Use Photoshop Data Merge to put an Image into Perspective

[tylerm14500687]

Our nonprofit would appreciate guidance on how to do a Photoshop CC data merge that takes rectangular images and automatically puts them into perspective.

We know how to do data merge in InDesign, but that program does not let us make a template to put the images into perspective.

We know how to do data merge in Photoshop CC, and we know how to make a single image go into perspective. However, we cannot figure out how to create a template for a merge with images in perspective automatically. 

I know that we cannot easily put text in perspective in Photoshop, so the images in our data merge source would include both the images and the text.

We will use three jpg images to create greeting cards like the one shown:

1. one for the front of the card (champagne glass image plus title text),
2. one for the top interior of the card (the square image plus the text and logo next to it)
3. one for the bottom inside of the card (just an image of text).

These three source images will appear in the finished greeting cards with different perspective angles.

We need to create way too many 3-D images of cards to be able to manually use the perspective tool for each card, individually.

Thank you for your help!

[macpawel]

Maybe I'm wrong but..

I think you can't do it at once. If you use Variables (data Merge) in Photoshop you can't use Smart Objects. And it's difficult to  automatition in prespective transform without Smart Objects.

What you can do?

first

Use Variables and Data Sets to prepare your document without perspective. Don't worry about perspective this step.

then use Action to record adjustments you need to transform your layer (image) into perspective.

Use action on all yopur merged documents

Maybe it helps?

pawel

[tylerm14500687]

Thank you for replying so quickly. That would speed up the work on the cards.

Do you know if it is possible for actions to record something like go to next data set. It seems to be possible to go to the Apply Data Set... and then manually click the next one in the list (such as clicking on "Data Set 2"). However, to do that for over a thousand data sets would still take a lot of time.

Thank you again.

[Bojan Živković · Accepted solution]

Export data sets then run a batch process with action.

• The first step is to export all data sets as PSD layered files.
• Record action which will do a modification on layers.
• Use File > Automate > Batch or Image Processor Pro.
• Select previously recorder action in the top right corner of Batch dialog, for Source choose Folder with previously exported PSD files using Data Sets. That action will play on each individual file previously exported using Data Sets.

[tylerm14500687]

Thank you Bojan. We really appreciate your taking the time to help us out. I am sure you have other things on your plate, so sharing your expertise was really generous and thoughtful.

[Lumigraphics]

Maybe I'm missing something here. If you need images with a specific edit, do that first. Get all of your source images adjusted, possibly with a script or action, then worry about a data merge.

[Bojan Živković]

Lumigraphics You are right, we do not know much about source images. Later it can be done either way: to use Pixel replacement variable with adjusted images in correct perspective with correct aspect ratio or to use Pixel Replacement variable to place pixels using Fit or Fill method what depends on source images and their dimensions, actually aspect ratio than to run action which will adjust perspective.