Linked Smart Object batch processing question

[mak26960482k23m]

Hello, I am a PS noob, i recently started working on it to help a friend with a project and i would really appreciate any help or guidance.

The project consists of several PSDs using a linked smart object PSB across all of them to highlight an image. So naturally what I do is import the jpg into the smart object PSB,save it so it updates all the PSDs, and use the image processor to export all of the PSDs that i have active.

Seeing as there are a lot(600) of these pictures and there's about 17 PSDs running it takes some time to do it all manually, I wanted to know if there is any way to automate that process, as in automating the importing of the JPGs into the PSB so I can batch process entire folders instead of importing each image individually.

Thanks in advance for any help

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Please provide a maningful description of the process including sceenshots to illustrate the Layer and File structure. 

[mak26960482k23m]

Hello c.pfaffenbichler, thank you for replying.

So here's how it looks, i have this PSB open, and it controls the smart objects in every other PSD i have open. I manually import the image into the middle layer, save the PSB, and then run the image processor to export all 17 PSDs. What I am looking for is a way to automatically import these images into the PSB, save it, export all of them and rinse and repeat for each image in a folder, unless of course there is a better/lighter way to do it without using smart objects.

As for the file structure that's modifiable, I can get all the source images into a single folder if that makes things easier, all the PSDs are in a specific folder and so is the PSB.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

The only efficient approach I can think of would be a custom Script. 

There are plenty of Template-related Scripts about on this Forum but I doubt any meet the requirements for this exact situation so they would need to be customized. 

How familiar are you with JavaScript and Photoshop Scripting? 

Edit: What is the naming convention? 

[mak26960482k23m]

I can read code, I have basic JS skills which I haven't used since university, but with some help from googling i could modify an already existing script, if you could guide me to the relative resources I could dig up something that fits my needs. 

As for the naming convention, i just googled what you mean since I'm a total noob when it comes to PS, i named the files manually, the dimensions got added by Illustrator artboard exporting, and for the final file names i use PowerToys, although I'm not sure that covers your question.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Regarding the naming convention I meant if and how the names of the files you switch into the psb would determine the names of the resulting files saved off of of the images that contain the linked Smart Object. 

Ideallythere  should be an unequivocal method or arriving at the names of the resulting files depending on the original files’ names and the names of the inserted images. 

I am afraid for a starting Photoshop-Scripting-project this may be a bit steep but maybe start with the batch replacement … 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/forums/searchpage/tab/message?advanced=false&allow_punctuation=false&...

[mak26960482k23m]

Thank you so much for the guidance.

I did find JJMack's toolkit to have the scripts that best fit my needs. I would like to ask you however if there is any way to overcome one of the template rules. His PhotoCollageToolkit has the rule that the smart object needs to be on the top layer, seeing as i have some shadows I would like to be on the top, I would like to ask if you know a way to set the script to act on a selected layer instead of the top one and that would completely resolve my issues.

[Stephen Marsh]

Not knowing why the rule/restriction is there... You could add code to move the smart object to the top, replace/update, then move it back down again.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Which Script are you referring to exactly?