Trouble with linked .png

[Allison K.Leanoo]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to Affinity Photo, I come from Photoshop. I have some troubles with linked .png...

As I understand, Affinity's linked file is the feature to replace Photoshop's smart object. But, when I link a .png file in an Affinity main document, and after that I modify the .png file, the modifications are not updated in the main document. 

Why not ?

This happens both when I modify the .png with Affinity Photo or externaly. Indeed, it looks like Affinity Photo have embeded the .png file, despite I choosed the linked placement method.

Allison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Allison K.Leanoo]

Well, yes. But it do not work.

It works with .afphoto linked files, but not with linked .png

Maybe this is the way it have to be, but I thought I could link any kind of files.

Allison

[Old Bruce]

18 minutes ago, Allison K Lynoo said:

It works with .afphoto linked files, but not with linked .png

 

Just tested this here, several time. An altered and updated PNG file will auto update in a document that has it linked.

The edited PNG needs to be saved with the same name to the same directory. The problem you are seeing may be a result of the edits being saved to a different format (.afphoto instead of .png). Many times I have been bitten by this, I think I am saving the original PNG but no, I am working on a Photo document and I have to export a PNG. Some Edits to a PNG can be saved, other edits need to be export as a PNG with the same name to the same location.

[Allison K.Leanoo]

Thanks.

It works. But I have two issues...

First of it, when I place a new .png in a document, it is always embeded. Despite that the linked placement policy is checked. I tried multiple times, this the way it works on my computer. Thanks to N.P.N. the resource manager is what I need to solve that.

Second, when I change the .png, it does not import the new release correctly. I get a grey square at the place of my image. But it refresh correctly if I close and reopen the main document.

So, it works.

...a last question. Are the path relative or absolute ? I means, if I move the complete file tree, like for a backup, and restore it elsewhere, do it will works ?

Allison

 

[Old Bruce]

1 hour ago, Allison K Lynoo said:

Despite that the linked placement policy is checked.

Two places to set the preferred Linked/Embedded behaviour, In the New Document and the File > Placement Policy > ... menu.

[Allison K.Leanoo]

Thanks a lot Bruce

I didn't know you could set it at the creation document. That's great.

Could I change that preference when the document is created ? Or should I recreate it and copy/paste stuffs...

Allison

 

 

 

[GarryP]

You can change the Placement Policy:
1. When you create the document by changing the setting as shown in Old Bruce’s second image.
2. After you have created the document by using the menu items as shown in the first image.

Edit: Please see the important note given in the post below: The Placement Policy only affects the placements made after you set it; all existing placements will remain as they are until you change them. (Thanks for bringing that up N.P.M.)

Edited September 26, 2022 by GarryP
Added more details.

[Allison K.Leanoo]

Thanks N.P.M.

Unfortunatly, the second option do not work on my computer. When I check linked, it's show as checked, but it place image embedded just like if it was not checked linked.

No idea why.

At reverse, if I create a document with the default linked option, then it works. 

Allison

[GarryP]

I just tried this workflow:
1. Create new document (doesn’t matter which kind) with Placement Policy set to Prefer Embedded;
2. Via menu "File → Placement Policy", set it to Linked;
3. Place an image into the document;
4. Go to Resource Manager.

The image is Linked – see attached video where I place an embedded image first then a linked image second.

Can you try the same and, if you get a different result, show us a video of what happens to you with the same workflow?

[Allison K.Leanoo]

Hello Garry,

This way it works.

I think I got a problem because I imported my documents from Photoshop. It was .psd files, with complexe smart object included. It works, but not very well, for multiple raisons, so I simplified all the process by converting the childs images to .png. After that, I linked the .png inside the converted masters documents, I align and resized it to the right value, and I suppress the smarts objects residuals.

It worked fine, but I discover that my linked .png are all embedded. Which is not a good thing, at least because it makes my mains documents too heavy. But also because I want to use linked object in the future. I have corrected that, mainly with copy/paste, so it's okay.

I like Affinity, I prefer the user interface than Photoshop, but I'm a little disapointed because I run into many minors bugs. I often have to restart my computer - to free some resource I imagine - and this is bad thing. Hoppefully, I didn't loose data up to now. Maybe it will get beter when I'll now more how to use it.

Anyhow, thanks for your help

Allison