Gradient from background and foreground can't be automated?

[Iuigidesu]

Hi, it's me again, thanks for the help on my last post.
I've been working on this text layers that need a gradient overlay based on some colors, so what I'm doing is picking color 1 as background and color 2 as foreground, and when I add a gradient overlay, theres a preset that let's me use the background/foreground colors as gradient, so I wanted to automate that, I recorded the action and it does pretty much it, however, is not using my current background/foreground colors, but the ones from the time i recorded the action, and I was wondering if there's a way to automate that? So I can pick two colors and run an action/script that adds them as a gradient overlay, I don´t care about the angle or style, the basic 90 degree linear gradient works.
I found some scripts about gradients, but not about text overlay.

Here's a little representation of what I'm doing manually.
Thanks!!

[Stephen_A_Marsh · Accepted solution]

Yes, sadly actions often record absolute final values, even if we try to use a "foreground to background" gradient preset.

You can substitute the action step for an "action helper script":

/*
Gradient Overlay Using Foreground to Background.jsx
v1.0 - 29th April 2024, Stephen Marsh
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/gradient-from-background-and-foreground-can-t-be-automated/td-p/14585544
*/

#target photoshop

var c2t = function (s) {
	return app.charIDToTypeID(s);
};
var s2t = function (s) {
	return app.stringIDToTypeID(s);
};
var descriptor = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor2 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor3 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor4 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor5 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor6 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor7 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor8 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor9 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor10 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor11 = new ActionDescriptor();
var list = new ActionList();
var list2 = new ActionList();
var reference = new ActionReference();
reference.putProperty( s2t( "property" ), s2t( "layerEffects" ));
reference.putEnumerated( s2t( "layer" ), s2t( "ordinal" ), s2t( "targetEnum" ));
descriptor.putReference( s2t( "null" ), reference );
descriptor2.putUnitDouble( s2t( "scale" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 100.000000 );
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "enabled" ), true );
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "present" ), true );
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "showInDialog" ), true );
descriptor3.putEnumerated( s2t( "mode" ), s2t( "blendMode" ), s2t( "normal" ));
descriptor3.putUnitDouble( s2t( "opacity" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 100.000000 );
descriptor4.putString( s2t( "name" ), "Foreground to Background" );
descriptor4.putEnumerated( s2t( "gradientForm" ), s2t( "gradientForm" ), s2t( "customStops" ));
descriptor4.putDouble(s2t("interfaceIconFrameDimmed"), 4096.000000);
// Foreground colour
var fR = foregroundColor.rgb.red;
var fG = foregroundColor.rgb.green;
var fB = foregroundColor.rgb.blue
descriptor6.putDouble( s2t( "red" ), Math.round(fR) );
descriptor6.putDouble( s2t( "grain" ), Math.round(fG) );
descriptor6.putDouble( s2t( "blue" ), Math.round(fB) );
descriptor5.putObject(s2t("color"), s2t("RGBColor"), descriptor6);
descriptor5.putEnumerated( s2t( "type" ), s2t( "colorStopType" ), s2t( "userStop" ));
descriptor5.putInteger( s2t( "location" ), 0 );
descriptor5.putInteger( s2t( "midpoint" ), 50 );
list.putObject(s2t("colorStop"), descriptor5);
// Background colour
var bR = backgroundColor.rgb.red;
var bG = backgroundColor.rgb.green;
var bB = backgroundColor.rgb.blue
descriptor8.putDouble( s2t( "red" ), Math.round(bR) );
descriptor8.putDouble( s2t( "grain" ), Math.round(bG) );
descriptor8.putDouble( s2t( "blue" ), Math.round(bB) );
descriptor7.putObject(s2t("color"), s2t("RGBColor"), descriptor8);
descriptor7.putEnumerated( s2t( "type" ), s2t( "colorStopType" ), s2t( "userStop" ));
descriptor7.putInteger( s2t( "location" ), 4096 );
descriptor7.putInteger( s2t( "midpoint" ), 50 );
list.putObject( s2t( "colorStop" ), descriptor7 );
descriptor4.putList( s2t( "colors" ), list );
descriptor9.putUnitDouble( s2t( "opacity" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 100.000000 );
descriptor9.putInteger( s2t( "location" ), 0 );
descriptor9.putInteger( s2t( "midpoint" ), 50 );
list2.putObject( s2t( "transferSpec" ), descriptor9 );
descriptor10.putUnitDouble( s2t( "opacity" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 100.000000 );
descriptor10.putInteger( s2t( "location" ), 4096 );
descriptor10.putInteger( s2t( "midpoint" ), 50 );
list2.putObject( s2t( "transferSpec" ), descriptor10 );
descriptor4.putList( s2t( "transparency" ), list2 );
descriptor3.putObject(s2t("gradient"), s2t("gradientClassEvent"), descriptor4);
// Gradient angle
descriptor3.putUnitDouble( s2t( "angle" ), s2t( "angleUnit" ), 90.000000 );
descriptor3.putEnumerated(s2t("type"), s2t("gradientType"), s2t("linear"));
// Boolean to reverse the gradient direction
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "reverse" ), true );
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "dither" ), false );
descriptor3.putEnumerated( c2t( "gs99" ), s2t( "gradientInterpolationMethodType" ), s2t( "perceptual" ));
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "align" ), true );
descriptor3.putUnitDouble( s2t( "scale" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 100.000000 );
descriptor11.putUnitDouble( s2t( "horizontal" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 0.000000 );
descriptor11.putUnitDouble( s2t( "vertical" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 0.000000 );
descriptor3.putObject( s2t( "offset" ), s2t( "paint" ), descriptor11 );
descriptor2.putObject( s2t( "gradientFill" ), s2t( "gradientFill" ), descriptor3 );
descriptor.putObject( s2t( "to" ), s2t( "layerEffects" ), descriptor2 );
executeAction( s2t( "set" ), descriptor, DialogModes.NO );

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

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

@Iuigidesu 

How did the script work for you?

[Iuigidesu]

Hey, thanks, it's super cool and also super fast, however it cleans all the original effects, and all the layers I work on must keep their original stroke, but I use an action to put it again, other than that, works amazing, thanks again!!!!

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

Yes, it wasn't clear to me that you had existing effects (looking at your screenshot I can see that now). The expectation is that this is a brand new effect.

Due to the way that Adobe programmed effects, it is very difficult to modify existing effects unless one is very advanced in AM code scripting.

EDIT: The other option would be to post a layered sample file with the required effects applied, then I could modify the gradient code while retaining the existing effects.

[Iuigidesu]

Since all the text layers I'm working on have the same stroke size, I just made an action that runs the gradient script and adds a 5px stroke, so nothing to worry about, thanks!!

[Iuigidesu]

Sorry, @Stephen_A_Marsh , I thought I figured the stroke thing, but now i started actually working on it, turns out you can't even add a stroke as an action, it'll record all the other effects, so now I got to add manually the stroke, which isn't really helpful, so I was wondering how to make the script to add a stroke? The layers I'm working on use the exact same stroke size (6px) and black or white color, I'd love some help on this, you told me last time to send a sample, so I'll add it. Thanks!!!

[r-bin]

You can add an effect to existing ones using the set_fx() function. You need to create a descriptor with the parameters of the desired effect and call the function.

The example shows how you can add a stroke effect without worrying about what effects were (or were not) applied to the layer before.

// cteate stroke fx descriptor
var d = new ActionDescriptor();
d.putBoolean(stringIDToTypeID("enabled"), true);
d.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("style"), stringIDToTypeID("frameStyle"), stringIDToTypeID("outsetFrame"));
d.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("paintType"), stringIDToTypeID("frameFill"), stringIDToTypeID("solidColor"));
d.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("mode"), stringIDToTypeID("blendMode"), stringIDToTypeID("normal"));
d.putUnitDouble(stringIDToTypeID("opacity"), stringIDToTypeID("percentUnit"), 100);
d.putUnitDouble(stringIDToTypeID("size"), stringIDToTypeID("pixelsUnit"), 18);
var d1 = new ActionDescriptor();
d1.putDouble(stringIDToTypeID("red"),   255);
d1.putDouble(stringIDToTypeID("green"), 0);
d1.putDouble(stringIDToTypeID("blue"),  0);
d.putObject(stringIDToTypeID("color"), stringIDToTypeID("RGBColor"), d1);

set_fx("frameFX", d);

function set_fx(fx_type, fx_desc)
    {
    try {
        var fx = new ActionDescriptor();

        var r = new ActionReference();
        r.putProperty(stringIDToTypeID("property"), stringIDToTypeID("layerEffects"));
        r.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), stringIDToTypeID("ordinal"), stringIDToTypeID("targetEnum"));

        var d = executeActionGet(r);
        if (d.hasKey(stringIDToTypeID("layerEffects"))) fx = d.getObjectValue(stringIDToTypeID("layerEffects"));

        var d = new ActionDescriptor();
        var r = new ActionReference();
        r.putProperty(stringIDToTypeID("property"), stringIDToTypeID("layerEffects"));
        r.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), stringIDToTypeID("ordinal"), stringIDToTypeID("targetEnum"));
        d.putReference(stringIDToTypeID("null"), r);

        fx.putObject(stringIDToTypeID(fx_type), stringIDToTypeID(fx_type), fx_desc);

        d.putObject(stringIDToTypeID("to"), stringIDToTypeID("layerEffects"), fx);
        executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("set"), d, DialogModes.NO);
        }
    catch (e) { alert(e.line+"\n\n"+e); }
    }

[Stephen_A_Marsh · Accepted solution]

@Iuigidesu 

Try this:

/*
Stroke & Gradient Overlay Using Foreground to Background.jsx
v1.0 - 2nd May 2024, Stephen Marsh
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/gradient-from-background-and-foreground-can-t-be-automated/td-p/14585544
*/

var s2t = function (s) {
	return app.stringIDToTypeID(s);
};
var descriptor = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor2 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor3 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor4 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor5 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor6 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor7 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor8 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor9 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor10 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor11 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor12 = new ActionDescriptor();
var descriptor13 = new ActionDescriptor();
var list = new ActionList();
var list2 = new ActionList();
var reference = new ActionReference();
reference.putProperty( s2t( "property" ), s2t( "layerEffects" ));
reference.putEnumerated( s2t( "layer" ), s2t( "ordinal" ), s2t( "targetEnum" ));
descriptor.putReference( s2t( "null" ), reference );
descriptor2.putUnitDouble( s2t( "scale" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 100.000000 );
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "enabled" ), true );
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "present" ), true );
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "showInDialog" ), true );
descriptor3.putEnumerated( s2t( "mode" ), s2t( "blendMode" ), s2t( "normal" ));
descriptor3.putUnitDouble(s2t("opacity"), s2t("percentUnit"), 100.000000);
///// Gradient settings /////
descriptor4.putString( s2t( "name" ), "Foreground to Background" );
descriptor4.putEnumerated( s2t( "gradientForm" ), s2t( "gradientForm" ), s2t( "customStops" ));
descriptor4.putDouble(s2t("interfaceIconFrameDimmed"), 4096.000000);
// Foreground colour
var fR = foregroundColor.rgb.red;
var fG = foregroundColor.rgb.green;
var fB = foregroundColor.rgb.blue
descriptor6.putDouble( s2t( "red" ), Math.round(fR) );
descriptor6.putDouble( s2t( "grain" ), Math.round(fG) );
descriptor6.putDouble( s2t( "blue" ), Math.round(fB) );
descriptor5.putObject( s2t( "color" ), s2t( "RGBColor" ), descriptor6 );
descriptor5.putEnumerated( s2t( "type" ), s2t( "colorStopType" ), s2t( "userStop" ));
descriptor5.putInteger( s2t( "location" ), 0 );
descriptor5.putInteger( s2t( "midpoint" ), 50 );
list.putObject(s2t("colorStop"), descriptor5);
// Background colour
var bR = backgroundColor.rgb.red;
var bG = backgroundColor.rgb.green;
var bB = backgroundColor.rgb.blue
descriptor8.putDouble( s2t( "red" ), Math.round(bR) );
descriptor8.putDouble( s2t( "grain" ), Math.round(bG) );
descriptor8.putDouble( s2t( "blue" ), Math.round(bB) );
descriptor7.putObject( s2t( "color" ), s2t( "RGBColor" ), descriptor8 );
descriptor7.putEnumerated( s2t( "type" ), s2t( "colorStopType" ), s2t( "userStop" ));
descriptor7.putInteger( s2t( "location" ), 4096 );
descriptor7.putInteger( s2t( "midpoint" ), 50 );
list.putObject( s2t( "colorStop" ), descriptor7 );
descriptor4.putList( s2t( "colors" ), list );
descriptor9.putUnitDouble( s2t( "opacity" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 100.000000 );
descriptor9.putInteger( s2t( "location" ), 0 );
descriptor9.putInteger( s2t( "midpoint" ), 50 );
list2.putObject( s2t( "transferSpec" ), descriptor9 );
descriptor10.putUnitDouble( s2t( "opacity" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 100.000000 );
descriptor10.putInteger( s2t( "location" ), 4096 );
descriptor10.putInteger( s2t( "midpoint" ), 50 );
list2.putObject( s2t( "transferSpec" ), descriptor10 );
descriptor4.putList( s2t( "transparency" ), list2 );
descriptor3.putObject(s2t("gradient"), s2t("gradientClassEvent"), descriptor4);
// Gradient angle
descriptor3.putUnitDouble( s2t( "angle" ), s2t( "angleUnit" ), 65.000000 );
descriptor3.putEnumerated(s2t("type"), s2t("gradientType"), s2t("linear"));
// Boolean to reverse the gradient direction
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "reverse" ), true );
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "dither" ), false );
descriptor3.putBoolean( s2t( "align" ), true );
descriptor3.putUnitDouble( s2t( "scale" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 100.000000 );
descriptor11.putUnitDouble( s2t( "horizontal" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 0.000000 );
descriptor11.putUnitDouble( s2t( "vertical" ), s2t( "percentUnit" ), 0.000000 );
descriptor3.putObject( s2t( "offset" ), s2t( "paint" ), descriptor11 );
descriptor2.putObject(s2t("gradientFill"), s2t("gradientFill"), descriptor3);
///// Stroke settings /////
descriptor12.putBoolean( s2t( "enabled" ), true );
descriptor12.putBoolean( s2t( "present" ), true );
descriptor12.putBoolean( s2t( "showInDialog" ), true );
descriptor12.putEnumerated( s2t( "style" ), s2t( "frameStyle" ), s2t( "outsetFrame" ));
descriptor12.putEnumerated( s2t( "paintType" ), s2t( "frameFill" ), s2t( "solidColor" ));
descriptor12.putEnumerated( s2t( "mode" ), s2t( "blendMode" ), s2t( "normal" ));
descriptor12.putUnitDouble(s2t("opacity"), s2t("percentUnit"), 100.000000);
// Stroke thickness
descriptor12.putUnitDouble(s2t("size"), s2t("pixelsUnit"), 5.000000); 
// Stroke red value
descriptor13.putDouble( s2t( "red" ), 0 );
// Stroke green value
descriptor13.putDouble( s2t( "grain" ), 0 );
// Stroke blue value
descriptor13.putDouble( s2t( "blue" ), 0 );
descriptor12.putObject( s2t( "color" ), s2t( "RGBColor" ), descriptor13 );
descriptor12.putBoolean( s2t( "overprint" ), false );
descriptor2.putObject( s2t( "frameFX" ), s2t( "frameFX" ), descriptor12 );
descriptor.putObject( s2t( "to" ), s2t( "layerEffects" ), descriptor2 );
executeAction( s2t( "set" ), descriptor, DialogModes.NO );

This adds a black stroke.

You can either manually change the style to use white after it is applied, or create a second version of the above but change 0 to 255:

// Stroke red value
descriptor13.putDouble( s2t( "red" ), 255 );

Repeating for the blue and green values entries.  

[Iuigidesu]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!
This will save me so much time, It does exactly all I need, thanks!!