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spdorsey6969
spdorsey6969
Inspiring
July 19, 2013
Question

Is it worth it for me to learn scripting in PS?

  • July 19, 2013
  • 2 replies
  • 5086 views

I have absolutely NO experience with javascript, and I have failed miserably every time I have attempted to learn. Should I leave Photoshop scripting to the pros?

I work in an environment where we are using PS to create super-high-end imagery seen the world over. We are doing things here that make Adobe's engineers' heads explode. We are automating a lot of our process, and actions have gotten us only so far. Scripting is the next logical step, but I'm not sure if it's within my abilities.

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

spdorsey6969
spdorsey6969Author
Inspiring
July 22, 2013

We ar eusing CS5. Have there been significant changes to the way scripting works in CS6/CC?

JJMack
Community Expert
JJMackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 22, 2013

I can not answer about CC. There were big changes made to scripting in CS2 and in CS3 Plug-in was added and that was update in CS4.  Michael, The now missing Paul, and X know more about scripting and may be using CC however CC is why Paul left here...

JJMack
M
Michael_L_Hale
Inspiring
July 23, 2013

Mike, 

I've noticed this with the ESTK on my system as well.  Its very annoying. And I too am waiting for the CC scripting ref to be available... why isn't it?

As a person who scripts alot by getting ID strings from scripting listener to use with Action Manager code...  I keep finding more and more things that do not record in CC.

I'm getting errors in my actionManager code that I don't get in cs applications.   The issues are starting to pile up.   

for example: you can't record any filter actions in CC?


photospot_scripter wrote:

for example: you can't record any filter actions in CC?

I have not run into anything that will not record in Photoshop CC that would record in earlier versions. I think the only advantage use CS3 for scriptlistener logging is that version is the last pre-adjustment panel version. So it is slightly better for recording adjustments. But I am unaware of CS3 recording anything that you can't record in later versions.

M
Michael_L_Hale
Inspiring
July 19, 2013

I think only you can determine if it's worth your time to learn to script Photoshop. It may take some time and effort but I don't think it's beyond most peoples abilities.

I think when talking about scripting with javascript you need to separate the core language from whatever Object Model is being used. I think javascript itself is not that hard to learn. It's not that complex a language. I think it's working with an object model that causes the most trouble. The Photoshop Object Model is much different than the Browser DOM used in scripting web pages.

It helps if you already have a good knowledge of Photoshop. With that knowledge learning the Photoshop Object Model is much easier. You would already know about Documents, layers, channels, etc. And you would know what Photoshop can do with those classes, have an idea of what properties and methods they might have.

When I started scripting Photoshop I found learning the Photoshop Object Model much easier than the browser DOM.

spdorsey6969
spdorsey6969Author
Inspiring
July 19, 2013

Thanks for the reply.

  I know PS VERY well, so that is encouraging. Do you know of any resources for getting started for a true beginner like me?

  I'd suppose that learning the basics of JS would come first.

Thanks,

------S

M
Michael_L_Hale
Inspiring
July 20, 2013

I would recommend a course at lynda.com http://www.lynda.com/JavaScript-tutorials/Foundations-of-Programming-Fundamentals/83603-2.html

It covers basic scripting/programming and uses javascript as the example language. It focus mainly on the core javascript features and doesn't spend much time on the Browser DOM( which wouldn't be helpful for Photoshop scripting ).

I don't think there are really any good books or videos on scripting Photoshop. I think the ones that exists are either old or not too helpful.

You may already have the Photoshop JavaScript Reference on your computer. It was installed by default until the last version or so. If you are using a new version you can download the reference from Adobe.

I would suggest that you start with a task you want to automate that can't be done with an action. That way you learn only what you need to know, when you need to know it and have something useful when you are done. In other words don't try to learn how to script everything at once. Just learn how to script small parts at a time and build up your scripting skills that way. Your first useful script may be simple but you can feel good about having written it.

When you get stuck( and we all do at some point ) post a question here if you can't find it already answered. And don't feel bad about asking 'noobie' questions. We all were new to scripting at one time or another and you should see some of my questions when I started.

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