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J
joesickspack
Inspiring
August 13, 2013
Answered

Possible to script palette menus Save and Load Curves?

  • August 13, 2013
  • 3 replies
  • 2150 views

Is it possible to script CS4 Photoshop's palette menus? Specifically, the "Save Curves Preset ..." and "Load Curves Preset" ... of the Adjustments Palette.

I have 600 images, some of which have layer>new adjustment layer>curves applied.

I want to save the curves using the image name. Later, I want to be able to load the appropriate curve.

E.g., for image001.tif, the curve would be image001.acv

(I already have a loop set up to iterate through the files and get the file names.)



This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Michael_L_Hale

I can't help with Applescript( or even know if it is possible to do this with Applescript alone ). And to my knowledge you can't script things in dialogs like load or save curve directly. But here is  code in javascript that will load and save the settings.

First the easy part, setting an adjustment layer from a file.

function loadCurves( file ) {
    var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
        var ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "AdjL" ), charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" ) );
    desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), ref );
        var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();
        desc1.putPath( charIDToTypeID( "Usng" ), new File( file ) );
    desc.putObject( charIDToTypeID( "T   " ), charIDToTypeID( "Crvs" ), desc1 );
    executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "setd" ), desc, DialogModes.NO );
};

The code to write the .acv file from an adjustment layer is bit more involved and doesn't work with all color modes

// Works with RGB or CMYK images. 
// Does not work at all with greyscale, or indexColor
// Does not work correctly with Lab
File.prototype.writeByte = function(b) {
  this.write(String.fromCharCode(b));
};
File.prototype.writeShort = function(ET,s) {
  var self = this;
if(ET == "BE"){
  self.writeByte(s & 0xFF);
  self.writeByte((s >> 8) & 0xFF);
}else{
  self.writeByte((s >> 8) & 0xFF);
  self.writeByte(s & 0xFF);
}
  return self;
};
function convertBCD( num ){
    var res = new Array;
    if(num > 16 ){
        res.unshift(1);
        num = num - 16;
    }else{
        res.unshift(0);
    }
    if(num > 8 ){
        res.unshift(1);
        num = num - 8;
    }else{
        res.unshift(0);
    }
    if(num > 4 ){
        res.unshift(1);
        num = num - 4;
    }else{
        res.unshift(0);
    }
    if(num > 2 ){
        res.unshift(1);
        num = num - 2;
    }else{
        res.unshift(0);
    }
    if(num == 1 ){
        res.unshift(1);
    }else{
        res.unshift(0);
    }
    return res;
};
function getCurve( numberOfPoints ){
    this.getPoints = function(){
        this.tempArray = new Array;
        this.tempArray.push( rawDesc.charCodeAt( pointer ) );
        pointer = pointer + 2;// set pointer to next point
        this.tempArray.push( rawDesc.charCodeAt( pointer ) );
        return this.tempArray;
    }
    
    this.pointsArray = new Array;
    for( var i = 0; i < numberOfPoints; i++ ){
        pointer = pointer + 2;// next point
        this.pointsArray.push( this.getPoints() );
    }
    pointer = pointer + 2;// next curve
    return this.pointsArray;
};
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), charIDToTypeID( 'Ordn' ), charIDToTypeID( 'Trgt' ) ); 
var rawDesc = executeActionGet( ref ).getList( stringIDToTypeID( 'adjustment' ) ).getObjectValue( 0 ).getData( stringIDToTypeID( 'legacyContentData' ) );
var pointer = 2;// used to read rawData similar to reading a file
var flag = rawDesc.charCodeAt( pointer );// char at offset 2 always == 1 so use to validate data
if( flag != 1 ) forceError;// unknown problem with rawData
    pointer = 6;// update pointer to BCD byte
    var bcd = rawDesc.charCodeAt( pointer );
    if( bcd < 0 || bcd > 31 ) forceError;// check for valid value
    if( bcd == 0 ) forceError;// an empty adjustment - no curves to process
    var bcdArray = convertBCD( bcd );
    var numberOfCurves = bcdArray.toString().match(/(1)/g).length;
    var curvesArray = new Array;
    pointer = 8;// set pointer to start of curve data
    for(var i = 0; i < numberOfCurves; i++ ){
        var numberOfPoints = rawDesc.charCodeAt( pointer );
        curvesArray.push( getCurve( numberOfPoints ) );
    }
// now need to map rawData curves in curvesArray to known channel curves
var acvArray = new Array;
if( bcdArray[0] == 1 ) {
    acvArray.push( curvesArray.shift() );
} else {
    acvArray.push( [ [0,0],[255,255] ] );
}
if( bcdArray[1] == 1 ) {
    acvArray.push( curvesArray.shift() );
} else {
    acvArray.push( [ [0,0],[255,255] ] );
}
if( bcdArray[2] == 1 ) {
    acvArray.push( curvesArray.shift() );
} else {
    acvArray.push( [ [0,0],[255,255] ] );
}
if( bcdArray[3] == 1 ) {
    acvArray.push( curvesArray.shift() );
} else {
    acvArray.push( [ [0,0],[255,255] ] );
}
if( bcdArray[4] == 1 ) {
    acvArray.push( curvesArray.shift() );
} else {
    acvArray.push( [ [0,0],[255,255] ] );
}
var myACV = new File('~/desktop/myCurve.acv');
myACV.open('w');
myACV.writeShort( 'LE','4' );// acv header
myACV.writeShort( 'LE','5' );// acv header
for( var i = 0; i< 5; i++ ) {
    var numberOfPoints = acvArray.length;
    myACV.writeShort( 'LE', numberOfPoints.toString() );
    for( var p = 0; p < numberOfPoints; p++ ){
        myACV.writeShort( 'LE', acvArray
[0].toString() );
        myACV.writeShort( 'LE', acvArray
[1].toString() );
    }
}
myACV.close();

I wrote this a while back. It might be possible to just write the acv header then add the raw data from the descriptor to work with other modes.

Also neither checks that the selected layer is a curves adjustment layer and will fail if it is not.

3 replies

M
Michael_L_Hale
Inspiring
August 14, 2013

To rephrase your question, you want to save the curve settings from an existing adjustment layer to an .acv file and then later set an adjustment layer from an .acv file?

If so I have code that does that. It's not that straightforward because of the way Photoshop stores the settings in the adjustment layer but it does work.

Let me know if I understood your question correctly and I will post the code.

J
joesickspackAuthor
Inspiring
August 14, 2013

Yes, but the code has to be able to use a variable (the current file name) when saving or retrieving the .acv file.

Here's what I have so far:

tell application "Finder"

          set TheFolder to choose folder

          set FileList to every file of entire contents of TheFolder as alias list

end tell

repeat with theFile in FileList

          set thefilename to theFile as string

          set text item delimiters to ":"

          set thefilename to last text item of thefilename --remove path

          set text item delimiters to "."

          set thefilename to first text item of thefilename --remove extension

          tell application "Adobe Photoshop CS4"

  open theFile

  -- CODE HERE to save or load thefilename.acv --

          end tell

end repeat

I've been using ScriptListener to generate Javascripts that are then inserted in the above Applescript. Some stuff works, but so far I haven't been able to get "Save Curves Preset" and "Load Curves Preset" to work.

A purely Applescript script would be preferable, but Applescript can pass variables (e.g., thefilename) to Javascript functions and then execute them.

J
joesickspackAuthor
Inspiring
August 14, 2013

I can't help with Applescript( or even know if it is possible to do this with Applescript alone ). And to my knowledge you can't script things in dialogs like load or save curve directly. But here is  code in javascript that will load and save the settings.

First the easy part, setting an adjustment layer from a file.

function loadCurves( file ) {
    var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
        var ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "AdjL" ), charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" ) );
    desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), ref );
        var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();
        desc1.putPath( charIDToTypeID( "Usng" ), new File( file ) );
    desc.putObject( charIDToTypeID( "T   " ), charIDToTypeID( "Crvs" ), desc1 );
    executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "setd" ), desc, DialogModes.NO );
};

The code to write the .acv file from an adjustment layer is bit more involved and doesn't work with all color modes

// Works with RGB or CMYK images. 
// Does not work at all with greyscale, or indexColor
// Does not work correctly with Lab
File.prototype.writeByte = function(b) {
  this.write(String.fromCharCode(b));
};
File.prototype.writeShort = function(ET,s) {
  var self = this;
if(ET == "BE"){
  self.writeByte(s & 0xFF);
  self.writeByte((s >> 8) & 0xFF);
}else{
  self.writeByte((s >> 8) & 0xFF);
  self.writeByte(s & 0xFF);
}
  return self;
};
function convertBCD( num ){
    var res = new Array;
    if(num > 16 ){
        res.unshift(1);
        num = num - 16;
    }else{
        res.unshift(0);
    }
    if(num > 8 ){
        res.unshift(1);
        num = num - 8;
    }else{
        res.unshift(0);
    }
    if(num > 4 ){
        res.unshift(1);
        num = num - 4;
    }else{
        res.unshift(0);
    }
    if(num > 2 ){
        res.unshift(1);
        num = num - 2;
    }else{
        res.unshift(0);
    }
    if(num == 1 ){
        res.unshift(1);
    }else{
        res.unshift(0);
    }
    return res;
};
function getCurve( numberOfPoints ){
    this.getPoints = function(){
        this.tempArray = new Array;
        this.tempArray.push( rawDesc.charCodeAt( pointer ) );
        pointer = pointer + 2;// set pointer to next point
        this.tempArray.push( rawDesc.charCodeAt( pointer ) );
        return this.tempArray;
    }
    
    this.pointsArray = new Array;
    for( var i = 0; i < numberOfPoints; i++ ){
        pointer = pointer + 2;// next point
        this.pointsArray.push( this.getPoints() );
    }
    pointer = pointer + 2;// next curve
    return this.pointsArray;
};
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), charIDToTypeID( 'Ordn' ), charIDToTypeID( 'Trgt' ) ); 
var rawDesc = executeActionGet( ref ).getList( stringIDToTypeID( 'adjustment' ) ).getObjectValue( 0 ).getData( stringIDToTypeID( 'legacyContentData' ) );
var pointer = 2;// used to read rawData similar to reading a file
var flag = rawDesc.charCodeAt( pointer );// char at offset 2 always == 1 so use to validate data
if( flag != 1 ) forceError;// unknown problem with rawData
    pointer = 6;// update pointer to BCD byte
    var bcd = rawDesc.charCodeAt( pointer );
    if( bcd < 0 || bcd > 31 ) forceError;// check for valid value
    if( bcd == 0 ) forceError;// an empty adjustment - no curves to process
    var bcdArray = convertBCD( bcd );
    var numberOfCurves = bcdArray.toString().match(/(1)/g).length;
    var curvesArray = new Array;
    pointer = 8;// set pointer to start of curve data
    for(var i = 0; i < numberOfCurves; i++ ){
        var numberOfPoints = rawDesc.charCodeAt( pointer );
        curvesArray.push( getCurve( numberOfPoints ) );
    }
// now need to map rawData curves in curvesArray to known channel curves
var acvArray = new Array;
if( bcdArray[0] == 1 ) {
    acvArray.push( curvesArray.shift() );
} else {
    acvArray.push( [ [0,0],[255,255] ] );
}
if( bcdArray[1] == 1 ) {
    acvArray.push( curvesArray.shift() );
} else {
    acvArray.push( [ [0,0],[255,255] ] );
}
if( bcdArray[2] == 1 ) {
    acvArray.push( curvesArray.shift() );
} else {
    acvArray.push( [ [0,0],[255,255] ] );
}
if( bcdArray[3] == 1 ) {
    acvArray.push( curvesArray.shift() );
} else {
    acvArray.push( [ [0,0],[255,255] ] );
}
if( bcdArray[4] == 1 ) {
    acvArray.push( curvesArray.shift() );
} else {
    acvArray.push( [ [0,0],[255,255] ] );
}
var myACV = new File('~/desktop/myCurve.acv');
myACV.open('w');
myACV.writeShort( 'LE','4' );// acv header
myACV.writeShort( 'LE','5' );// acv header
for( var i = 0; i< 5; i++ ) {
    var numberOfPoints = acvArray.length;
    myACV.writeShort( 'LE', numberOfPoints.toString() );
    for( var p = 0; p < numberOfPoints; p++ ){
        myACV.writeShort( 'LE', acvArray
[0].toString() );
        myACV.writeShort( 'LE', acvArray
[1].toString() );
    }
}
myACV.close();

I wrote this a while back. It might be possible to just write the acv header then add the raw data from the descriptor to work with other modes.

Also neither checks that the selected layer is a curves adjustment layer and will fail if it is not.


Thank you.

I got both scripts working without JS or AS errors, but, when trying to load .acv files generated by the second script, CS4 Photoshop gave an error:

"Could not load the curves because the file is not compatible with this version of Photoshop"

(The loading script works fine when loading .acv files created directly from Photoshop.)

The only change I made to your Save Curves code was:

FROM: var myACV = new File('~/desktop/myCurve.acv')

TO: var myACV = new File(file);

and made the code a function:

saveCurves(file)

{

YOUR CODE HERE

}


so that I could incorporate it into the Applescript.

Maybe that was naive (I'm not very knowledgeable about JS).

-------------

Here are the scripts I'm using:

SAVE CURVES:

set gammaFolder to "/Users/me/Desktop/myproject/gamma/"

tell application "Finder"

          set TheFolder to choose folder

          set FileList to every file of entire contents of TheFolder as alias list

end tell

repeat with theFile in FileList

          set thefilename to theFile as string

          set text item delimiters to ":"

          set thefilename to last text item of thefilename --remove path

          set text item delimiters to "."

          set thefilename to first text item of thefilename --remove extension

          tell application "Adobe Photoshop CS4"

  activate

  open theFile

                    tell current document

                              if exists layer "Curves 1" then

                                        set current layer to layer "Curves 1"

                                        do javascript "saveCurves('" & gammaFolder & thefilename & ".acv');

function saveCurves(file) {

-- SAVE CURVES JAVASCRIPT HERE

};" --show debugger on runtime error

                              end if

                    end tell

          end tell

end repeat

-------------

LOAD CURVES:

set gammaFolder to "/Users/me/Desktop/myproject/gamma/"

tell application "Finder"

          set TheFolder to choose folder

          set FileList to every file of entire contents of TheFolder as alias list

end tell

repeat with theFile in FileList

          set thefilename to theFile as string

          set text item delimiters to ":"

          set thefilename to last text item of thefilename --remove path

          set text item delimiters to "."

          set thefilename to first text item of thefilename --remove extension

          set acvFile to gammaFolder & thefilename & ".acv"

          tell application "Finder" to set acvExists to exists my POSIX file acvFile

          if acvExists then

                    tell application "Adobe Photoshop CS4"

  activate

  open theFile

                              tell current document

                                        if not (exists layer "Curves 1") then

                                                  do action "Create Curve Layer" from "MyActions"

                                        end if

                                        set current layer to layer "Curves 1"

                                        do javascript "loadCurves('" & gammaFolder & thefilename & ".acv');

function loadCurves(file) {

-- LOAD CURVES JAVASCRIPT HERE

};" --show debugger on runtime error

                              end tell

                    end tell

          end if

end repeat


J
joesickspackAuthor
Inspiring
August 13, 2013

I am experimenting with ScriptListener, which will probably work eventually, but I was hoping there was a more straightforward way.

magical_Skyline0D4A
magical_Skyline0D4A
Inspiring
August 13, 2013

Hi Joesick,

For this kind of work where you need different adjustments I advise you to create an action.

First you open an image of the 600 taht you have to work then you open the Actions panel and click on the small icon at the bottom right (similar to new level) and it open a wizard that invites you to nominate future action then click records ... Run the workings of levels curves, contrast and so on and when you are done, hit stop.

You can use the same action for all pics with freedom to make new adjustments if and where you need!

J
joesickspackAuthor
Inspiring
August 13, 2013

The curves are different for each image, and have to be named differently for each image.

I want to be able to batch through 600 images and save each existing curve with a name based on the image name. Actions cannot do that.

magical_Skyline0D4A
magical_Skyline0D4A
Inspiring
August 13, 2013

I did not understand.

want you to save a series of curves with different adjustments and name them with an appropriate name for each type so as to be able to load the curve more right for each type of image ?

If is it so I don't think that there is a scripit to create what you want, but maybe someone else knows things that I don't know

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