Open several RAW files in photoshop as Smart Object Layers

[Sergiy Kalinkin]

Hello everyone, 

I am looking for the script or automatade way to open multiple RAW files as smart object layers in one document. 

Currently I have to open raw file as smart object and then "Place/Link Embeded" for additional layers. 

Lightroom has option open as layers but it will convert RAW to image.

I usually have 30-40 sets of 2-7 layers and it is very annoing to embed so many layers manually.

[Jeff Arola]

You can install Dr. Brown’s Services 2.3.1 for Adobe Bridge.

Dr. Brown Scripts

Then to select your images in Bridge and go to Tools>Dr. Brown’s Services 2.3.1>Dr Brown's Place-A-Matic.

That should place the selected images as smart object layers in photoshop.

[edenb69384871]

Hi, Also struggling with this, it seems Dr Brown Scripts doesn't work with CC. Is there a modern solution to this problem?

[Jeff Arola]

edenb,

What version of Photoshop and operating system are you using?

Dr. Brown’s Services 2.3.1 for Adobe Bridge should work in present Photoshop versions.

Sometimes it takes several tries to get it right because the locations for the scripts can be confusing.

[edenb69384871]

After struggling away with Chat GPT I made this script that seems to do an alright job of the task:

#target photoshop

app.bringToFront();

(function() {

if (app.documents.length === 0) {

alert("No open document. Please open a document before running the script.");

return;

}

var mainDoc = app.activeDocument;

// RAW file extensions

var rawExtensions = ["CR2", "ARW", "NEF", "DNG", "ORF", "RAF", "PEF"];

// Create the file dialog to only show RAW files

var files = File.openDialog("Select RAW files to place as Smart Objects", "*.cr2;*.arw;*.nef;*.dng;*.orf;*.raf;*.pef", true);

if (!files || files.length === 0) {

alert("No files selected.");

return;

}

// Check that all selected files are RAW

for (var i = 0; i < files.length; i++) {

var ext = files[i].name.split('.').pop().toUpperCase();

if (!rawExtensions.includes(ext)) {

alert("Invalid file type selected. Please select only RAW files.");

return;

}

}

// Disable dialogs for batch processing

var originalDialogMode = app.displayDialogs;

app.displayDialogs = DialogModes.NO;

// Process each selected file

for (var i = 0; i < files.length; i++) {

placeAndResizeRawFile(files[i]);

}

// Restore dialogs to original state

app.displayDialogs = originalDialogMode;

// Function to place RAW file as Smart Object and resize it

function placeAndResizeRawFile(file) {

var desc = new ActionDescriptor();

desc.putPath(charIDToTypeID("null"), new File(file)); // Set file path

executeAction(charIDToTypeID("Plc "), desc, DialogModes.NO); // Auto-place without popups

var placedLayer = mainDoc.activeLayer;

fitLayerToCanvas(placedLayer);

}

// Function to resize the placed Smart Object to fit the canvas proportionally

function fitLayerToCanvas(layer) {

var docWidth = mainDoc.width;

var docHeight = mainDoc.height;

var layerBounds = layer.bounds; // Get layer dimensions

var layerWidth = layerBounds[2] - layerBounds[0];

var layerHeight = layerBounds[3] - layerBounds[1];

// Calculate scaling factor while preserving aspect ratio

var scaleFactor = Math.min(docWidth / layerWidth, docHeight / layerHeight) * 100;

// Transform the Smart Object

layer.resize(scaleFactor, scaleFactor, AnchorPosition.MIDDLECENTER);

}

})();