How to Link Adobe Photoshop

You can link two or more layers with Adobe Photoshop CS4. You can begin by opening the Layers panel, and selecting the layers that you would like to have linked. The advantage of linking layers is to have them move together simultaneously around the page, which will help you move images in your design. Once they are linked, your job as a designer is made much easier, and you can save time by learning this technique.

Instructions

1. 

   Multiple images and text

   When you have selected the layers that you would like to have linked, you will see a chain symbol at the bottom of the panel. Click the chain icon, and the layers will be linked. You may decide that you want to unlink these layers. To do so, just click the chain icon again. This technique will make a design with many layers, images, or texts easy to manage, and give you the ability to move a complex design pattern across the page to fit it perfectly to the desired space.
   There are other shortcuts you can use to link and temporarily unlink layers, and once these linking techniques are learned you can apply them to more complex tasks with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. These software programs can work together to give your design a sophisticated look.

2. 

   Assign a URL Link

   With a book-length manuscript you can link layers in Adobe Photoshop CS4, and import them into your Adobe InDesign CS4 page. Here, they can be grouped into a page design, with the advantage of saving time by having these layers, images, or texts linked.

3. 

   Assign a URL link

   After learning how to link layers there are some other linking techniques you can learn. You can assign a URL link to an image slice with Adobe Photoshop CS4. When you use this web page link, the image slice will appear in the browser with the assigned URL link. In Adobe Photoshop CS4, select the Slice Select tool. In the dialogue box you can enter the URL, then enter the name of the Target Frame as a _blank, _self, _parent or _top.

4. 

   Link or embed an image with OLE

   For Windows users, Adobe Photoshop CS4 allows you to link or embed images into an OLE application. An OLE application might be a word processing or page layout program that runs on Microsoft Windows applications. The advantage of OLE is that you can insert Photoshop files into into applications such as Adobe PageMaker, Adobe FrameMaker and Microsoft Word. You can copy and paste, or export files to OLE applications.

5. 

   Linking Photoshop files in Illustrator

   Another linking technique you can try is linking files from Adobe Photoshop CS4 to a page in Adobe Illustrator CS4. You might want to link the new files to the original files, and to do so you can choose File > Place. In the Place dialogue box, select the Link option. Adobe Illustrator CS4 will center the image, creating a more professional space to design your page. A red X superimposed on the image means it is Linked, and cannot be edited any further. This is the advantage of Linking files from Adobe Photoshop CS4 to Adobe Illustrator CS4.

Tips & Warnings

• Learning Adobe Photoshop CS4 and combining it with other programs, such as Adobe Illustrator CS4, can give your work the added artistry in typographical design that you might like for a professional look. Linking files in Microsoft Windows OLE can give your OLE applications the ability to import, link, and embed files.

References

• Link and Unlink Layers
• Photoshop CS4 Layers Video Tutorial

Resources

• 50 Stunning Photoshop Text Effect Tutorials