Place 3 APhoto states into 1 AD file

[kat]

When I do a portrait/caricature with 3 states I place 1 AP into 1 AD.

1 state (body) goes inside a circle shape, 1 outside (head) and 1 behind the first 2 states (balloon).

Can I use one APhoto file, since I make changes to all 3 states after they are placed inside AD? 

If I use 1 AP as states change the Resource Manager shows UPDATES, e.g., updating balloon would also update the head and body to balloon. 

Anyway to do so each state updates correctly? It would save me making 3 files or 2 if I set up a curve to mask the body

[NotMyFault]

I would advise to use on of the following options:

1. create 3 separate files, one for each Ressource (Head, Body, Ballon)
2. use symbols instead of embedded files to use one object in multiple instances
3. use arboards instead of embedded files to store 3 objects in one file

Placed files have some disadvantages for your use case

1. anti-aliasing may not work as expected. You may get unwanted seams at bounding box of layers
2. you cannot easily use different objects stored in the linked files

[kat]

5 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

I would advise to use on of the following options:

1. create 3 separate files, one for each Ressource (Head, Body, Ballon)
2. use symbols instead of embedded files to use one object in multiple instances
3. use arboards instead of embedded files to store 3 objects in one file

Placed files have some disadvantages for your use case

1. anti-aliasing may not work as expected. You may get unwanted seams at bounding box of layers
2. you cannot easily use different objects stored in the linked files

So no time saving solutions. Too bad I thought maybe States would help.

My AD file currently has 9 artboard for various sizes for print and web. I use symbols but doesn't help much when AP images change repeatedly.  And I already use 3 files or consolidate body & head into 1 file and use the method in 

 

[NotMyFault]

Can you briefly explain how many of these compositions you need?

why do you separate head and body? If the rough size and position is fixed you can split them „on the fly“ using masks or vector shapes. 
 

I‘m convinced your workflow can be simplified. 
 

 

[kat]

So far I have 100s of AD files each with 9 artboards. Mostly I try to keep AP portraits in front of circle, but I'm working on St Patrick and St Augustine. Part of the body (like the Jean Batiste Biot) will be inside the circle and a stained glass background completely inside the circle. Each image can take over a month to get right with lots of revisions to the portrait.

[NotMyFault]

For what purpose do you use 9 artboards? I read that you need different export sizes, but sometimes the arrangement differs (nameplate, background, your logo position etc).

If you stick to one fixed template, all can be done with one Artboard, and export Persona settings.

 

[kat]

1 print & 6 web

 

[NotMyFault]

Why 6 artboards for web? Only for export sizes?

3 square ones with identical content?
3 rectangular ones with name plate and (c) logo?

you may have provided this info earlier, but it would really help and save me from re-reading dozens of older (unrelated) posts

in older posts the body was covered below the frame circle. In later the frame circle is behind? Is this intentional or only to avoid issues with clipping?

 

[NotMyFault]

Is this what you want?
 

Having one symbol where you can place any portrait.

The other artboards cut out the body / head as required.

you can drop in any portrait and name plate and the other artboards will update accordingly. You may to zoom a bit to get consistent redraw.

check that sync is enabled before swapping the image (child layer of symbol, not symbol itself).

 

symbol artboard.afdesign

[NotMyFault]

You need only one „state“ or file with the head and body combined. Using symbols in Designer allows to make multiple instances and simply clip only required parts to create the intended order

 

• head (and ballon behind), file clipped to upper part
• frame 
• body (file clipped to lower half of frame, a bit larger to reside under the frame without anyygaps)
• extra symbol for name plate

My files are only rough sketches to show the concept.