How can I create a batch script to JUST crop a series of time lapse photos

[GrizzlyKing]

I have several hundred jpg photos taken by a time lapse camera.  I'm using Adobe Photo Elements 13.

I have found MANY references to scripts to crop and straighten photos (usually scanned images with multiple images).  Those scripts use CropPhotosAuto0001.  This does not work for my needs.

What I need to do is define a single crop dimension and apply it to all of these photos in a batch mode.

Is there anything that will do that? Thanks....RDK

[MichelBParis]

The affordable Elements+ add-on has a script for cropping multiple files:

roboCrop

I don't know if that fits your need.

Otherwise,

I suppose all your source files have the same dimensions.

I could imagine a way to apply the same crop to a number of photos opened at the same time in the ACR converter module. That works not only with raw files but also on jpegs, psd or tif.

The number of files you can open at the same time varies depending on the files format and size, but that works with batches of 50 to 100 jpegs.

In the ACR dialog, you click the button 'select' all. Then you use the crop tool icon on the top tool bar and you define your crop. It can be chosen from default ratios or custom. You draw and place your crop rectangle where you want, you can even tilt it.

Click 'Done' : the (lossless) crop will be applied to all files. (If you click 'Open', you'll have to save each file individually from the editor).

Then you select the whole batch in the organizer and use the 'export as new file' function to get a copy of your cropped files in a new folder.

Not for thousands of photos, but free, fast and flexible.

[GrizzlyKing]

Just bought Elements+.  But can use it until later this week.  I'll let you know....RDK

[MichelBParis]

GrizzlyKing  wrote

Just bought Elements+.  But can use it until later this week.  I'll let you know....RDK

Good to know, the author, Andrei Doubrovski monitors the forum

http://photoshopelementsandmore.com/

and you can ask more questions there from himself or other advanced users.

[Stephen35138304at9r]

Hi, can you please tell me what the ACR converter module is? 

I'm new to Photoshop Elements and am trying to crop several hundred images that are photos of slides that, unfortunately, include the slide frame - which I want to crop out.  Elements+ has Robocrop but I'm not sure if it allows me to specify what part of the image is cropped.

Thanks!!

[MichelBParis]

Hi, can you please tell me what the ACR converter module is? 

I'm new to Photoshop Elements and am trying to crop several hundred images that are photos of slides that, unfortunately, include the slide frame - which I want to crop out.  

By @Stephen35138304at9r

The ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) is the tool to edit "raw" files from your camera.

Raw (unprocessed) files only record the intensity of light on each sensor site before your camera (or an external converter like ACR) creates a coloured photo file in a standard format such as .jpeg, .psd, .tiff...

If your camera can save 'raw' files, two important things to know:

1 - they are not standard image files, there is not yet in colors for instance. Each camera records raw files in its own data format. Do a search for "digital negative" to know more about raw editing.

2 - They convert that raw data file into a standard image format, leaving the raw data unchanged. The conversion process includes options to "edit" the resulting conversion to your taste. The changes (the recipe) describe each editing order and store it in a tiny text files (.xmp extension) which is saved alongside your raw file. That kind of workflow is called "parametric" editing. Unchanged original format plus the recipe to get the result you want. This workflow is 'non destructive' and the 'recipe' can be applied to other files or even to a batch of files.

If you don't shoot "raw" with your camera, you can use the Adobe ACR module with normal jpeg or other image formats to take advantage of the parametric / non desctructive tools in the ACR module. Normal raw files are detected and open automatically in the builtin ACR module of your Elements software. If you want to use that workflow with jpegs, you have to use the file menu option to open in camera raw.

There are many reasons to prefer the ACR editing, including the ability for batch editing (including cropping)

To know more about ACR, you can browse the Adobe ACR forum. When you know a bit more, ask here for a detailed workflow.

[Stephen35138304at9r]

Thanks so much, your response explains much that I didn't understand.  My camera does store images in either or both raw and jpeg.  As I'm learning, the ability to do parametric edits is attractive - I can more easily recover from errors and try different things.  I'll be looking at the ACR module today.