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Hi,
I'm trying to create an action that allows me to crop several images to a specific pixel ratio at once (1200x627). I was able to do this on the 2016 version of Photoshop with no problem, but the 2018 version of the software won't let me do it for some reason, and I assume I'm doing something wrong...
The action goes like this:
Duplicate background layer
Image > Image size: change width to 1200 pixels (with linked pixel width and height)
Image > Canvas size: change height to 627 pixels (with the relative box unchecked)
Every time I record the custom action, it records the canvas size change as a random (usually enormous) value in inches. I have my units and rulers preferences set to pixels, so that's not the issue.
Any thoughts on how to fix this frustrating problem and save me hours and hours of clicking through the same process every week?
Thanks!
1 Correct answer
It look like a CC 2018 bug. Action should record the units you used recording the action step. CC 2018 does not. Using a percent would not recotd a fixed height. It would vary be a percent of the current height so relative to height . Pixel is absolute number of pixels. Inches is relative to resolution. The units you use depend on what you want to do. Relative to size, Relative to resolution, or a fixed number of pixels.,
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What version of PhotoShop are you using?
Adobe Changes how Photoshop behaves from release to release so features like the Action recorder does not behave exactly the same in all version of Photoshop. I recorded your action in a new TestSet. I did it twice, Once in CC 2014 saved the set then closed CC 2014 started CC 2018 loaded the testset and recorded the action exactly the same way. I started with a 7" by 5" 300DPI document open and Recorded the action. First I step set Photoshop Ruler unites to Pixles so Photoshop should default lt units to pixels. Then Images Size with 1200px Constrained, bicubic interpolation followed by the Canvas size Height changed to 627PX anchor point centered. As you can see CC 2014 recorder the steps exactly the way. However CC 2018 recorder the Canvas size height to 2.09" which is correct but not recorded as pixels. Do not ask me Why... However 300X2.09=627px for a 300DPI resoluton docment.
So I have no problem with your action in CC 2014 in CC 2018 there is a problem if Documents has dirrerent resolutions then 300DPI 2.09" will not be 267px so to me it look like a CC 2018 bug. I use CC 2014 it is a better version IMO.
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When relative sizes are involved, I believe Actions work better if you use percentages. This came from a Julliane Kost blog, but unfortunately, I can't find the specific article now. This old forum thread seems to indicate that it works though
Actions won't play back transformations properly
Good luck, and let us know how it works out (fingers cross )
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It look like a CC 2018 bug. Action should record the units you used recording the action step. CC 2018 does not. Using a percent would not recotd a fixed height. It would vary be a percent of the current height so relative to height . Pixel is absolute number of pixels. Inches is relative to resolution. The units you use depend on what you want to do. Relative to size, Relative to resolution, or a fixed number of pixels.,
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JJ, I suspect you have rather more expertise than me with Actions, and I wouldn't know where to start with scripts, so I think Jessica would do better following your advice.
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You can record the action in CC 2014 and use it in CC 2018. You just can not record the action correctly in CC 2018. Adobe does a very poor job testing new versions of Photoshop too many bugs are released.
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Alright, cool. At least it's a bug and not me overlooking something super obvious. Hopefully the Adobe gods will release a fix. In the meantime, I'll install an older version to get back to business.
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It is always best to keep old version of Photoshop that work well for around till you know a new version is working well for you. I have CS6, CC 2014 and CC 2018 installed. CC 2015, CC 2015.5 and CC 2017 are no longer on my machine. CC 2018 has more issues then CC 2014. CC 2014 does not have features added in newer versions. CC 204 is my goto version.
Please report the bug you found to Adobe use Photoshop Family Customer Community
It may have been reported two months ago
Canvas Size Action bug | Photoshop Family Customer Community
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There is a fix for the relative checkbox that is not sticky in today's release, 19.1.4, try it: Fixed issues in Adobe Photoshop CC