About Smart Objects

Smart Objects offer a phenomenally more efficient way to add images to Web pages than the traditional workflow. Multi-sourcing of the same images for use in diverse media such as print, CD-ROM, and online use is made easier and more practical. Smart Objects let designers concentrate on layout and design rather than on the mechanics of converting files between formats. Smart Objects do away with the arduous process of maintaining and editing source files in one format, keeping track of where the source file for optimized images is located, converting them to a Web-safe format in a separate program, importing the converted files into Adobe GoLive, and then keeping the two groups of files synchronized.

Adobe GoLive lets you import Photoshop (PSD, BMP, PICT for Mac OS only, PCX, Pixar, Amiga IFF, TIFF, and TARGA), Illustrator, and LiveMotion files without engaging in such acrobatics. Adobe GoLive creates a copy of the source file in a Web-safe format and maintains a link to the source file. The source file format does not change, but the Web format settings you specify in Adobe GoLive are kept with the source file. This sourced object is known as a Smart Object. When you double-click on the Smart Object in your document window, the source file opens in Photoshop, Illustrator, or LiveMotion depending on what type of file it is. If you make changes to the source image or resize a Smart Object within Adobe GoLive, Adobe GoLive automatically updates the Web-safe copy when you return to the Web page containing the image using the same Web format settings you specified when you first created the Smart Object. For additional information on Web-safe formats, see About image formats.

Images and Page Design > About Smart Objects