Combine two similarly numbered images within different folders into a series of PSD files

[Remulscion]

Self Explanatory,

I have folder A with X number of Images, numbered Sequentially starting at 0

I have folder B with X number of Images, numbered Sequentially starting at 0

I would like to:

1. Open images A0 and B0

2. Duplicate layer 1 from B0 as a new layer into A0 (duplicate used to preserve image alignment)

3. Save the resulting two layer document as a seperate PSD file.

4. Repeat the Process for [A1, B1], [A2, B2], [A3, B3], etc. until X number of images are combined and saved as individual PSD files.

I understand from reading other forums that Automate (Batch) is most likely not powerful enough for this (which I have been using sucessfuly up until now) and a script is most likely required. I have seen various similar examples on these forums of people trying (with various levels of sucess to do this) but with my lack of scripting experience, I have been unable to adapt any of the scripts I have seen for my specific purpose. The script that I thought looked closest to what I want was this one:

Batch process groups of files based on numbering

What I am aiming for the script to do is:

1. Select folder A

2. Select folder B

3. Complete earlier steps until no more images left.

An error checker will be unecessary for my application. If it is easy, I would like the script to support combining images from an indeterminate number of folders, but this is not essential.

As I said, I lack the experience to make this work properly, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Stephen_A_Marsh · Accepted solution]

@Remulscion – Try this for starters:

//community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop/auto-merge-files/m-p/10753387
// Auto merge files

// Reference code:
// https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2116421
// https://forums.adobe.com/message/8597315#8597315

#target photoshop

var folder1 = Folder.selectDialog("Please select the base folder with files to process");  // input folder 1
var folder2 = Folder.selectDialog("Please select the layered folder with files to process");  // input folder 2 
var saveFolder = Folder.selectDialog("Please select the folder to save to...");  // output folder
var searchMask = '*.???';
var list1 = folder1.getFiles(searchMask);
var list2 = folder2.getFiles(searchMask);
list1.sort(); // Alpha-numeric sort
list2.sort(); // Alpha-numeric sort

app.displayDialogs = DialogModes.NO;

var psdOptions = new PhotoshopSaveOptions();
psdOptions.embedColorProfile = true;
psdOptions.alphaChannels = true;
psdOptions.layers = true;
psdOptions.spotColors = true;

for (var i = 0; i < list1.length; i++) {
    var doc = open(list1[i]);
    var docName = doc.name;
    placeFile(list2[i], 100);
    // do stuff to combined layers here  
    doc.saveAs(new File(saveFolder + '/' + docName.split('.')[0] + '.psd'), psdOptions);
    doc.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
};

alert('Script completed!' + '\n' + 'Files saved to:' + '\r' + saveFolder.fsName);

function placeFile(file, scale) {
    try {
        var idPlc = charIDToTypeID("Plc ");
        var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID("null");
        desc2.putPath(idnull, new File(file));
        var idFTcs = charIDToTypeID("FTcs");
        var idQCSt = charIDToTypeID("QCSt");
        var idQcsa = charIDToTypeID("Qcsa");
        desc2.putEnumerated(idFTcs, idQCSt, idQcsa);
        var idOfst = charIDToTypeID("Ofst");
        var desc3 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idHrzn = charIDToTypeID("Hrzn");
        var idPxl = charIDToTypeID("#Pxl");
        desc3.putUnitDouble(idHrzn, idPxl, 0.000000);
        var idVrtc = charIDToTypeID("Vrtc");
        var idPxl = charIDToTypeID("#Pxl");
        desc3.putUnitDouble(idVrtc, idPxl, 0.000000);
        var idOfst = charIDToTypeID("Ofst");
        desc2.putObject(idOfst, idOfst, desc3);
        var idWdth = charIDToTypeID("Wdth");
        var idPrc = charIDToTypeID("#Prc");
        desc2.putUnitDouble(idWdth, idPrc, scale);
        var idHght = charIDToTypeID("Hght");
        var idPrc = charIDToTypeID("#Prc");
        desc2.putUnitDouble(idHght, idPrc, scale);
        var idAntA = charIDToTypeID("AntA");
        desc2.putBoolean(idAntA, true);
        executeAction(idPlc, desc2, DialogModes.NO);

    }
    catch (e) { }
}//end function placeFile

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[Remulscion]

Thank you very much, this did exactly what I wanted!

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

@Remulscion 

Glad it worked for you!

It uses File/Place... but it could just as easily use layer duplicate if there was only a single layer.

Please mark the reply as the "correct answer" to help others in the future searching for an answer.