Masters Academy

Linked Smart Objects

In this lesson you’ll learn about Linked Smart Objects. That’s what will allow you to combine multiple images and cause the layered master file to update when any of the original images are changed. You’ll see how to get changes make in Lightroom to update a layer that the image was used within, do the same with layered Photoshop files and even layouts created in InDesign.

Note: In this lesson I used a raw file and exported the adjustment settings into an .XMP file by typing Command-S. The downloadable practice image has been converted into a .DNG file. Typing command-S on a non-raw file will not produce a .XMP file and will instead embed the adjustment information directly into the image file in the same way that the shutter speed and other information is attached to the file.