T-Shirt Design: Saving Designs on my T-Shirt Mockups, each color separately, Photoshop Action?

While on the general topic of varations/versioning:

https://github.com/Paul-Riggott/PS-Scripts/blob/master/Layer%20Saver.jsx

https://github.com/mechanicious/photoshopCompositionComposer

http://www.mouseprints.net/old/dpr/PhotoCollageToolkit.html

Action can not populate Mock Templates well and A Complex Mockups  template that contains  multiple products  design and custom product design options  would  requires a custom Photoshop scripts to automate  using such a specific template.  That type of Mockup is normally  manually updated for each  output jpeg product image using the customization layer stored in the complex layered mockup template document. 

To make things easy it is better to have several simple Mockup templates one for each T-shirt product configured with some default customization.  A generalize Script can batch populate these templates and save Jpeg output product file with the default customization the template is configured for. That script can also optionally save a layered version of populated  template with the default customization  that you can edit with Photoshop  to  alter default options used.

A T-shirt mockup may have several Smart objects layer that will be populated.  For elements like Fabric, Logo, Labels etc. All Mocks to be batch populated together need to be simular  that is have the same basic design, Fabric, Logo, Labels.  An example T-Shirt template may look like this:

To batch populate that it would be easier to script the process then try to do with a batched action.    The way  Batch works and the Image Processor scripts work is. The  Processor open an image then plays the action the saves the output image.  Your replacement design would be opened by the processor and then the process play your action. Your action would to put the design into the clipboard them open the mockup and paste in the replacement.  Then save out jpeg for every color working its way down the layer stack. The big problem is an action could not name the output filenames for the design and color.  The action would need to use a script to do that.

If all your mockup have the same design a layer group with color base image. it would be just as easy to script the whole process. The script could have a dialog where you would select the mockup and the folder the replacement design are in and folder where to store the output images.  Script would open the mockup then process the folder of design images.  The script knows the Design name and the layer name as it works down the layer stack. It can name the output fileDesignName-LayerName.jpg and save it into the output folder.

However, you need programming skill to write a Photoshop Script.  Most Photoshop users never write a  Photoshop script the just use scripts programmed be others.  Like Image Processor and other the Adobe ships with Photoshop.   You would need a custom script to populate your mockup designed layered files.

I would think many may buy T-shirt mockup that are designed to be populate via an automated process that is part of the mockup product.   If you seatch google the is no shortage of T-shirt mockup.

There are lot of variable there is no one set design for layered  mockups. Without knowing your mockup template design and structure and knowing  the about the image  you want to populate its impossible to even know if what you want to automate with actions can be automated with Photoshop actions.

Actions can not use logic they are a marching parade of Photoshop steps.  Step step step no variation. The steps are the same for all iterations.   It is very hard to deal  with any variation in size and output file naming is hard to deal with.   Actions can be used with Scripts like Image Processor Pro for more control and output file naming option.    If a Smart Object Layer content need to be replaces to populate your mockup all replacement designs need to be exactly the same aspect ratio, resolution and size for the smart object layer associated transform to work correctly.  The Associated transform is not replaced or alerted when you replace a smart object layers object.

You may need to use Photoshop scripting if what you want to do can be automated and  there need to be some variation in processing fort your mockup and designes.

There are many threads in this Photoshop forum and the Photoshop Scripting forum concerning T-shirt mockups.

https://forums.adobe.com/search.jspa?place=%2Fplaces%2F1413024&sort=updatedDesc&q=T-shirt+Mockup

https://forums.adobe.com/search.jspa?sort=updatedDesc&q=T-shirt+Mockup&place=%2Fplaces%2F1383833