Placing an embedded image in Photoshop involves using a specific command within the File menu.
Placing an image as an embedded object in Adobe Photoshop makes the image data part of your main document file. This is often preferred when you want to ensure the image is always available, even if the original file is moved or deleted. It also typically places the image as a Smart Object, preserving its original quality and allowing for non-destructive transformations.
The Core Steps
To place an embedded image from another location into your current Photoshop document:
- Go to File > Place Embedded.
This simple navigation is the key to bringing external images directly into your project as embedded layers.
Step-by-Step Guide to Placing Embedded
Here is a breakdown of the process:
- Open Your Photoshop Document: Start with the document into which you want to place the image.
- Navigate the Menu: Go to the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Click on File.
- From the dropdown menu, select Place Embedded....
- Select Your Image: A file browser window will open. Locate and select the image file you wish to place (e.g., a JPG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, etc.).
- Confirm Placement: Click the "Place" button in the file browser.
- Transform and Position: The image will appear in your document with a transformation bounding box around it. You can:
- Click and drag the corners or edges to resize it.
- Hold Shift while dragging corners to constrain proportions (depending on your Photoshop version's default settings).
- Click inside the bounding box and drag to move the image.
- Hover your cursor outside a corner and click/drag to rotate.
- Finalize Placement: Once you are satisfied with the size and position, press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS) on your keyboard, or click the Commit (check mark) button in the Options bar at the top.
Why Use "Place Embedded"?
Using File > Place Embedded is the standard and recommended method for inserting images into your Photoshop projects because it:
- Embeds Data: The image becomes part of the PSD file, making it self-contained.
- Creates a Smart Object: The placed image is typically converted into a Smart Object layer.
- Allows Non-Destructive Edits: You can scale, rotate, and transform the Smart Object without permanently degrading its pixel data. You can also apply Smart Filters.
Contrast this with pasting an image (Ctrl+V/Cmd+V), which often results in a standard pixel layer that loses resolution when scaled up.
Quick Reference Table
| Action | Menu Path | Resulting Layer Type |
|---|---|---|
| Place Embedded | File > Place Embedded | Smart Object |
This process is fundamental for incorporating external assets cleanly and effectively into your Photoshop compositions.
