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T
terry lee martin
Inspiring
September 26, 2021
Answered

I'm having trouble using actions.

  • September 26, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 2972 views

I have been using actions in Photoshop since they were added as a feature but something has happened that I don't understand. 

 

I have brought 24 photos into Photoshop to edit.

All I am trying to do is to create an action which will save the photo I am working on while replacing the original, and then close that file and bring up the next one I want to work on.

 

Let me give you an example. I have the folder open on my desk top and I drag and drop 24 files into Photoshop. Lets assume those photos are named DSC00252 - DSC00271. I'm working on DSC00254 in Photoshop. After adjusting this file I run an action that was created to save the finished photo I was just working on, close that file, thereby bringing up the next one to work on in Photoshop. I'm watching the folder where the saved photo has been directed to be placed. It is the same folder it original came from when I placed it into Photoshop. The original file DSC00254 is left untouched and exactly where it was originally located before I started working on it. However, now I find that my DSC00267 file is no longer in my folder. That number is still there but the image of DSC00267 has been replaced with the image of file DSC00254.  

I've attached a screen shot of my folder to make it very clear what I'm talking about. I've got 3500 photos to process and I'm hoping to find an answer to this problem before beginning that task. Thank you.

 

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Stephen Marsh

Were the JPEG files previously saved by Photoshop, or are they saved directly from a camera or other software than Photoshop?

 

If the originals are JPEG from Photoshop, and you are saving over the top of them as JPEG with the same filename, then remove the recorded save step and use the action insert menu item command to simply record save. The files will be saved with the same name and location and JPEG settings.

 

If an action has a recorded filename, it will always use this name when running the action from Photoshop with a manual command on a single image. Using a Batch command offers the ability to "overwrite action save as command" which will ignore the recorded filename in the action.

 

2 replies

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
September 27, 2021

Were the JPEG files previously saved by Photoshop, or are they saved directly from a camera or other software than Photoshop?

 

If the originals are JPEG from Photoshop, and you are saving over the top of them as JPEG with the same filename, then remove the recorded save step and use the action insert menu item command to simply record save. The files will be saved with the same name and location and JPEG settings.

 

If an action has a recorded filename, it will always use this name when running the action from Photoshop with a manual command on a single image. Using a Batch command offers the ability to "overwrite action save as command" which will ignore the recorded filename in the action.

 

    T
    terry lee martinAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 27, 2021

    Hello Stephen,
    The photos were all downloaded into a folder on my hard drive when we returned from this trip. I pulled them into Bridge in order to get them into Adobe Camera Raw and make some standard adjustments that I make to all my photos before going in and doing individual photo editing, and placed them into a separate folder away from my originals. When I began the individual photo edits is when I noticed what was happening.

    I understand. It is the "save" step that is causing the problem. I just couldn't understand why. I agree with you, the simple answer is to just hit the Ctrl s keystroke combo. Thank you Stephen

    smile_regular.gif

     

    Terry Lee Martin

     

     

    Stephen, you helped solve the problen. When creating the action I used the "Ctrl s" keystroke method to save the file, and to close it I used "Ctrl w". The problem turned out to be that when I was creating the action and using the "Ctrl s" method to save the file, I wasn't actually doing that. I was creating an action on a file that had not been modified at all. Therefore the  file -"Save" function was dimmed out. When I hit the Ctrl s keystroke combo, I didn't see that. When I went to file - Save, I immediately saw that it was dimmed out. Creating an effective action wasn't possible and apparently caused Photoshop to create this unexpected result of replacing another file in the bunch. Thanks for you help.

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 26, 2021

    Posting your Folder does not help us see what has taken Place. Please expand your action so all steps and their recorded setting can be seen.   Then post a screen caprure of the Action se we see what has been going on.

    JJMack
      T
      terry lee martinAuthor
      Inspiring
      September 26, 2021

      Hello JJMack,

      Here is the action and the result. DSC00253 was brought into photoshop and the action to save and close was initiated. The result was that it replaced DSC00254. There are only two steps. If there is a way to display more of what the details of the action are I'm not sure how to do that. Perhaps you can help me with that?

       

       

      Here is what it looks like when I expand those two steps.

      R
      r-bin
      Legend
      September 27, 2021

      If the "In:" line contains a file name, you need to overwrite the action so that only the folder name is present. To do this, save any file to this folder but do not change the name.

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