Save Active Layer Name As File

[gangeek]

Good evening, everyone.

Is there a way to save the active layer in a photoshop document as a .jpeg?

In other words, I would like to:

1. save the current(active) layer as a .jpeg

2. use the active layer name as the file name

3. assign the save path in the script (for example, "/g/MyFolder")

I have few scripts which are close to this but not quite.

Thank you in advance 🙂

[pixelplanetoffl]

Hello my dear creator,

You want to save the active layer as a .jpeg file right? First of all select the layer you want to save it as a seperate file then right click on the layer > Export as 

Select the format and click the Export button.

I hope this will helps you.

Thank you my dear creator.

[gangeek]

OK, well, it is excellent! I had never known about this way to save a layer to a file - thank you for posting this 🙂

However,  I was wondering if there is a way to do it with scripting. I have several scripts which will save current layer to file but none of them are quite what I am after. 

I am hoping to just run script, and it will automatically save current layer to file (.jpeg) with layer name as filename and also dictate (in the script) the path in which file will be saved to. 

[didiermazier]

In this case you could create an action script based on export layers as files (sorry french UI) 

• You only would have to hide all layers except the one to export
• and then check only visible layers in the export dialog box

 

And if you do not specify a prefix (just keep it empty) the file will have the layer name

[pixelplanetoffl]

Hello sir, I couldn't understand the language in the images which are you posted, can you please change the Photoshop's language to English and repost the images?

Thankyou sir.

[didiermazier]

No I cannot. Sorry

Here is the way to do that :

Select the layer

1. Click on the eye icon for that layer in the layers panel with Alt key pressed. it will hide all other layers
2. Then menu > File Export > Export layers as files
3. Then check Only visible in the dialog box.
4. Leave empty the prefix
5. It will save the layer as a file. It will also put a prefix number… (This is to prevent overriding of layers having the same name). If you do not want this number you will have to change a few instructions in the Export Layers To Files.jsx file in the scripts folder. I did it so it works. I can put that file on Gdrive if someone want it…
6. All this can be recorded as an action then you will just have to select the layer to export and launch the action…

[pixelplanetoffl]

This is the way I use to save one layer as a jpg/png file.

Right click on the layer

Export As

[JJMack]

There is a basic problem with your what you want to do.  A layer can contain transparency and be larger or smaller then the document canvas size. Jpeg file format does not support transparency only has support for a background layer. That will crop the layer to canvas size fill empty area with background colored pixels and blend in color into transparent areas.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

// save jpg of active layer;
// 2020, use it at your own risk;
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
try {
var theName = myDocument.name.match(/(.*)\.[^\.]+$/)[1];
var thePath = myDocument.path;
}
catch (e) {
var theName = myDocument.name;
var thePath = "~/Desktop"
};
var theName = myDocument.activeLayer.name;
// duplicate;
var myDocument = app.activeDocument.duplicate("theCopy", false);
hideOthers ();
// jpg options;
var jpgopts = new JPEGSaveOptions();
jpgopts.embedProfile = true;
jpgopts.formatOptions = FormatOptions.STANDARDBASELINE;
jpgopts.matte = MatteType.NONE;
jpgopts.quality = 10;
myDocument.saveAs((new File(thePath+"/"+theName+".jpg")),jpgopts,true);
// close;
myDocument.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
};
////// hide others //////
function hideOthers () {
	// =======================================================
	var idShw = charIDToTypeID( "Shw " );
		var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
		var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
			var list1 = new ActionList();
				var ref1 = new ActionReference();
				var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
				var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
				var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
				ref1.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
			list1.putReference( ref1 );
		desc2.putList( idnull, list1 );
		var idTglO = charIDToTypeID( "TglO" );
		desc2.putBoolean( idTglO, true );
	executeAction( idShw, desc2, DialogModes.NO );
	};

[JJMack]

Then the is the file name problem 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Good point! 

The layer’s name could indeed defie the requirements, so one might have to insert checks to remove the offending parts. 

[JJMack]

There is also the duplicate name problem layer names do not need to be unique many document  will have layers with identical layer names like Background. That is why scripts like export layers the files include doc name and layer stack level in new file names.

[JJMack]

I stole a regular expression from Export Layers for file names for you a layer name invalid characters

~!@#$%^&*()_+`-={}|[]\:";'<>?,./1234567890

will become file name

~!@#$%^&_()_+`-={}_[]__”;’___,._1234567890

// save jpg of active layer;
// 2020, use it at your own risk;
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
try {
var theName = myDocument.name.match(/(.*)\.[^\.]+$/)[1];
var thePath = myDocument.path;
}
catch (e) {
var theName = myDocument.name;
var thePath = "~/Desktop"
};
var theName = myDocument.activeLayer.name.replace(/[:\/\\*\?\"\<\>\|]/g, "_");  // '/\:*?"<>|' -> '_' // from export layers to files
// duplicate;
var myDocument = app.activeDocument.duplicate("theCopy", false);
hideOthers ();
// jpg options;
var jpgopts = new JPEGSaveOptions();
jpgopts.embedProfile = true;
jpgopts.formatOptions = FormatOptions.STANDARDBASELINE;
jpgopts.matte = MatteType.NONE;
jpgopts.quality = 10;
myDocument.saveAs((new File(thePath+"/"+theName+".jpg")),jpgopts,true);
// close;
myDocument.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
};
////// hide others //////
function hideOthers () {
	// =======================================================
	var idShw = charIDToTypeID( "Shw " );
		var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
		var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
			var list1 = new ActionList();
				var ref1 = new ActionReference();
				var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
				var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
				var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
				ref1.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
			list1.putReference( ref1 );
		desc2.putList( idnull, list1 );
		var idTglO = charIDToTypeID( "TglO" );
		desc2.putBoolean( idTglO, true );
	executeAction( idShw, desc2, DialogModes.NO );
	};

[didiermazier]

Maybe this answer from Julia would help:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop/ps-cc-export-layer-to-files-without-prefix-numbers/m-p/6048...

Personnaly I choosed to adress the situation by modifying the "Export Layers as file" Photoshop JSX script in order to get rid of suffixes and then use an action script simply refering to the menu item… It is a one click solution for the end user. You select the layer and click to launch the action, and that's it.

But all other ways are interesting, specially writing a dedicated JSX script as you did. I will check it, Bravo!

[gangeek]

First of all thank you to all who have looked at this. So far this one works excellent.

One final question if I may:

Pretend I would like to save the .jpeg file to

C:\MyFolder

 How will I do it?

// save jpg of active layer;
// 2020, use it at your own risk;
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
try {
var theName = myDocument.name.match(/(.*)\.[^\.]+$/)[1];
var thePath = myDocument.path;
}
catch (e) {
var theName = myDocument.name;
var thePath = "~/Desktop"
};
var theName = myDocument.activeLayer.name;
// duplicate;
var myDocument = app.activeDocument.duplicate("theCopy", false);
hideOthers ();
// jpg options;
var jpgopts = new JPEGSaveOptions();
jpgopts.embedProfile = true;
jpgopts.formatOptions = FormatOptions.STANDARDBASELINE;
jpgopts.matte = MatteType.NONE;
jpgopts.quality = 10;
myDocument.saveAs((new File(thePath+"/"+theName+".jpg")),jpgopts,true);
// close;
myDocument.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
};
////// hide others //////
function hideOthers () {
	// =======================================================
	var idShw = charIDToTypeID( "Shw " );
		var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
		var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
			var list1 = new ActionList();
				var ref1 = new ActionReference();
				var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
				var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
				var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
				ref1.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
			list1.putReference( ref1 );
		desc2.putList( idnull, list1 );
		var idTglO = charIDToTypeID( "TglO" );
		desc2.putBoolean( idTglO, true );
	executeAction( idShw, desc2, DialogModes.NO );
	};

[JJMack]

Change the path you could make that selectable with  a select folder dialog

var thePath = "~/Desktop"

you should also add the regular expression to the layer name

var theName = myDocument.activeLayer.name.replace(/[:\/\\*\?\"\<\>\|]/g, "_");  // '/\:*?"<>|' -> '_' // from export layers to files

[JJMack]

// save jpg of active layer;
// 2020, use it at your own risk;
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
try {
var theName = myDocument.name.match(/(.*)\.[^\.]+$/)[1];
var thePath = myDocument.path;
}
catch (e) {
var theName = myDocument.name;
var thePath = "~/Desktop"
};
var thePath = Folder.selectDialog("Choose a folder", thePath);
var theName = myDocument.activeLayer.name.replace(/[:\/\\*\?\"\<\>\|]/g, "_");  // '/\:*?"<>|' -> '_' // from export layers to files
// duplicate;
var myDocument = app.activeDocument.duplicate("theCopy", false);
hideOthers ();
// jpg options;
var jpgopts = new JPEGSaveOptions();
jpgopts.embedProfile = true;
jpgopts.formatOptions = FormatOptions.STANDARDBASELINE;
jpgopts.matte = MatteType.NONE;
jpgopts.quality = 10;
myDocument.saveAs((new File(thePath+"/"+theName+".jpg")),jpgopts,true);
// close;
myDocument.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
};
////// hide others //////
function hideOthers () {
	// =======================================================
	var idShw = charIDToTypeID( "Shw " );
		var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
		var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
			var list1 = new ActionList();
				var ref1 = new ActionReference();
				var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
				var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
				var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
				ref1.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
			list1.putReference( ref1 );
		desc2.putList( idnull, list1 );
		var idTglO = charIDToTypeID( "TglO" );
		desc2.putBoolean( idTglO, true );
	executeAction( idShw, desc2, DialogModes.NO );
	};

[gangeek]

Thank you, the save-as dialog option is excellent too, it will come in handy 🙂

But I still need to save file directly to C:\MyFolder with no dialog. 

I have changed this:

var thePath = "~/Desktop"

to this:

var thePath = "C/MyFolder"

but it still does not work. what am I doing wrong? 

[JJMack]

try

var thePath = "/c/MyFolder"

[gangeek]

unfortunately no, it is still saving image into original folder that the document was loaded from

[gangeek]

Update - 

this works:

1. create new document in photoshop

2. create new layer

3. draw/scribble anything on layer

when the script runs, it successfully saves the file to C:\MyFolder

BUT- this doesn't work:

1. load an existing .psd file from anywhere on your hard drive

2. create a new layer

3. draw/scribble anyhting on layer

Now when script runs, it does not save to C:\MyFolder, but instead it saves it to original .psd location on hard drive.

How do we do so that it *always* saves to C:\MyFolder no matter if it is new photoshop document or existing one loaded from hard drive?

[JJMack]

It the top code the us set thepath

you need to override that like I did with the select code

try {
var theName = myDocument.name.match(/(.*)\.[^\.]+$/)[1];
var thePath = myDocument.path;
}

 or remove it 

This only run if the document is new has pot path

catch (e) {
var theName = myDocument.name;
var thePath = "~/Desktop"
};

[gangeek]

Success!

Thanks you to both JJMack and c.pfaffenbichler, you both contribute to the forums are most helpful and invaluable, each and every time. 

Here is final code which will save current layer to jpeg in specified folder:

// save jpg of active layer;
// 2020, use it at your own risk;
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;

var theName = myDocument.name;
var thePath = "/c/MyFolder"
 
var theName = myDocument.activeLayer.name;
// duplicate;
var myDocument = app.activeDocument.duplicate("theCopy", false);
hideOthers ();
// jpg options;
var jpgopts = new JPEGSaveOptions();
jpgopts.embedProfile = true;
jpgopts.formatOptions = FormatOptions.STANDARDBASELINE;
jpgopts.matte = MatteType.NONE;
jpgopts.quality = 10;
myDocument.saveAs((new File(thePath+"/"+theName+".jpg")),jpgopts,true);
// close;
myDocument.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
};
////// hide others //////
function hideOthers () {
	// =======================================================
	var idShw = charIDToTypeID( "Shw " );
		var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
		var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
			var list1 = new ActionList();
				var ref1 = new ActionReference();
				var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
				var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
				var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
				ref1.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
			list1.putReference( ref1 );
		desc2.putList( idnull, list1 );
		var idTglO = charIDToTypeID( "TglO" );
		desc2.putBoolean( idTglO, true );
	executeAction( idShw, desc2, DialogModes.NO );
	};

[r-bin]

Why don't you just duplicate the active layer into a new document?

Comment. The toggleOthers visible command is very tricky.
If you accidentally made it for a layer by hand, then in the script your same command can produce a completely opposite effect.

[gangeek]

thanks r-bin, so far is working perfectly. I have not yet come across any problems but I will reply here if trouble occurs with the script.  🙂

Regards,