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C
Cloyster
Participant
April 13, 2020
Question

Batch + Action Process - How to add a proportional cutline and save as PSD

  • April 13, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 359 views

I have a lot of photos of different sizes and I want to use action/batch processing in Photoshop to extend the canvas at the bottom of each photo and add a text box so I can type in a description (later).

I am running into several problems:

  • Using the BATCH process, it looks like I can open the files, run the action, and then save the files to another folder. However, the original files are jpgs. I cannot figure out how to save the modified files as .psd files in the output folder. I want to save .psd files so I can go back and edit the text later.

  • Using an ACTION, I can extend the canvas height (by 10%) and I can add a text box at the bottom. I have different sizes of photos. Is there any way to make the text and/or the textbox proportional to the size of the photo? If not, I have to go back in and resize the text and the textbox every time.
    • If I do this process manually, I can open the Canvas dialog, copy the width, and then paste it into the properties for the textbox... so at least that is the correct width. However, cut-and-paste is not possible between document parameters as ACTION (?). 

 

Thanks, in advance, for any assistance.

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2 replies

JJMack
Community Expert
JJMackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 14, 2020

Action have many limitation and dealing with size is nearly impossible in action.  The Action Palette only has as small list of conditions you can test in conditional steps none are size related. Conditional steps require the use of more than one action in the Action Set.  Maintaining the actions can get messy.  Text in particular is hard to add if the active document can be any size.  Text size must be appropriate for the document size.  And the length ot the text need to fithe within the document.   Action are usually recorded to be use on documents that fall into some range of document sizes.

 

Some simple scripts can be written the you can use in actions to allow you to use some logic in you actions.   Action can be very useful and the are easy to record, edit and test. But there many limitations.

 

Photoshop Scripting is much more powerful.  Howevet Photoshop scripting is not easy and requires Programming skills.

 

Crafting Actions Package UPDATED Aug 10, 2014 Added Conditional Action steps to Action Palette Tips.
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JJMack
Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 13, 2020

On the first point, batch relies on having the save step in the action. Image Processor and Image Processor Pro scripts have the file format saves built in and can also use an action.

C
CloysterAuthor
Participant
April 14, 2020

Thanks, Stephen.
What I find confusing is that the Batch processor allows me to select the save location... but not the file format.
Action allows me to selection specific format... but if I want to save anywhere else, I'd have to rerecord the Action.

 

That seems very odd. Is there a way in Action to specify the file format without saving? Then I could make that the last step of the Action... and then the Batch process would save the file in the right location.

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 14, 2020

It gets confusing as there are multiple input and output options, that are all related to each other...

 

If the source is open files that have never been saved and the destination is a folder, then the Batch command will have to ask what file format to save in for each image. This is manual and not what is generally wished for in a batch operation. So in this case, the action should use an explicit recorded save as step to select a predefined file format and options so that the batch process is automated without requiring any manual input. Don't change the filename when recording the save as step, only adjust the file format options. If you have recorded an explicit filename into the action save as step, you will need to check the "override action save as step" option so that the batch of files save to separate files rather than overwriting with the same name each time.

 

If the files were previously saved and you don't wish to change the file format or options, then your action does not need a save as step recorded as Batch will simply use the same output format and options as the input file (if known).

 

The destination options are None, which will leave the files open in Photoshop. Destination of Save & Close will do exactly that if the files have been previously saved, otherwise for unsaved files you will need to specify the path and file format etc. Folder will let you select an output folder that is different to the original, using the same exisiting file format and optiods (if the source files have not been previously saved you will need to specify the path and file format etc).

 

The action save as step sets the file format and options and default save path, which as above can be overridden.

 

I don't understand the problem you have.

 

More here:

 

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/using/processing-batch-files.html#batch_and_droplet_processing_options

 

 

 

 

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