Trying to isolate a vector shape from PDF to PSD

S
Posted By
Smurfy
Dec 21, 2008
Views
334
Replies
4
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Closed
Say there’s a portion of a logo I need to use, but the only raw material I have to work with is a PDF. Granted, it’s not rasterized, so the information is vector-based, which is good, but how do I go about importing only that specific shape, as a shape, into Photoshop for use in a new document?

I tried opening the PDF in Illustrator, then selecting the shape using the Direct Selection tool, and dragging it into my opened Photoshop document… that’ll work, but only as a smart layer. I’m not all that well-versed in smart layers, but from what I understand, the second document is now dependant on the first. My PSD file won’t be self-sufficient. Or did I understand that part wrong?

Either way, what would’ve been the RIGHT way to go from A to B, and end up with a SHAPE layer in Photoshop?
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B
bdchmura
Dec 22, 2008
Hi:

Like Bob said, Copy/Paste into PShop and select the Shape Layer checkbox to retain vector capabilities.
quite easy.

Gar

Adam wrote:
Say there’s a portion of a logo I need to use, but the only raw material I have to work with is a PDF. Granted, it’s not rasterized, so the information is vector-based, which is good, but how do I go about importing only that specific shape, as a shape, into Photoshop for use in a new document?
I tried opening the PDF in Illustrator, then selecting the shape using the Direct Selection tool, and dragging it into my opened Photoshop document… that’ll work, but only as a smart layer. I’m not all that well-versed in smart layers, but from what I understand, the second document is now dependant on the first. My PSD file won’t be self-sufficient. Or did I understand that part wrong?

Either way, what would’ve been the RIGHT way to go from A to B, and end up with a SHAPE layer in Photoshop?

F
Fred
Dec 22, 2008
Say there’s a portion of a logo I need to use, but the only raw material I have to work with is a PDF. Granted, it’s not rasterized, so the information is vector-based, which is good, but how do I go about importing only that specific shape, as a shape, into Photoshop for use in a new document?

I tried opening the PDF in Illustrator, then selecting the shape using the Direct Selection tool, and dragging it into my opened Photoshop document… that’ll work, but only as a smart layer. I’m not all that well-versed in smart layers, but from what I understand, the second document is now dependant on the first. My PSD file won’t be self-sufficient. Or did I understand that part wrong?

Either way, what would’ve been the RIGHT way to go from A to B, and end up with a SHAPE layer in Photoshop?

If you place, drag, copy/paste something in PS as a smartobject, this object is embedded in the psd-file.
You are NOT dependant of another file.
If you double-click the smartobject-layer the associated program will launch and open the object. (not the one you copied from!)
The ‘base’-object remains in the psd-file.
S
Smurfy
Dec 23, 2008
"Fred" wrote in message
If you place, drag, copy/paste something in PS as a smartobject, this object is embedded in the psd-file.
You are NOT dependant of another file.
If you double-click the smartobject-layer the associated program will launch and open the object. (not the one you copied from!) The ‘base’-object remains in the psd-file.

Good to know, thanks!
S
Smurfy
Dec 23, 2008
Yup, that did it. Thanks!

"gar" wrote in message
Hi:

Like Bob said, Copy/Paste into PShop and select the Shape Layer checkbox to retain vector capabilities.
quite easy.

Gar

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