Category: Photoshop

Batch Photoshop CS5 Processing

I am trying to create an action that allows me to take a photograph, resize it to 750pix wide, then save it again as a thumbnail 220 pix W. I also need a workflow.

Ok, here we go.First I need to have 5 folders in place: originals, renamed originals (if necessary), for resizing, resized originals, and resized thumbs.

The originals are obvious. Renamed originals are for photos that need to be renamed for my conventions (what are these conventions?). For resizing are just a copy of the renamed originals. The resized originals will be for the 750 px wide photos. The resized thumbs will be for the 220 px wide photos.

There is a tutorial about how to do some of this here: Photoshop batch resize.

  1. This will begin by using the following two folders: “for resizing” and another called “resized photos.”
  2. Create an action in Photoshop to resize an image to 750 px W.
  3. open up batch command in photoshop, follow directions in tutorial about how to set each option
  4. process for resizing files and put processed files into resized photos folder

Things to know about this: sometimes photoshop does not want to run this batch action. If so, close photoshop and try to set up the batch processing procedure again.

Now I need to repeat this same process for the thumbnails. This will require a different action and the folder called “resized thumbs.”

Resize thumbs using renamed originals. Now they need to be renamed by adding “thumb” to end of name. This is done through Bridge.

  1. open bridge
  2. open folder of resized thumbs
  3. go to tools/batch rename
  4. set up to add thumbs….rename in same folder….new filename; current filename, name, original case (then) text, -thumb
  5. you should be able to see how it will change the file name in the lower portion of the dialogue box
  6. once this is set, save the preset with the name “thumb”

This seems to work just great. The settings in the batch process in Photoshop is able to get around the seeming limitations of the batch “save to web” problem. The tricky part is to make sure all the boxes are checked or not checked correctly so that there are not any problems.

Once completed parse out files to where they need to go. Original files are stored as is. The resized original and resized thumbs are for the website. Purge the for resizing files and renamed files folder contents. Once parsed out makes sure there are no photos in any of the five folders.

That should do it!

Photoshop Actions Glitch

Photoshop CS3 Actions

I was trying to create an action that is based on some default photoshop behaviors that take place when you manual perform a few particular steps. More specifically I am working in Photoshop CS3 and am wanting to create an image form the clipboard.

Default Manual Behavior

If you have an image saved to the clipboard, go to Photoshop and open a new file it will open a dialogue box that contains the dimensions of the clipboard image. You simply except what is already filled in here (name, preset, width, height, etc.) and click on the OK radio button. From there you will have a new document window. Simply apply paste – using the menu or Control V (Windows shortcut) and your image shows up in a right sized document.

Broken Actions Behavior

Try and record these steps as an action. If you have CS3 and run the record actions with these steps, it saves whatever dimensions you have for the image on the clipboard. Run the action for a larger image and it shows up truncated.

There is a Solution!

Here is what you need to do to record this action to allow you to see the entire image on your clipboard, regardless of how big or small it is.

  1. save an image to your clipboard
  2. set up your new action and start recording
  3. File > new
  4. Custom Dimensions: Width 1 and 1 Height
  5. Paste
  6. Image > Reveal All
  7. Stop recording

I have been using this for a few days and so far, so good. I hope this helps someone……..