A Photoshop document can look complete on its creator’s computer and arrive at another workstation with missing dependencies. The problem often begins with linked Smart Objects: the document references external files that were never included in the handoff.
Choosing between linked and embedded assets is therefore a workflow decision. The right choice depends on whether the next person needs a self-contained document or a project that continues to share source material with other designs.
Decide what the recipient needs
Linked assets are useful when several compositions depend on the same source. Imagine a campaign with a poster, a website banner, and a square social graphic. Keeping a shared product image in one source file can make revisions easier to coordinate.
However, the recipient needs access to that source. Sending only the Photoshop document leaves an incomplete working package.
Adobe provides an embedding option that stores the linked object within the Photoshop document. An individual layer can be embedded through its context menu, while the Smart Objects menu includes an option to embed all linked objects. Once embedded, the layer no longer carries the link indicator.
For a final archive or a one-time transfer, embedding can be a practical choice. For an ongoing campaign, preserving organized links may make more sense.
Update before packaging
A handoff should contain the intended revision of every asset. Adobe documents commands for updating one modified linked object or all modified linked content.
There is also an important limitation: Photoshop checks the directly linked file. A linked asset nested inside another Smart Object does not automatically update through that same mechanism. Missing sources can be reconnected with the relink command.
Review nested compositions deliberately. A visible logo may look correct while an underlying editable version remains outdated.
Use the packaging workflow
Adobe’s packaging instructions begin with saving the document. The File > Package command then collects the document and linked source files into a folder.
Adobe also explains that Photoshop searches several locations when resolving linked files, including their previous relative location. Keeping the packaged folder structure intact helps preserve those relationships when moving the project.
Treat the resulting folder as the delivery unit. Avoid taking the PSD out of the package and sending it separately from its dependencies.
Test the handoff as a recipient
Create a delivery copy and open it from its new location. If possible, check it on the intended receiving workstation. Confirm that assets are available, the composition matches the approved version, and the expected layers remain editable.
Include a short note identifying the master document, export dimensions, color requirements, and any software or font dependencies. Packaging linked assets does not replace that project context.
Finally, distinguish working files from approved exports. A recipient should not need to guess which image represents the final appearance.
A dependable Photoshop handoff is both editable and understandable. Choosing the asset strategy first, updating sources, and testing the delivered folder makes those qualities easier to achieve.