Smart Objects

[kerrysr]

Im confused about smart objects. If I have a photograph in photoshop, and I convert it into a smart object, is it then a vector based photo? If not, and you want to rescale the photo after leaving photoshop does the fact that its a smart object have any advantage in keeping a better resolution?

If we change an images size after leaving photoshop (rescale) and we want to preserve the resolution, is the smart object the best way to acheive this?

 

[apepp]

...great site on smart objects, russell brown:

http://av.adobe.com/russellbrown

http://av.adobe.com/russellbrown/SmartObjectBasicsSM.mov

http://av.adobe.com/russellbrown/SmartObjectPackageSM.mov

andrew

 

[apepp]

...the resolution is maintained in the smart object, and non-destructive when transforming it, exporting to pdf will maintain any vector data...

...as long as it is smart, images will maintain it's structure...

...so best to keep in psd or pdf format wherever possible, other formats will need to flatten the data...

andrew

 

[kiddpete]

I usually save in tif format. Tif preserves evrything including layers and smart objects.

 

[apepp]

...yes, and tif too, but if your a file size worrier stick to psd or pdf, pdf has the advantage of clients being able to view them, quite handy...

andrew

 

[kiddpete]

I use tif because my focus is on long term storage. I'm betting tif will be readable longer than PSD or PDF. That may be wrong, but is the main reason I use it. Also, Windows does not show the thumbnail for a PSD or PDF file.

 

[Scionshade]

Actually when yer saving as a PSD...
take a look at the dialogue box..
you can 'check' to show the thumbnail in windows.

 

[kiddpete]

Actually, I've looked at the dialogue box many times. In fact, in CS2 and probably earlier, the box is checked and greyed out. You can't turn it off. Even though it is checked, Windows XP Pro does not display the thumbnail for PSDs.

Interestingly, it can display raw and other file formats. It's just PSD that cannot be displayed.