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timd94211753
Known Participant
March 20, 2019
Question

Guide Lines for Print Sizes Action?

  • March 20, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 5836 views

Hi there,

I was wondering if there was an action or script that could product guide lines based on 4x6, 5x7, 8x10 print sizes?  I would like to have this because I do a lot of sports composites with text and graphics and produce packages with wallets, 4x6, 5x7, 8x10.  Having the guide lines would allow me to ensure that none of the elements end up off the paper when the printers produce the actual printwork. 

 

Right now I am using a .png that I created as an overlay layer that I can turn off but an actual action with guide lines would be more time efficient and precise.

 

Anyone able to help?

 

 

--Tim

    4 replies

    Bojan Živković11378569
    Community Expert
    Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 21, 2019

    I have read entire thread and I am still not sure are you satisfied with answers or not? I have idea how you can solve problem using action but I will need more information's to give you advice or to record action.

    Idea for action: create template file with guidelines. Template file should be maximum dimensions that you expect to have. Action can convert layer with image to Smart Object, or template can be created using Smart Object Layer. Edit Smart Object content and place or paste image which you want to use. Action steps depend on what you decide to use: place command or open image, copy to clipboard then edit SM object and paste. Both methods should work just fine although placing image is probably more difficult because you must consider default options when placing images and some additional step(s) and changes in Preferences may need to be done to place image with actual pixel dimensions. After updating content of Smart Object layer you will have what you want. The next step can be to duplicate document then to trim it if there is extra space around image or even to use Reveal command if you cannot figure out what is biggest dimension you will have to work with.

    Another option that you have is to work with template and to use Image > Variables and Data Sets. Define Pixel Replacement variable for layer with image and set Method to As Is. Use manual method to import image. Importing image into template cannot be automated with action as far as I know, the rest after importing image into templte can be automated: duplicate document, trim/reveal all as needed and that should do the job.

    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Conrad_CCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 21, 2019

    Bojan Živković wrote

    Idea for action: create template file with guidelines. Template file should be maximum dimensions that you expect to have. Action can convert layer with image to Smart Object, or template can be created using Smart Object Layer. Edit Smart Object content and place or paste image which you want to use. Action steps depend on what you decide to use: place command or open image, copy to clipboard then edit SM object and paste. Both methods should work just fine although placing image is probably more difficult because you must consider default options when placing images and some additional step(s) and changes in Preferences may need to be done to place image with actual pixel dimensions.

    I like that and was thinking along the same lines. You could simply create a vector-based template using Photoshop shape tools, and just place that file. It didn't take long to work this out, and I think I resolved the resizing issue that Bojan mentioned so that it works right with different images, in one quick step that can easily be recorded as an Action if you want.

    You can make this even simpler by skipping the Place Linked dialog box step, by simply Alt-dragging the template from the desktop and dropping it into the Photoshop document. (Dragging is the same as the Place Embedded command, while Alt-drag (Option-drag on Macs) is the same as Place Linked.)

     

    It just doesn't get any simpler than a single drag-and-drop that resizes itself.

     

    There are two things that must be set up for this to work.

     

    1. Create an aspect ratio guide template. The Image Size must be larger than the largest image that you use it with (I'll explain why soon). Use the vector shape tools in Photoshop so that it's resolution-independent, unlike a PNG. This is what my quick-and-dirty one looked like:

     

    2. In Photoshop preferences, General pane, make sure the Resize Image During Place option is selected. This ensures that the oversized template will always be scaled down to fit the Image Size of the document as it's being placed. This is why the template size must be larger than your largest image size, so it will always be scaled down to fit no matter what the size of the document is. A smaller template size doesn't work because Resize Image During Place only scales down to fit, not up.

    That's it, no programming needed.

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      timd94211753Author
      Known Participant
      March 22, 2019

      Conrad C​  are you willing to post the aspect ratio guide template that you that you showed in your post above (reply #20)?  That would be very helpful.  Thanks!

      Stephen Marsh
      Community Expert
      Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 20, 2019

      Just curious, as the crop tool has the ability to work with various aspect ratios, how would/could it fit into your workflow? Or is it just that you wish to “visualise” the different possibilities up front?

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      timd94211753Author
      Known Participant
      March 20, 2019

      Exactly - its for previsualization.  I used the crop tool to drag guides into the document and then painted a thin line over the guides when I created my overlay. 

      Kevin Stohlmeyer
      Community Expert
      Kevin StohlmeyerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 20, 2019

      Record using the View/New Guide Command and enter your values.

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      timd94211753Author
      Known Participant
      March 20, 2019

      Something similar to this...

      JJMack
      Community Expert
      JJMackCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 20, 2019

      This could be automated with a Photoshop script.  Image sizes have and Aspect Ratio you show a Landscape image with a 3:2 aspect ratio.  And seem to want to crop this image to various Portraits aspect ratios.  8x10 4:5,  5:7 and 4x6 2:3 Asoect ratios.  Normally this will not work well for too much image content will be cropped off.

      A script could create cropping guide lines or better yet set a Aspect Ratio Portrait selection that you could position  for the best composition then use image crop.   The cropping guides you showed in the other thread you started were way off the mark.

      Red 4:5 8x10, Green  5:7 and Blue 2:3 4x6,

      your jpeg

      JJMack
      T
      timd94211753Author
      Known Participant
      March 20, 2019

      JJMack​  I'm ok with cutting the sides off an image (slightly) because the 5x7 and 8x10 are not THAT much dissimilar with 4x6.  I have no idea how to write a script so if you can help with that, I would really appreciate it.  The overlay I created works for both portrait and landscape so all its doing is showing where the edges would be trimmed.  I am not trying to crop a vertical out of a horizontal.

      kstohlmeyer1​  if it was THAT easy, I would have already done it    The problem is that not all images have the same starting dimensions so recording an action (in which the guides would be locked in my percentage or actual pixels) isn't doable - unless I am missing something here.

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