Importing Adobe Photoshop files into Image and Video Templates

Video and Image Template editors now support importing Photoshop Document (PSD) files. To import a PSD file, drag and drop it to the canvas (in Video Templates), or pick the file from your computer (in both Video and Image Templates).

In the guide below, we'll present a quick look into how this works. At the end of the article you'll find further details as well as some limitations you should be aware of before importing PSD files.

How it works

• After importing the PSD file, Smartly.io automatically reads all layers from the file.

• Text layers in the PSD file are transformed into text layers in the template. All other layers are transformed into image layers. These images are not saved to your Smartly.io library.

• All Video and Image Templates Editor actions are available for the imported text and image layers.

• If the Image or Video Template does not contain any layers before importing, the height and width settings from the PSD file will determine the template format. If the template contains layers before a PSD file is imported, the template format won’t change.

• You can import multiple PSD files in one template. In Video Templates, the layers appear on the editor timeline at the playhead position. This enables, for example, creating a video story board in Photoshop and importing several PSD files to Video Template editor.

• If you use Adobe Illustrator, export your design as a PSD file to use it with Smartly.io Video and Image Templates.

• You can convert static image layers from the PSD file into dynamic images in Smartly.io. For example, you can set up a placeholder image in Photoshop and replace it with a product image from a feed:
  • In Video Templates
    1. Go to the layer's Image Content section
    2. Click Edit
    3. Select Dynamic Content
    4. Select the feed field
  • In Image Templates
    1. Click the Change to dynamic image icon next to the layer name
    2. Select the feed field from the drop-down menu

See the import functionality in action

The short video below shows an example of how a Photoshop file is prepared for import, and how it is adjusted for use with a Facebook catalog.

Limitations and workarounds

Before importing your PSD file, refer to this list to properly prepare your design for import.

• Use 8-bit RGB color mode
  • CMYK, Grayscale, and other color modes are not supported.
  • In Photoshop, select Image → Mode → RGB Color and 8Bits/Channel. 
• Font selection might be reset during import.
  • Make sure you upload your selected fonts and typefaces to the asset library in one of the supported formats before importing.
• Layer styles and effects (Blending Options) are not supported.
  • In Photoshop, right-click on the layer and select Rasterize Layer Style.
• Mask layers are not supported.
  • In Photoshop, right-click on the mask thumbnail and select Apply Layer Mask.
• Text color setting might be reset during import.
  • In the template editor, reselect the color by editing the imported text layer and modifying the Text color & opacity (Image Template) or Text Format (Video Template) section.
• Transparent PSD background is not set in the Image Template editor.
  • In the template editor, go to Template Properties and set Background Color HEX Number to "TRANSPARENT".
• There is no size limit for PSD file uploads, but large files might take some time to upload.

Other software

Adding support for importing Photoshop files also unlocks the ability to bring in your work from other design software.

• For Adobe Illustrator, you can directly export your design as a PSD file. Simply navigate to File → Export → Export As and choose "Photoshop (PSD)". See this tutorial for a more detailed guide to exporting your design.
• Similar to Illustrator, in Affinity Designer you can navigate to File → Export and select PSD as your format.
• For Sketch files, you can copy your Sketch design to Affinity Designer and then export as a PSD. See this tutorial for a more detailed guide.