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Participant
June 21, 2017
Answered

I *know* this should be simple: aligning logo

  • June 21, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 6009 views

Hi.

I know I am likely being thick here, but I have hunted for how to do this for a while and I can't figger it out:

1. I have a nice bunch of 2450x1750-pixel JPGs to which I would like to add a logo close to the the lower-left corner, offset a little from the corner.

2. I have a nice 2450x1750-pixel PSD file, transparent except for a logo in the lower-left corner, placed just where I would like it to appear on the JPGs.

3. With the PSD logo file open I select-all and Ctl-C to copy to clipboard.

4. I go to a JPG and Ctl-V to paste.

Problem:  the logo always appears in the dead-center of the frame.

Messing with align-layer controls doesn't help, as the logo itself then gets aligned with various frame-edges.  I need the whole layer aligned, so that it preserves the placement of the logo relative to the edges of the frame.

In short, it seems that Photoshop is deciding for itself that since all the other pixels in the layer are transparent, they are irrelevant and it just plops my logo in the middle when I paste.

Can anyone suggest how I can have my logo appear in the right spot when it's pasted, so I don't have to drag it manually for each JPG?

Thanks for any and all help!

Owen.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer barbara_a7746676

    As Chuck suggested, Paste in Place is another method. To use Paste in Place, Select > All in the logo file. Choose Edit > Copy Merged. Activate the file you want to add the logo to, and choose Edit > Paste Special > Paste in Place.

    There is yet a third method. With both files open, you can use the Move tool to hold down on the logo and drag it to the title bar of the image you want to add it to. With the mouse still down, hold down Shift as you release the mouse in the image to which you are adding the logo.

    4 replies

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 21, 2017

    IMO the best way to do it is with a script.  A script can resize you logo to an appropriate size for the image receiving the logo. And Aligned to where you want it aligned. The script I have posted is easy to modify for your logo and the size you want but I chose to align the logo to the bottom right.   I have also posted had yo do ir with and action.  The action dos align the custom logo to the bottom left.

    Crafting Actions Package UPDATED Aug 10, 2014 Added Conditional Action steps to Action Palette Tips.
    Contains

    Example

    WM900x600.jpg
    Download

    My Script PlaceWatermark.jsx

    #target photoshop; 

    app.bringToFront(); 

    var logoFile = "~/Desktop/JJMack.png"; // Watermark file should be large for resize down works better than up

    var LogoSize = 10; // percent of document height to resize Watermark to

    var LogoMargin = 1;                                         // percent of Document height the Watermark should have as a margin

    placeWatermark(logoFile, LogoSize, LogoMargin);             // Place Watermark  into the bottom right of document

    function placeWatermark(Image,Size,Margin){ 

      if(!documents.length) return;   // if no document return

      try{ 

      var doc = app.activeDocument; // set Doc object to active document

      app.displayDialogs = DialogModes.NO; // Dialog off

      var strtRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits; // Save Users ruler units

      var strtTypeUnits = app.preferences.typeUnits; // Save Users Type units

      app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS; // work with pixels

      app.preferences.typeUnits = TypeUnits.PIXELS; // work with pixels

      var fileObj = new File(Image);                 // the passed file

      if(!fileObj.exists){   // If file does not exits tell user

      alert(fileObj.name  + " does not exist!"); 

      return; 

      } 

      placeFile(fileObj); // Place in file the Watermark png file

      activeDocument.activeLayer.resize(100 ,100,AnchorPosition.MIDDLECENTER); // Insure Place did not scale layer 

      var SB = activeDocument.activeLayer.bounds; // get layers bounds

      var layerHeight = SB[3] - SB[1]; // get layers height 

      var resizePercent = (100/layerHeight)*(Size/100*doc.height.value); // Percent to resize by

      activeDocument.activeLayer.resize(resizePercent ,resizePercent,AnchorPosition.MIDDLECENTER);  // Resize width and height by percentage

      SB = activeDocument.activeLayer.bounds; // get resized layers bounds 

      activeDocument.activeLayer.translate(-SB[0].value,-SB[1].value); // Move resized layer to top left canvas corner

      var LayerWidth = (SB[2].value - SB[0].value); 

      var LayerHeight = (SB[3].value - SB[1].value); 

      marginSize = Margin/100*doc.height.value; // move resized watermark into the document lower right corner with some margin

      activeDocument.activeLayer.translate((doc.width.value -marginSize - LayerWidth),( doc.height.value -marginSize - LayerHeight));

      }

      catch(e) { alert(e + ': on line ' + e.line); } // inform user of error 

      finally{ 

      app.preferences.rulerUnits = strtRulerUnits; // Restore user ruler units 

      app.preferences.typeUnits = strtTypeUnits; // Restore user type units   

      }; 

    };

    function placeFile(placeFile) { 

        var desc21 = new ActionDescriptor(); 

        desc21.putPath( charIDToTypeID('null'), new File(placeFile) ); 

        desc21.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('FTcs'), charIDToTypeID('QCSt'), charIDToTypeID('Qcsa') ); 

        var desc22 = new ActionDescriptor(); 

        desc22.putUnitDouble( charIDToTypeID('Hrzn'), charIDToTypeID('#Pxl'), 0.000000 ); 

        desc22.putUnitDouble( charIDToTypeID('Vrtc'), charIDToTypeID('#Pxl'), 0.000000 ); 

        desc21.putObject( charIDToTypeID('Ofst'), charIDToTypeID('Ofst'), desc22 ); 

        executeAction( charIDToTypeID('Plc '), desc21, DialogModes.NO ); 

    }; 

    JJMack
    barbara_a7746676
    Community Expert
    barbara_a7746676Community ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    June 21, 2017

    As Chuck suggested, Paste in Place is another method. To use Paste in Place, Select > All in the logo file. Choose Edit > Copy Merged. Activate the file you want to add the logo to, and choose Edit > Paste Special > Paste in Place.

    There is yet a third method. With both files open, you can use the Move tool to hold down on the logo and drag it to the title bar of the image you want to add it to. With the mouse still down, hold down Shift as you release the mouse in the image to which you are adding the logo.

    Participant
    June 21, 2017

    Thanks so much, both Barbara and Chuck.

    Both your answers taught me useful stuff - I'm going to use the Ctrl-Shift-V (Paste in place) option, since I can have multiple target files open and using only the keyboard, paste-merge-close each file quickly then move to the next.

    Again, thank you both very much for taking the time to help.

    Regards,

    Owen.

    barbara_a7746676
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 21, 2017

    You're most welcome, Owen!

    barbara_a7746676
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 21, 2017

    Open the file that is transparent and has a logo in the lower corner. Also open the file you want to add the logo to.

    Window > Arrange > 2-up Vertical.

    Select the Move tool. Hold the Move tool down on the logo (not the transparent area).

    Keep the mouse down and drag the logo over the other file. Once the cursor is over the other file, hold down the Shift key and then release the mouse. The Shift key will maintain the same position.

    .

    Chuck Uebele
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 21, 2017

    Use paste in place.