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Peg City Ginny
Peg City Ginny
Participant
August 19, 2017
Question

Multiple Images -> Smart Object

  • August 19, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 3855 views

I created a calendar template in Photoshop that has an image at the top. The image is a smart object. I want to personalize that image at the top for clients. I have 1000 unique images that I want to put in that Smart Object. I started doing this manually (opening the smart object, opening the image, dragging it in to the smart object, saving, going back to document, saving as PDF, etc) and it's taking forever. Is there a way I can import all my images in to that smart object and then export the calendars so I have 1000 unique calendars at the end?

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    3 replies

    macpawel
    macpawel
    Participating Frequently
    August 20, 2017

    You can use a little bit different method.

    Just prepare text file with names of your images.

    You can use bridge to change them into sequence and use Excel to easily prepare data sheet

    You have to prepare variables names names nad data

    Use Variables in Photoshop to add your text data and then use Data Sets command to propare all of your calendars just from single PSD file. In this case you can't use Smart Objects. Variables don't work with smart objects.

    It's similar to Data Merge in InDesign - maybe easier to prepare

    Try to find Variables in Photoshop

    Pawel

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 20, 2017

    Yes Data Driven Graphics can populate both Image and text into Photoshop PSD templates that use Photoshop defined variables names for layers.  Text and Image layers are supported.

    I have never use Data Driven graphic, so I do not know what is or is not supported well.  I think you may find some limitation.  All things have limits. I feel you may find that  Smart Object layers  can not be define as a Photoshop variable.  Images may need to be the correct size for the template layer they will be replacing the template layer pixels and text has a limit to the amount of characters likely need to be able to fit into the defined text layer. I do acually know I have never use Date Driven Graphic myself.

    Automatic Populating process methods are Design to work on a particular template design.  Template designs use different Photoshop features and layer types.  So Template designs have advantages, limitations and requirements.

    Photoshop create composite images which can be made many ways using Photoshop features. Some ways are easier the others.  When it comes to automation a consistent way is important. More complex template design require more complex automation.   Template PSD designs IMO need to be simple and consistent to be generally useful.   Very complex template most likely will need to be populated manually.

    All smart Object Layers have an associated transform.  The transform is not replaced when the smart object layers content is replaced.   So the Transform can add rotation and perspective to the layers composite view.  All replacement object must be the same size and resolution.  So Smart object layers have advantages and disadvantages.  IMO the best use of Smart object layers in template besides rotation and perspective is for creating  Picture Packages where you dupe a smart object layer several time and transform each to form a picture package composite.  One Image with several transforms. One smart object shared by several smart object layers. One Replace Smart Object Layer content replaces all layers contents.

    JJMack
    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 20, 2017

    Why do you use a smart Object layer in your template. Do the images need a perspective transform or rotation in the transform? Replacement for smart object layer object must be the same size and resolution as the original object that was user to create the smart object layer.   With a different template design you would be able to use any size image that has a Aspect ration that is near the template image area aspect ratio.  A script could easily batch populate a well designed template with your images.   Also is there  a reason you are saving the output files as PDF.  I would think it would be better to save output files as PSD or Jpeg or both PSD and Jpeg. My Collage Populating scripts always save Populated PSD file and can optionally also save Jpeg and PDF files. Your Calendar template could have 1 Image, 12 Images or 52 Images.

    Creating 1000 Calendars will take a long time... you should know that. However, you can drink some wine while Photoshop is cranking them out.

    Photo Collage Toolkit

    Photoshop scripting is powerful and I believe this package demonstrates this. A video showing a 5 image collage PSD template  being populated with images:

    The package includes four simple rules to follow when making Photo Collage Template PSD files so they will be compatible with my Photoshop scripts.

    1. Size the photo collage templates for the print size you want - width, height and print DPI resolution.
    2. Photo collage templates must have a Photoshop background layer. The contents of this layer can be anything.
    3. Photo collage templates must have alpha channels named "Image 1", "Image 2", ... "Image n".
    4. Photo collage templates layers above the background layers must provide transparent areas to let the images that will be placed below them show through.

    There are fifteen scripts in this package they provide the following functions:

    1. HelpPhotoCollageToolkit.jsx - Online Help
    2. TestCollageTemplate.jsx - Used to test a Photo Collage Template while you are making it with Photoshop.
    3. CollageTemplateBuilder.jsx - Can build Templates compatible with this toolkit's scripts.
    4. LayerToAlphaChan.jsx - Used to convert a Prototype Image Layer stack into a template document.
    5. InteractivePopulateCollage.jsx - Used to interactively populate Any Photo Collage template. Offers most user control inserting pictures and text.
    6. ReplaceCollageImage.jsx - use to replace a populated collage image Smart Object layer with an other image correctly resized and positioned.
    7. ChangeTextSize.jsx - This script can be used to change Image stamps text size when the size used by the populating did not work well.
    8. PopulateCollageTemplate.jsx - Used to Automatically populate a Photo Collage template and leave the populated copy open in Photoshop.
    9. BatchOneImageCollage.jsx - Used to Automatically Batch Populate Collage templates that only have one image inserted. The Collage or Image may be stamped with text.
    10. BatchMultiImageCollage.jsx - Used to Automatically Batch Populate Any Photo Collage template with images in a source image folder. Easier to use than the interactive script. Saved collages can be tweaked.
    11. PasteImageRoll.jsx - Paste Images into a document to be print on roll paper.
    12. BatchPicturePackage.jsx - Used to Automatically Batch Populate Any Photo Collage template with an image in a source image folder.  Images Rotates for best fit.
    13. BatchPicturePackageNoRotate.jsx - Used to Automatically Batch Populate Any Photo Collage template with an image in a source image folder.
    14. PopulatePicturePackage.jsx - Used to Automatically populate a Photo Collage template Fill with the same single image and leave the populated copy open in Photoshop.
    15. PCTpreferences.jsx - Edit This File to Customize Collage Populating scripts default setting and add your own Layer styles.

    Documentation and Examples

    JJMack
    S
    SUBIR PVL
    Participating Frequently
    April 1, 2022

    Can anyone help me with this script?

     

    \\ TAMPLATE FILL IMAGE //

    1) Select the layer

    2) Selected layer name change

    3) Select multiple image Drive path

    4) Open image >Copy>Close>First Select layer>Paste>Convert smart Object>Create clpping mask> fit to frame>Select layer name change

     

    **Similarly selected layers will be filled

    michelew83603738
    Community Expert
    michelew83603738Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 19, 2017

    Depending on how the other images are named, you could create either an Action or even do a Script to achieve this. Here is a link about Actions in Photoshop Actions

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