New PSD to Alias converter

You can now easily convert a Photoshop PSD file into an Alias canvas and vice versa, while maintaining your layers. This lets you use the power of Photoshop to make modifications to Alias sketches and re-import them into Alias to continue your work.

Importing a PSD file into Alias

Importing a PSD file into an Alias canvas is accomplished by using the File > Import > Canvas Image tool and selecting a PSD file from the browser. All the layers from the PSD file are imported as image layers into a new or selected Alias canvas, with identical names.

If Always create New Canvas is checked, the PSD layers are imported as image layers in a new canvas created in the active window. Otherwise, the current rules apply:

If there are picked canvases and/or construction planes, the layers are imported into the first picked canvas or construction plane. (Construction planes are thus converted into canvases.)
If nothing is picked, the layers are imported into the active canvas.
If there is no active canvas in the active window, the layers are imported into a new canvas created in the active window.

To import the PSD layers onto an existing canvas, pick it or make it active in Alias.
Choose File > Import > Canvas Image . If you want to import the PSD layers onto a new canvas, open the option box, check the Always create New Canvas box, then click Go.
NoteThe Mask(Luminance) and Mask(Transparency) options only apply if the PSD file has a single layer. Otherwise, all layers are imported as image layers.
In the browser, select the PSD file you want to import then click Select.
All the layers from the PSD file are imported as image layers in the canvas.

About importing mask layers

Layer masks and Vector masks from PSD files are not supported. The mask effects on the layers are ignored when they are imported into Alias. To work around this:

Convert all needed layer masks and vector masks into image layers in Photoshop.
After importing all the image layers into Alias, choose Windows > Editors > Canvas Layer Editor.
Use the Convert > Copy layer to mask or Convert > Copy layer to invisibility mask tools in the Canvas Layer Editor to convert these layers back to mask layers.

Exporting an Alias canvas as a PSD file

Exporting an Alias canvas to a PSD file is accomplished using the File > Export > Make Canvas Picture tool. The active canvas is exported as a PSD file with the same layers.

The option box now has a new file type called psd.

In Alias, make sure the canvas you want to export is active (by selecting it in the Construction Plane Editor or Canvas Layer Editor, or by painting on it).
Choose File > Export > Make Canvas Picture ❒.
Set File type to psd in the option box.
Optionally, turn on Convert mask to image layer to convert all the mask and invisibility mask layers to image layers, so that they get saved in the PSD file . (See About exporting mask layers below.)
Click Go.
In the browser, choose the location and name of the PSD file you want to create, and click Save.
Each image layer on the canvas is saved as a layer with the same name in the PSD file.

About exporting mask layers

Although mask layers and invisibility mask layers cannot be converted directly into layer masks in Photoshop, turning on the Convert mask to image layer option converts them into image layers, and saves them in the PSD file. The layer origin, scale and pixel size are maintained. The resulting image layers have their names prefixed with "msk_" (for mask layers) or "inv_" (for invisibility mask layers) in Photoshop, where you can then convert them to Quick Mask, Layer Mask or Clip Mask.

Shape layers and layer folders are always ignored.