Mastering Photoshop Smart Objects: Layer Comps

Bart Van de Wiele
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If you need to develop several versions of a composition in Photoshop, Layer Comps are the perfect tool to use. They allow you to experiment with multiple versions of a design in one Photoshop file, by saving information about layer visibility, position, and appearance.

And when you combine the power of Layer Comps with Photoshop Smart Objects, you get even more speed and flexibility in your workflow, as demonstrated in the video below. It shows how to add three different photos to a desktop composition, which can then be customized to show any of the photos composited onto a computer screen with a single click.

20150413-layercomp1

Check out the video, and add this key time-saving technique to your Photoshop repertoire!

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Bart Van de Wiele
Bart Van de Wiele is a LinkedIn Learning author and public speaker currently working as a Principal Solutions Consultant at Adobe. Visit his website at bartvdw.com.
  • David Blatner says:
    April 13, 2015 at 11:54 am

    What a great technique, Bart! I have used layer comps with PSD images placed inside InDesign, of course, but I didn’t realize you could do it with the Properties panel in Photoshop, too!

    Reply
  • Gary O'Connell says:
    April 14, 2015 at 7:03 pm

    I could not access the video as it was blacked out. I have Creative Suite CS5 Design Standard. Flash is up to date.

    Reply
  • Federico says:
    June 24, 2015 at 5:44 pm

    this feature is incomplete, i need to create layer comps that record my smart objects layer comps, and they don’t! its useless that way :(

    Reply
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