how to involve a transformation in an action

[jn18]

Hi guys

i want to optimize about 9.000 completely diffrent product pictures for a webshop to the format 800x600px 72 dpi.

for not touching every picutre manually i wanted to create a batch with an action like this:

1. I open the file

2. make a new background layer and change the canvas size to 800x600px (--> i don't want to loose the proportions of the product picture itself)

3. At the layer with the product picture I press Strg/Ctrl + T, I set the pixel height to 600 px and press the "maintain the aspect ratio"-button. (--> if I do so I can make sure that the picture fits in my new canvas size)

4. save it.

in some pictures it works. But most of the time it doesn't apply the step with the "height to 600px"-transformation altough the step is recorded and always the same.

do you know why it doesn't apply this step?
or do you have any other options or ideas to create a similar action?

I also tried to make a new file 800x600px and place the product picture inside - but if I apply it in the batch it always loads the same picture into my new file instead of using all the pictures in the folder. do you also have a solution for this ?

thank you!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Please post a screenshot with the expanded step in the expanded Action in the Actions Panel.

As an alternative you could try using Fit Image at the beginning of the Action.

[Stephen Marsh]

+1 on fit image – or Image Processor or Image Processor Pro.

[Bojan Živković]

Can you expand Transform current layer step and post screenshot?

I think that solution with already mentioned Image > Automate > Fit Image at the beginning of action is a good solution. After that step, record step to ensure that Canvas Size is 800x600px.

Things to consider: do you want solid color for extra canvas size or it needs to be transparent? If you are ok with solid color then ensure that particular color is chosen in Canvas Size dialog. This will work for all images with Background layer. If you have images without Background layer things will start to be more complex and you will need to record another action and to add if statement in the action.

Download this action and test it Fit product image into 800x600px.atn - Google Drive I have recorded open step at the beginning of action which you should exclude when using Image Processor Pro, for example. Action will add white extra canvas space, if you want a different color then you must change Canvas Size step.

For anything else ask again on this page.