Adding Overlays to Actions

[JH1229]

Is there a way to add an overlay into an action and be able to save and share the action with someone without the link to the overlay being broken because it ties it to my file location on my computer?

[Sef McCullough]

Hi @JH1229 ,

In short, no - there isn't a way to record relative file paths in a Photoshop Action.

The most straightforward workaround is to include instructions with the action telling the user where on their hard drive to place the overlay image. I often include instructions as part of a Stop action step for the first step of my action (in the action palette drop-down, choose Insert Stop, and you can enter a message in the text field).

A more advanced solution would be to use a custom script, some of that has been discussed here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/use-relative-path-for-photoshop-actio...

There may be more, search for something like "photoshop action relative file path".

Hope this gets you closer, let us know if you find a good solution.

Sef

[c.pfaffenbichler]

What kind of overlay? Could you please post screenshots with the pertinent Panels (Toolbar, Layers, Options Bar, …) visible? 

If it is simple enought it might be easisest to have the Action recreate it, but that is naturally not always an option.