Watermark Won't Appear after Action Run

[bainbru]

I have tried various techiniques for creating a watermark using an action - creating a brush - copying a logo and the only technique that works is using a text layer. The other techniques work when I create the action recording the steps, however when the action runs depending on the method I receive messages that the commands move, transform are not available or the final image does not show the watermark. I am using Photoshop 23.1.1 with Win 10. Any help is appreciated

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Please provide more detailed descriptions and the accompanying screenshots (including all pertinent Panels). 

How and where did you copy a logo for example? 

Have you tried »Insert Path« from the Actions Panel’s fly-out menu? 

Have you tried File > Place Embedded in an Action? (Edit: This would naturally require the logo to be at the same location the next time the Action is run.) 

[bainbru]

Thks for responding. Attached is a screen print of an action, Watermark Brush. The action flattens an image and a layer is added. A brush with my logo is added to the new layer and the opacity is lowered. The image is flattened, resized, saved and the action stopped. The action does not show the brush steps.

When I created the action, the result was perfect showing the watermark (logo). However, when I ran the action from batch, the watermark did not appear. The resulting images were sized correctly per the action.

Any help explaining what I am doing wrong is appreciated.

[bainbru]

Sorry for duplicate message the screen print did not appear on first one.

Thks for responding. Attached is a screen print of an action, Watermark Brush. The action flattens an image and a layer is added. A brush with my logo is added to the new layer and the opacity is lowered. The image is flattened, resized, saved and the action stopped. The action does not show the brush steps.

When I created the action, the result was perfect showing the watermark (logo). However, when I ran the action from batch, the watermark did not appear. The resulting images were sized correctly per the action.

Any help explaining what I am doing wrong is appreciated.

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

I see no Brush application in the Action; is »Allow Tool Recording« enabled? 

Can you show the Logo? 

If you have a vector version of the logo I recommend using »Insert Path« instead of a Brush. 

And even if not I would recommend placing a Smart Object. 

Edit: 

[bainbru]

Thks - enabling use of tools was the solution. I am not sure why this option is needed. I thought recording would capture any and all options and keystrokes. Again thanks for the help.

[Kukurykus]

You mean 'Allow Tool Recording'? Then mark appropriate answer as correct 😉

[c.pfaffenbichler]

By default (and historically) Actions would essentially record whatever could be triggered via a menu command. 

Allowing Tool recording was a relatively »recent« addition – but I can’t remember in which version. 

And … it’s a problematic one in my opinion.

If I recall correctly the Action does not record all the Tool’s parameters so under certain circumstances the Brush application in the Action might not yield the exact same result when it is being run. 

[bainbru]

Thks again for clarifying the issue. I also don't remember allowing tool selection as being an option, and actions always recorded what operations were being executed. I would welcome learning why Adobe started this option. It seems redundant and is just another of Adobe's surprises although not a good one.

[Kukurykus]

Recording every click of some tools logs thousands lines of code, it's why you need to allow it.

[bainbru]

Thks for the clarification. I assume it's related to performance. However if a user chooses a tool it's because they do it intentionally. The addition of an extra step allowing the tool would seem redundant as they did select the tool initially. Regardless it now works - super.