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Mike McCollister
Mike McCollister
Participating Frequently
Jun 2, 2026 1:48 PM UTC
Answered

Photoshop Action Help for Sizing Photos Down to Specific Sizes

I have a large number of photos that were scanned from negatives years ago. Ideally, they would be a perfect 3x2 or 2x3 aspect ratio but that is not the case. I am looking to size them for the web using Photoshop. I can do this manually but I am looking to create an action to do such.

This is what I typically do.

  1. Size the longest edge to be 1200px.

  2. If shortest edge is >= 800px, trim the canvas down so that the image is now 1200x800 (or 800x1200),

  3. Else if the shortest edge < 800px, size the image so that the shortest edge is 800px and trim the canvas so that the image is 1200x800 (or 800x1200).

  4. Save the file as "<Original Name> (Full).jpg" in a different folder.

  5. Size the image down to 266x400 (or 400x266 if landscape).

  6. Save the file as "<Original Name> (Thumb).jpg" in a different folder.

I'm having problems creating the action, specifically with steps 2 & 3. Any hints or pointers for that?

    Stephen Marsh
    Stephen MarshCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Jun 2, 2026 3:03 PM UTC

    The following script can be recorded into an action for File > Automate > Batch or bulk running via Image Processor or Image Processor Pro scripts for the Action Steps 2 & 3:

     

    #target photoshop

    if (app.documents.length > 0) {

        var doc = app.activeDocument;
        var w = doc.width.as("px");
        var h = doc.height.as("px");
        var targetW;
        var targetH;

        // Determine output orientation from original image
        if (w >= h) {
            targetW = 1200;
            targetH = 800;
        } else {
            targetW = 800;
            targetH = 1200;
        }

        // Calculate scale factor required to completely cover target
        var scaleFactor = Math.max(targetW / w, targetH / h);
        var newW = Math.round(w * scaleFactor);
        var newH = Math.round(h * scaleFactor);

        // Resize image proportionally
        var resampleMethod;
        if (scaleFactor > 1) {
            resampleMethod = ResampleMethod.BICUBICSMOOTHER; // upscale
        } else {
            resampleMethod = ResampleMethod.BICUBICSHARPER; // downscale
        }
        doc.resizeImage(UnitValue(newW, "px"), UnitValue(newH, "px"), null, resampleMethod);

        // Crop or extend canvas to final dimensions
        doc.resizeCanvas(UnitValue(targetW, "px"), UnitValue(targetH, "px"), AnchorPosition.MIDDLECENTER);

        /*
        alert(
            "Original: " + w + " x " + h +
            "\nResized: " + newW + " x " + newH +
            "\nFinal Canvas: " + targetW + " x " + targetH
        );
        */

    } else {
        // alert("No document open.");
    }

     

    1. Copy the code text to the clipboard
    2. Open a new blank file in a plain-text editor (not in a word processor)
    3. Paste the code in
    4. Save as a plain text format file – .txt
    5. Rename the saved file extension from .txt to .jsx
    6. Install or browse to the .jsx file to run (see below):

    https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html

    View reply

    8 replies

    Stephen Marsh
    Community Expert
    Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Jun 2, 2026 3:33 PM UTC

    Another option could be to record the following script into an action, which auto crops to the nearest aspect ratio (you said that they are close to 2:3 or 3:2)... Followed by a recording of fit image to 1200 x 1200 px which should then make the short edge 800 px by default.

     

     

    Translate
    Stephen Marsh
    Community Expert
    Stephen MarshCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Jun 2, 2026 3:03 PM UTC

    The following script can be recorded into an action for File > Automate > Batch or bulk running via Image Processor or Image Processor Pro scripts for the Action Steps 2 & 3:

     

    #target photoshop

    if (app.documents.length > 0) {

        var doc = app.activeDocument;
        var w = doc.width.as("px");
        var h = doc.height.as("px");
        var targetW;
        var targetH;

        // Determine output orientation from original image
        if (w >= h) {
            targetW = 1200;
            targetH = 800;
        } else {
            targetW = 800;
            targetH = 1200;
        }

        // Calculate scale factor required to completely cover target
        var scaleFactor = Math.max(targetW / w, targetH / h);
        var newW = Math.round(w * scaleFactor);
        var newH = Math.round(h * scaleFactor);

        // Resize image proportionally
        var resampleMethod;
        if (scaleFactor > 1) {
            resampleMethod = ResampleMethod.BICUBICSMOOTHER; // upscale
        } else {
            resampleMethod = ResampleMethod.BICUBICSHARPER; // downscale
        }
        doc.resizeImage(UnitValue(newW, "px"), UnitValue(newH, "px"), null, resampleMethod);

        // Crop or extend canvas to final dimensions
        doc.resizeCanvas(UnitValue(targetW, "px"), UnitValue(targetH, "px"), AnchorPosition.MIDDLECENTER);

        /*
        alert(
            "Original: " + w + " x " + h +
            "\nResized: " + newW + " x " + newH +
            "\nFinal Canvas: " + targetW + " x " + targetH
        );
        */

    } else {
        // alert("No document open.");
    }

     

    1. Copy the code text to the clipboard
    2. Open a new blank file in a plain-text editor (not in a word processor)
    3. Paste the code in
    4. Save as a plain text format file – .txt
    5. Rename the saved file extension from .txt to .jsx
    6. Install or browse to the .jsx file to run (see below):

    https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html

    Translate
    Mike McCollister
    Mike McCollisterAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    Jun 2, 2026 4:05 PM UTC

    Thank you so much. I had no idea that Photoshop could handle JavaScript. I’ll give that a try in a few days and see how it works.

    Translate
    Stephen Marsh
    Community Expert
    Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Jun 2, 2026 2:13 PM UTC

    Action step 1: 

     

    Always work on copies of the originals (check your disk space).

     

    You can record File > Automate > Fit Image into the action, with a width of 1200 px and a height of 1200 px:

     

     

    This will make the longest edge 1200 px with the shortest edge proportional, regardless of portrait or landscape orientation.

     

    Action Steps 2 & 3:

     

    Require conditional processing, unfortunately, a conditional action can't do this based on canvas px size:

     

     

    Therefore, a conditional script will be needed to handle the automated processing. A new script will be required for your use case.

     

    https://snipit.io/public/collections/22660/22660

     

    https://prepression.blogspot.com/2022/11/photoshop-action-helper-scripts.html

     

     

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