Lynda.com Photoshop CS4: Smart Objects

Author: Deke McClelland
Duration (hr:min): 08:10
Released on: 11/6/2009
Exercise files: Yes
Software works on: Mac and Windows

Photoshop CS4: Smart Objects explores the creation and use of Smart Objects, one of the most technically demanding tools in Photoshop. Deke McClelland walks through the four primary purposes of Smart Objects, and focuses on one of their most practical advantages, non-destructive transformations. This feature allows any object to be manipulated in any way, while still maintaining its original pixel information. Finally, Deke shows how to crop compositions without affecting a single pixel, even in masks. Exercise files accompany this course.

Download Deke's customized keyboard layouts and color settings for Photoshop from the Exercise Files tab.

Topics include:

• Preparing a composition for masking
• Manually adjusting problematic edges in a composition
• Combining layer effects and adjustment layers
• Roughing in a polygonal mask
• Cloning a super-massive Smart Object
• Applying Variations as a Smart Filter

Content:

Introduction - 22:39

    Welcome to Photoshop Smart Objects - 1:19 - 21.1 MB
    Installing the dekeKeys keyboard shortcuts - 6:31 - 12.0 MB
    Installing the CS4 color settings - 7:08 - 12.9 MB
    Loading the CS4 color settings in Photoshop and Bridge CS4 - 7:41 - 13.2 MB

1. How Smart Objects Work - 01:12:36

    Nondestructive transformations - 1:14 - 19.7 MB
    The purpose of Smart Objects - 5:17 - 7.7 MB
    The trials of destructive transformations - 5:01 - 8.5 MB
    Creating a Smart Object - 6:36 - 10.9 MB
    The rewards of nondestructive transformations - 4:29 - 8.0 MB
    Preparing a composition for masking - 4:59 - 8.1 MB
    Establishing a base alpha channel - 6:25 - 9.3 MB
    Masking a Smart Object - 7:03 - 13.9 MB
    Refining the layer mask - 6:50 - 12.8 MB
    Multiplying the edges - 4:17 - 7.6 MB
    Manually adjusting the problem edges - 6:03 - 11.4 MB
    Free Transform feedback - 5:14 - 8.8 MB
    The ultimate nondestructive crop - 9:08 - 15.6 MB

2. Camera Raw and Illustrator Objects - 01:19:27

    Photoshop and its support applications - 1:45 - 28.0 MB
    Creating a Camera Raw (ACR) Smart Object - 5:08 - 9.1 MB
    Converting a JPEG image to DNG - 4:47 - 8.6 MB
    Replacing pixels with Camera Raw data - 5:27 - 10.0 MB
    Matching image and ACR resolution - 4:25 - 7.6 MB
    Adjusting ACR Smart Objects - 5:33 - 9.2 MB
    Importing Illustrator artwork - 6:13 - 11.6 MB
    Opening placed art in Illustrator - 5:51 - 10.3 MB
    Examining dynamic effects - 7:09 - 15.0 MB
    Modifying Illustrator artwork - 5:20 - 10.5 MB
    Updating an Illustrator Smart Object - 4:20 - 8.7 MB
    Styling placed artwork in Photoshop - 3:33 - 6.4 MB
    Combining layer effects and adjustment layers - 5:14 - 9.7 MB
    Copying a layer from a clipping group - 5:00 - 9.9 MB
    Scaling vector data beyond 100 percent - 3:09 - 7.4 MB
    Blending vector data with pixels - 2:10 - 4.2 MB
    Saving PDF-compatible Illustrator art - 4:23 - 8.5 MB

3. Working with True Clones - 01:26:50

    Many Smart Objects reference a single source - 1:09 - 18.5 MB
    Smart Objects and file size - 5:11 - 8.4 MB
    Placing images as Smart Objects - 4:44 - 6.9 MB
    Creating a basic lens flare - 5:43 - 8.3 MB
    Turning a flare into a black hole - 6:02 - 11.8 MB
    Establishing a first true clone - 4:09 - 7.2 MB
    Finding the exact center of an image - 2:37 - 4.6 MB
    Reflecting additional clones - 4:55 - 7.7 MB
    The art of upsampling - 7:45 - 12.7 MB
    Editing the root image - 5:37 - 10.4 MB
    Updating all true clones - 3:29 - 6.8 MB
    Roughing in a polygonal mask - 7:13 - 13.1 MB
    Parametric Feather and Glow - 7:12 - 12.6 MB
    Smart sharpening Smart Filter - 5:36 - 10.2 MB
    Adding highlights and vibrance - 7:10 - 12.9 MB
    Luminance blending - 8:18 - 13.5 MB

4. Exploiting Nested Smart Objects - 49:07

    Placing one Smart Object inside another - 1:09 - 18.6 MB
    Creating a super-massive Smart Object - 7:09 - 12.6 MB
    Styling a super-massive Smart Object - 4:29 - 7.9 MB
    Recoloring background regions - 4:42 - 8.3 MB
    Cloning a super-massive Smart Object - 5:56 - 10.1 MB
    Finishing off the first draft - 5:04 - 9.4 MB
    The plasma ball effect - 4:45 - 8.6 MB
    Applying the Smart Clouds filters - 4:57 - 8.3 MB
    Converting clouds to lightning - 5:04 - 9.7 MB
    Updating nested Smart Objects - 5:52 - 12.5 MB

5. Applying Smart Filters - 01:14:31

    Editable, nondestructive filters - 1:24 - 22.4 MB
    Applying and modifying creative effects - 6:54 - 14.0 MB
    Blending filtered effects - 6:24 - 18.1 MB
    Tweaking filters with adjustment layers - 4:14 - 11.8 MB
    Restoring halftone highlights - 4:25 - 10.2 MB
    The price of Smart Filters - 5:56 - 13.3 MB
    The power of true clones - 7:13 - 15.9 MB
    Sharing between Smart Objects and comps - 8:45 - 19.3 MB
    Just click on it - 1:50 - 4.2 MB
    Applying a corrective filter - 5:24 - 11.8 MB
    Smart Filters and disk space - 3:46 - 7.5 MB
    Picking the right blend mode - 6:36 - 11.5 MB
    Combining multiple Smart Filters - 6:13 - 11.1 MB
    Editing and previewing filter settings - 5:27 - 9.7 MB

6. Non-Filters and Filter Masks - 01:44:02

    Still more Smart Filters - 1:03 - 16.9 MB
    Introducing the non-filters - 4:15 - 6.8 MB
    Reducing luminance contrast - 5:19 - 9.8 MB
    Faking an HDR portrait effect - 7:20 - 12.9 MB
    Adding a filter mask - 3:22 - 6.0 MB
    Editing filter masks and density - 4:26 - 7.9 MB
    Applying Variations as a Smart Filter - 7:24 - 13.1 MB
    Establishing independent filter masks - 4:51 - 9.1 MB
    Painting away unwanted halos - 6:28 - 11.2 MB
    Creating a wood grain effect - 6:02 - 11.8 MB
    The luminance-style filter mask - 6:23 - 20.1 MB
    The downside of independent filters - 5:11 - 11.7 MB
    Merging the effects of two filters - 4:38 - 10.9 MB
    Adjusting and merging masked effects - 6:26 - 15.9 MB
    Introducing the Filter Gallery filters - 4:39 - 9.1 MB
    Applying a Filter Gallery filter - 5:57 - 11.8 MB
    Merging two Filter Gallery effects - 7:16 - 23.3 MB
    Adjusting the colors of Sketch filters - 5:02 - 11.7 MB
    Adding a third filter to a combo - 4:58 - 18.9 MB
    The versatility of Smart Filters - 3:02 - 9.5 MB

Conclusion - 01:31

    Goodbye - 1:31 - 24.2 MB