabilities for clients, vendors or the next designer who gets your file, remember to find all linked files and package them with the job.

Unfortunately, at this point, there are no tools that collect links automatically within Vector Smart Objects. But you can open that Vector Smart Object in Illustrator and use various collection tools, such as Art Files, Scoop or others. If you have the latest Illustrator CS6, the packaging tool is built in. Finally!