Smart objects in pse 8???

[Jon.P]

Hi everyboby,
Can anybody please help me? In pse 7 you have the abillity to use smart objects (I think thats what i mean) i.e if you open up a pic then another one you then see both photos in the box at the bottom in pse 7 if you then drag one onto the other you then get your back ground photo with another where every you wont with the move tool.and also in the layers pallet you see the smart object within the photo box.yet i seem to be unable to do that in pse 8 any body able to help me on this please, many thanks jon:confused:

[mrod]

Hi Jon-

You're correct--this is a change in E8. Now, when you drag a file from the Project Bin into another image, it puts that image on its own layer (the name of the layer will be the image's file name, BTW), but, unlike in Elements 7, this new layer won't be a Smart Object. It will be a regular, pixel-based layer. You can still resize it using the Move tool or Free Transform (Ctrl-T) but making it larger may degrade the quality.

Mike

[Jon.P]

Mrod,
Thankyou very much for your assistance i had i feeling that might have been the case,either that or an installation error.That to me seems to be a backward step on adobes behalf.It seems they give you something with one hand and take it away with the other.still there we are. Thanks again jon

[mrod]

Yes, I think the camp is mixed on this one. Some liked the Smart Objects, others, not so much, as they had to continually resize the objects they dragged.

At some points, you have to make a decision and go with it, I guess. Or, include enough features to make both sides happy. :)

Mike

[Barbara Brundage]

Anything you add via the Place command will come in as a smart object now. They decided that most people would find it less confusing to have the old drag as normal layer behavior for the bin, but put that in for those who need smart objects.

[mrod]

Anything you add via the Place command will come in as a smart object now. They decided that most people would find it less confusing to have the old drag as normal layer behavior for the bin, but put that in for those who need smart objects.

Excellent point, Barbara. Thanks for adding that. That's something I really like in 8--the fact that a "Placed" image STAYS a Smart Object after you move it, resize it, etc. the first time.

Mike

[Wendy]

I think this change really is for the better ... I know that many people will be so pleased with it.

... and I'm so glad that Adobe listened to all the folks who were asking for it to be changed :)

Wendy

[Jon.P]

Barbara,wendy,mike
Thankyou all very much, i now think that i was rather hasty with my comments, for that i am sorry.As for putting it in file> place. what a good place to locate it i even think its easier to work with as well.Barbara thankyou i would never in a month of sundays ever thought of looking at places.again many thanks feeling some what embarrassed now. Jon:o

[Barbara Brundage]

feeling some what embarrassed now

No need to feel embarrassed because Adobe likes to play hide and seek. :)

[mrod]

Absolutely. No need at all. I have more head-slapping moments every day than I care to admit! :D

Mike

[Wendy]

They are the masters at hiding things and I too sometimes find myself searching around for a while :)

Wendy

[mshanhun]

So can I drag the object in at full size? When I drag from the project bin it seems to make everything smaller

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Do you mean that when you drag a smart object in it always is smaller and you need to resize it ?

... if so then that is how smart objects appear when you drag them in.

Wendy

[Bayla]

So can I drag the object in at full size? When I drag from the project bin it seems to make everything smaller

Which version of PSE are you using? If 6 or & 7 then what Wendy says is correct. But if you are using PSE8 or an earlier version (3,4,5) then it might just be a question of resolution. For example, if you drag something that is at 72ppi onto something that is 300ppi it will come in smaller....

Bayla

[Wendy]

Sorry I didn't clarify what I meant ..

I'm not sure if you are asking the question about Smart Objects or just things that you drag in other than Smart Objects :)

Wendy

[mshanhun]

I am meaning in PSE 8 when I drag from the project bin to another file it comes in smaller than when I do file place (and leave it at the default size.

I'm pretty sure it's not resolution issues as I do all my scrapbooking at 300dpi

Thanks for the replies!

[Michel B]

I am meaning in PSE 8 when I drag from the project bin to another file it comes in smaller than when I do file place (and leave it at the default size.

I'm pretty sure it's not resolution issues as I do all my scrapbooking at 300dpi

Thanks for the replies!

When you drag from the photo bin, most of the time you want the image to be smaller; the more so if you want to drag several pictures on the same background. The idea is to help you place, resize, rotate the picture on the background, which is really awkward if you start with a picture equal or bigger to the background: you don't see the handles easily.
With smart layers, you are sure to get the most of the original resolution and you can adjust size afterwards without loss... so long as you have not simplified your layer.

When you place a picture as a new layer over the background (or copy and paste) instead of using a smart layer, the imported layer is shown with the background resolution. No problem if you don't have to increase the size: then PSE would upsample for the final size and lose detail. Imagine you want to change your mind after having resized your picture. If you want to increase the size, you lose detail automatically. If you do that with a smart layer, most of the time, the original image will have enough resolution to avoid loss of detail. That's why it is advised to simplify only after the resizing (and rotating) is final.

[mshanhun]

Hi Michel

Thanks for your comments, however I just want to drag them in at the original size. I actually am one of the few who liked the smart object being on by default in PSE7. (though the objects lost transparency when you rotate them after you close and open the file the next day or whatever)

Even when I drag from the source file onto the project bin icon for my destination file it seems to be coming in as a normal layer, but not at 100% size.

I'd use place, but then I have to do it one by one and since there's no keyboard shortcut it takes longer than just dragging 4-5 files from the project bin.

Anyone have a suggestion?

[cats4jan]

The idea of using place to create a smart object is a great one. When I drag, I don't want any decisions made for me.

[TonyW]

Hi Michel

Thanks for your comments, however I just want to drag them in at the original size. I actually am one of the few who liked the smart object being on by default in PSE7. (though the objects lost transparency when you rotate them after you close and open the file the next day or whatever)

Even when I drag from the source file onto the project bin icon for my destination file it seems to be coming in as a normal layer, but not at 100% size.

I'd use place, but then I have to do it one by one and since there's no keyboard shortcut it takes longer than just dragging 4-5 files from the project bin.

Anyone have a suggestion?

Not sure it's any easier than File>Place but if you get the Elements+ Action Set which has a number of Smart Object actions one of which lets you convert a regular layer to a smart object layer. So you can drag the images in as before and then convert them to smart object layers with a couple of clicks. There may be an easier way but I haven't found it yet.

Tony

[jjvera00]

Not sure it's any easier than File>Place but if you get the Elements+ Action Set which has a number of Smart Object actions one of which lets you convert a regular layer to a smart object layer. So you can drag the images in as before and then convert them to smart object layers with a couple of clicks. There may be an easier way but I haven't found it yet.

Tony

I found that way to be very effective, then you can fun by using smart filters and stuff!!!

[mshanhun]

it seems like if I drag from window to window it come in at 100% size (not smart object) but if I drag from bin to Window it gets abitrarily sized.

Is this what everyone else finds?