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ben_sciascia_bkddu8gkar0b4

2 Messages

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90 Points

Thu, Sep 13, 2018 2:50 AM

2

Open Smart Object in... option

When smart objects are PDFs, we need a way to edit the PDF smart object in Illustrator.

Double-clicking opens the PDF in Apple's Preview or Acrobat. And the workaround is cumbersome; open in Acrobat, save to PDF file, open/edit in Illustrator, paste into Photoshop, then reposition etc.

Please give us a direct PS -> AI option for Smart Object PDFs.

Cheers

Ideas

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Updated 

2 years ago

24

5

2

Responses

christoph_pfaffenbichler

Champion

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1.6K Messages

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24.7K Points

2 years ago

I think your work-around could be improved. 
• Layer > Smart Objects > Export Contents
• open file in Illustrator 
• save as pdf-compatible ai 
• Layer > Smart Objects > Replace Contents 
That way scale and position of the SO should be maintained. 

Which editing steps do you have to perform on the pdfs that Acrobat cannot handle? 

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ben_sciascia

9 Messages

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258 Points

2 years ago

Thank you for the streamlined process, will use that from now on.

But PS -> AI and back to PS on save would be better. As for which editing steps can't be done in Acrobat; all of them!

We do work for Sony Pictures and sometimes layers in their Photoshop files are PDF smart objects. None of the pro-level graphic design changes we need to make can be done in Acrobat.

Hope that makes sense.

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jaroslav_bereza

952 Messages

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15.3K Points

2 years ago

If you are in windows you can change file association and Photoshop will open it in associated program. Even in Affinity Designer. Once you save it it will be replaced. Make sure that you are overriding file in temp folder. File association is settings in Windows out of Photoshop.

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ben_sciascia_bkddu8gkar0b4

2 Messages

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90 Points

2 years ago

Yes but I don’t want to open every PDF in Ilustrator by default and would prefer to keep the file associations as they are. Cheers

3

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max_johnson_7790531

Champion

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623 Messages

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14.6K Points

So you are asking Adobe to change default behavior for everyone who uses photoshop instead of you changing a setting on your computer locally?

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2 years ago

0

christoph_pfaffenbichler

Champion

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1.6K Messages

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24.7K Points

The original post did refer to an »option«, not a changed default behaviour. 

In Acrobat’s Content Editing Preferences one can determine which application is used to edit vector and pixel content so having the same opportunity for Smart Objects in Photoshop would not seem completely unreasonable. 

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2 years ago

ben_sciascia

9 Messages

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258 Points

Thanks Christoph, cheers

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2 years ago

0

ben_sciascia

9 Messages

 • 

258 Points

2 years ago

Just to be super-clear, I'm suggesting an 'Edit Contents In...' option in the following menus:

Layer > Smart Objects
Layers Palette > Right-hand menu
Layer Contextual Menu (right-click layer)

As a designer, I never edit anything in Acrobat and I'm sure many designers (and other CC users) need the same professional-level control over which app edits smart objects.

See attached for a mock-up.


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