How to re-link a linked image layer in Photoshop

Question

I'm used to using the Links window in Illustrator and InDesign. In Photoshop (CS6), I have some linked images, added using File > Place, which look like this on the Layers window:

So far, so good.

I want to swap them for different images, and/or force them to update - but I can't find a straightforward way to do this.

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Just pasting the new image in is not ideal - they're part of a video animation updated in a different application, and creating new layers each time would create a lot of hassle. I'm looking to do the same sort of things you can do in Illustrator and InDesign with the Relink and Update... buttons.

Answer 1

It looks like, in Photoshop-land, Relink is called Replace contents and is found through right-click on the layer:

I can't find any direct equivalent of the Illustrator/InDesign update button. Right now I'm just re-replacing every time the file changes, which is far from ideal.

It seems like Photoshop linked images only update if you edit them in Photoshop using "edit contents" - and "edit contents" loads the version stored in memory, not the file on the drive.

Answer 2

here, try this, this works much better I think

Answer 3

In Photoshop CC2016 there is an update all modified content in the right click menu. I assume that this will update linked files modified outside of the edit contents process.

Answer 4

Using the same drop down above "relink to file" will do exactly what the relink in Illustrator and InDesign do :)

Answer 5

2018 update: To get linked smart objects in Photoshop CC, you have to cases:

• Already created objects:
  1. convert it;

2. relink it;

(you may set a hot key to faster these actions)

• Stored file to make it Smart and Linked object at once. Click Place linked. With this command you may upload a pile of files at once.

Uptodate Photoshop updates links on the fly.