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Trying to Batch Process Images With a Recorded Levels Adjustment

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
June 10, 2025
6 replies
536 views

Hi! I'm trying to apply the same Levels adjustment to a batch of images. I created a new Action, recorded my steps, brought up the Levels adjustments box and dragged both the left and right sliders in a bit.

The changed numbers are even noted on the Action step (68, 223).

But when I repeat the action on another file, the Levels action is basically ignored, there is no change to the subsequent images.

What might I be doing wrong?

Thanks!

Correct answer Jeff Arola

I can reproduce and it fact this has been reported before.

If one has an image in Greyscale Color Mode and records an Image>Adjustments>Levels action, then trying to run the recorded action has no effect on a Greyscale image.

The same also happens with a Image>Adjustments>Curves action as well.

Stephen Marsh

Community Expert

Previously discussed here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/action-with-pre-defined-inputs/m-p/15302747

There's another topic thread which I can't find.

If you post this as a "bug" and not as a discussion, I'll add my vote!

Jeff Arola

Community Expert

If you do as Trevor Dennis suggests and save the intial Levels adjustment as a preset, then record your action using that preset, you shouldn't need to switch color modes.

Jeff Arola

Correct answer

Community Expert

I can reproduce and it fact this has been reported before.

If one has an image in Greyscale Color Mode and records an Image>Adjustments>Levels action, then trying to run the recorded action has no effect on a Greyscale image.

The same also happens with a Image>Adjustments>Curves action as well.

C

CouvCosmoAuthor

Participant

Thanks Jeff! I never even considered the color mode of the image.... but of course why would I! Man, that is super disappointing I must say – I get AI features but something so simple doesn't work. I guess I need to switch color modes from greyscale to RGB and back again, as part of building this action. Again, THANKS!

Conrad_C

Community Expert

It works for me too, and I didn’t have to save it as a preset.

But I didn’t include a Close step, and there is a Close step in your action so that might be something to look at.

What happens in your Close step? (The screen shot doesn‘t show the details.) Does it specify a save format and location? I’m just wondering if there is a chance that, for example, it might be set to close without saving, because if it did that would explain why there was no change.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

You need to save your settings as a Preset, and select that Preset in your Action.

L

LAMY2017

Legend

"ignored," meaning the 68,223 doesn't appear in Levels? or the histogram is unchanged in other files when the action is run?

Larry

C

CouvCosmoAuthor

Participant

Sorry, the histogram is unchanged when the action is run.

L

LAMY2017

Legend

Thanks for clarifying. I'll try to reproduce. It may help me if you could post the .atn file here.

Ps>Presets>Actions>action.atn

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I created an action, 'simulate autolevels' -- Levels, moved sliders, Saved As. When I ran it on another photo, it worked (histogram different after running).

Larry

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