Action needs to apply to any number of layers

[JK5C2A]

Greetings,

I have an action that I’d like to see applied to my document's layers no matter how many layers are present in said document. The action goes as follows :

- Reorder the layers

- Lock the bottom layer

- Auto align the layers above that bottom/locked layer to that bottom/locked layer

- Make those freshly aligned layers invisible

I’ve already successfully created the action described above, for four layers. But I soon as the number of layers present in the document changes, the action goes out of whack and fails to work properly.

I’m pretty certain a scrip would allow me to apply the action described above to any number of layers, from two to 45 if need be. However, I can’t script or understand much about them!

Any help would be most welcomed.

Thank you.

[Stephen Marsh]

What exactly happens at the first step to reorder layers? 

[JK5C2A]

In Bridge:

1 - Open photos as a layers stack in Photoshop

In Photoshop :

2 – Reverse the layers stack order: see screen captures 01 (before) and 02 (after). My workflow requires this step.

3 – Lock the bottom layer to make it my default image for the next step, which is AutoAlign.

4 – Select the layers above the locked bottom layer and apply Auto-Align (Reposition) on them.

5 – Make those realigned top layers invisible. Keep the locked bottom layer visible.

Note: in the screen captures, you can also see the breakdown of the Action In recorded. It works exactly as I need it to, but stops giving be reliable results once the number of layers in my Photoshop project/document changes.

I hope this clarifies the workflow.

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

So it appears that the issue is with the multiple fixed/static steps to select the next layer (which only work for the required quantity of layers)...

You already have a relative step to select the back layer... So why not replace the multiple next layer steps with a single select forward layer and select front layer step from the layer above the back layer with continuous?

So, select forward layer, then select front layer continuous (shift modifier).

ALT/OPT ] (right square bracket)

ALT/OPT SHIFT . (full point, period character)

A screenshot to illustrate, note that I have expanded the steps so that it is clear what is taking place:

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

Relative Selection Layer Keycuts:

Select/target front (top) layer = Option + .

Select/target next layer up = Option + ]
Select/target next layer down = Option + [
Select/target back (bottom) layer = Option + ,

Relative Move Layer Keycuts:

Move current target layer to front (top) layer = Command + Shift + ]
Move current target layer up = Command + ]
Move current target layer down = Command + [
Move current target layer to back (bottom) layer = Command + Shift + [

Windows users would swap the Command key for Ctrl and the Option key for Alt

EDIT: 

Layer selection is dependent on layer visibility. To select invisible layers, takes a script or a bit more work with actions and visibility toggles:

[JK5C2A]

Thank you.
This did it.

Now, if only Auto Align would work on its own. It's unreliable. Still better to do it by hand at this point.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Could you please post screenshots taken at View > 100% with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, …) visible? 

[JK5C2A]

Thanks for your reply.
Does this help ? You can see the ordered layers, and the action breakdown.