PS Action Using Camera Raw AI Masks - Not Updating AI

[johns40282744]

To provide some context, I've been attempting to recreate an action using the new A.I. masking feature inside Camera Raw (ACR). I've reached a point where everything works, except for one issue: the masks don't update based on the specific photo being edited. This is similar to Lightroom, where you can apply a preset across multiple photos and the A.I. adjusts the mask according to each photo. When I apply the action to a new photo (not the one I used to create the action), it works flawlessly, except that the ACR masks still use the A.I. mask from the original image I used to create the action.

[Ciccillotto]

I have the same problem too, the problem is that when you record the action the coordinate of the mask is also recorded which is why it doesn't work well. I hope someone fixes this problem.

[Stephen Marsh]

Is this the Camera Raw Filter inside Photoshop, or the Adobe Camera Raw Plugin?

[Ciccillotto]

Filter camera raw. 

[Stephen Marsh]

Thank you for clarifying which is being used.

The Camera Raw Filter and the Adobe Camera Raw plugin are not exactly the same thing. I was wondering how you were running actions with ACR plugin, now I can see that you aren't.

[johns40282744]

Either. It would ideally work with the Camera Raw Filter. It is like Ciccillotto mentioned, the action records the coordinates of the image mask of the image used for recording the action. It doesn't update them in relation to any new image. 

[tarap33136446oq6q]

I'm experiencing the same issue when recording actions for my blog images. The problem lies in recording the mask's coordinates along with the action, causing performance issues. I'm hoping for a solution to this problem.

[Stephen Marsh]

Actions are the old way to automate Photoshop.

The Adobe Camera Raw plugin is a newer, different way of working with raw camera sensor data or rendered RGB pixel data in JPEG or TIFF files. It has its own workflow and batch tools and is outside of Photoshop and traditional Actions automation.

When Adobe added the Camera Raw Filter, many of the features of ACR were made available inside Photoshop and were available to actions and scripts.

That being said, some things should not be expected to work the same way, especially with actions which are designed to record absolute values.

So, forget about doing this with the Camera Raw Filter and Actions which record absolute values (it might be scriptable though). Use JPEG or TIFF and use the Adobe Camera Raw plugin to process multiple images via a parametric workflow where the masks are unique to each image.

[DSeim]

You keep repeating this, and it's false. There's are non non-absolute things in actions, including the select subject option from within PS and many other tools.

Adobe has a buggy implementation not carry the filter over into the action, and it should carry over as that filter is part of Photoshop.

Actions are not the old way to automate Photoshop. They are the primary and current way that everyone is still using.

[Stephen Marsh]

You keep repeating this, and it's false. There's are non non-absolute things in actions, including the select subject option from within PS and many other tools.

OK fair enough. Would you agree that sometimes actions record absolute values and other times they record non-absolute values?

Adobe has a buggy implementation not carry the filter over into the action, and it should carry over as that filter is part of Photoshop.

I don't think that anyone apart from the programmers at Adobe know if it's "buggy" or "not intended" or "not possible" for the expectations set in ACR as a separate plugin to be applicable as a filter within Photoshop. There are the obvious differences and limitations with working with rendered data vs. raw data (white balance, highlight recovery). Then there are other differences as discussed with auto masks.

Actions are not the old way to automate Photoshop. They are the primary and current way that everyone is still using.

By @DSeim

Actions were the original automation. Then scripting came later. Parametric edits and ACR offered a new way to do things, that are very different to adjustment layers and actions.

Using the CRF in an action is not the same thing as using ACR, so there are differences in behaviour, especially when coupled with actions.

Syncing "Auto" settings in ACR applies image specific adjustments.

Here is what happens when one records the auto button in CRF via an action, it captures absolute values (just as absolute masks are recorded):

However, one needs a "helper script" to correctly automate this as expected:

/*
https://community.adobe.com/t5/Photoshop/Is-there-any-jsx-to-execute-the-auto-tone-of-camera-raw/m-p/10167490#M207367
*/

/*
ACR and raw files would be covered by this topic post:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop/how-to-record-button-click-on-action/td-p/10858184
*/

autoCRF();

function autoCRF() {
  // Camera Raw Filter - Auto
  var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();
  desc1.putBoolean(charIDToTypeID("AuTn"), true); // AuTn = Auto
  executeAction(stringIDToTypeID('Adobe Camera Raw Filter'), desc1, DialogModes.NO);
}

[Bando]

Thank you, this worked great for my purposes.

All I wanted was a keyboard shortcut that would open the camera raw filter, press the auto button and close  camera raw.  Your script allows me to do precisely that. 

[Stephen Marsh]

@Bando - You're welcome.

[DiodorS · Accepted solution]

I had the same issue and managed to overcome it with an ugly workaround, works on Windows: https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-bugs/ai-camera-raw-masks-not-re-computed-when-use...

[johns40282744]

Thanks for sharing your workaround! Unfortunately, I'm on a Mac, and there's no software to invoke a hotkey without user input. The alternative method I found is a bit clunkier. Still, I appreciate your effort!

[Ciccillotto]

if you like to share your clumsy method

[johns40282744]

Thanks for your question! I haven't had a chance to test the method using Automator or similar macOS shortcut actions. Here's a link for potentially setting up automatic keystrokes on a Mac: AutoHotkey for Mac. It could work, but it might have some quirks to be aware of. I can't confirm its effectiveness. 🙂

[Stephen Marsh]

Just an update, I tested this with TIFF files in the Adobe Camera Raw plugin (not the Camera Raw Filter in Photoshop).

The AI masks work as expected when the settings are synced from the first image to subsequent images.

The originals:

The AI mask synced across both images that contain different mask content (square vs circle) with colour change:

[Ciccillotto]

sorry stepen I'm not clear about your proof, we want useful masks on the layers, I don't see this in your screenshots.

[Stephen Marsh]

It's not "proof" as such, it demonstrates how things were designed to work in ACR. CRF is different.

That wasn't clear about masks on layers, how do you currently get the masks in the layers? The masks are inside the CRF edited image aren't they?