Chances are, if you use one Adobe application, you use two or even more. As each has unique features and functions, it’s often necessary to transfer data between apps to get the results you want. Years ago it was necessary to save data in flat, exchange formats such as EPS and TIFF to get this done. Though many people still use this approach it is now very inefficient and time consuming and restricts the capacity to use layers, transparency and other effects. This two-part article presents a quick overview of some of the flexible ways to exchange data in CS5.
I am creating a logo for a fictional design company, Design Shop. I want to create an interesting background pattern. Using Illustrator’s Dot Pattern Vector Pack (accessible from the Symbols panel), I select Vector Pack 12, a circular, halftone dot pattern.
Dot pattern created in Illustrator
After scaling it to the required size I copy it and switch to Photoshop where I create a new document and select Paste. NB selecting File>Place would give the same result.
Pasting Illustrator object into Photoshop
Recognising the Illustrator vector element, Photoshop offers me several choices when pasting. In this case I’m using the default choice, Smart Object. Photoshop places the object on a new layer and activates Transformation mode. After scaling the object to fit, I accept the transformation by hitting Return/Enter. The layer is titled Vector Smart Object and it cannot be edited with regular Photoshop tools.
I add some type by selecting the Type tool and making some typeface size and colour choices. The word Design is added as a text layer.
Photoshop Text layer
To create the next word I want to use Illustrator’s brush styles. Switching back to Illustrator I create the next word in contrasting typeface and colour and then convert it to outlines (Type>Create outlines). Keeping the object selected I open the Brushes pane.
Text created with Illustrator
I’m looking for something more artistic than the default styles displayed so I open the Artistic chalk, charcoal brushes library from the Brushes panel menu. Though I can’t change the library panel, I can test the look of each brush by double clicking the style which adds it to the Brushes panel and applies it to the selected object.
Illustrator brush effect
After some experimentation I find an interesting option and copy the object.
Switching back to Photoshop I paste the object again, accepting the Smart Object default. Once again, Photoshop adds the object as a Vector Smart Object layer and I can scale and transform it.
Vector text object pasted into Photoshop
Looking at the combination of layers I decide to edit the colour of the background dots. Double clicking the layer causes Photoshop to hand-off the object to the source application, Illustrator.
Photoshop Edit Vector Smart Object notification
On clicking OK, the object is opened as a new Illustrator document titled Vector Smart Object. This is a new document, completely separate from the one I used to create the dots in the first step. I select the dot pattern and make it editable by clicking the Release button displayed in the options bar. This releases it from being a symbol and I can now select the dots and apply a new colour fill to them.
Edited Vector Smart Object
To update the original Photoshop document, I only have to save the file after completing the changes. Photoshop recognises the change and immediately updates the object.
I decide to change the brush effect on the’ shop’ text so I repeat the last step with the other Vector layer. This time I change the fill of the text to white.
Updated brush effect
After updating the document again I decide to create an alternative effect using Photoshop’s Repoussé 3D effect. After duplicating the Design text layer, I change to the 3D Workspace and select create 3D Repoussé object. This rasterises my duplicate text layer and displays the Repoussé panel.
Photoshop Repoussé options panel
I can now make changes to the all the 3D aspects of the shape. It’s easy to get carried away with the range of options in this pane and it’s usually best to make a few, small adjustments. Remember that 3D effects can take a lot of memory to render, the more complex the effects,the longer it will take Photoshop to create them after you hit OK.
In the next article, I will discuss how to save the final logo and look at options for importing it into both Illustrator and InDesign.
