Chapter 9. Smart Objects and Intelligent Layouts

What makes an object "smart" or a layout "intelligent"? In graphics applications, it's the ability of an object to remember where it came from and adjust itself to new conditions. It's when the layout knows how to save time by eliminating endless, repetitive changes. It's when you can use one application inside another to edit artwork. It's the ability of an object to stay lean and mean to avoid bloated files and endless backups.

OK, so objects and layouts don't really have intelligence. But you do. You know how to take advantage of labor-saving features to work smarter and more efficiently as you modify and work with artwork between the Creative Suite applications. In this chapter we'll look at what Smart Objects do in Photoshop and GoLive. We'll look at the features for linked files in Illustrator and InDesign. We'll cover the smart features of symbols in Illustrator. We'll look at how snippets and libraries in InDesign help make your layouts easier to create. The smarter you work, the easier your job will be.