Batch processing multiple images into one layered file

[tim33625]

Hopefully someone can help. I need to create some type of script or action to do the following...

I have 8000+ images in one folder named as follows:

image1a.psd
image1b.psd
image2a.psd
image2b.psd

etc.

all the way to image 4000a.psd & image4000b.psd

I need to combine "image1a.psd" and "image1b.psd" as layers into a single .psd file for all 8000+ images.

How can I accomplish this?

Thanks!

[Chuck Uebele]

There have been some other requests like this. You might want to do a search and see if you can fine something that works for you.

[tim33625]

Thank you, I have looked at other posts with similar questions, but have not yet been able to find a solution for my specific need...

[Chuck Uebele]

So what are your specific needs? The easiest, would be to combine all the files and save them as a new file, then you can go back and do whatever editing you need to do.

[tim33625]

Yes, I understand but to do that manually would take too long. For example, it takes me 30 seconds to open the files and combine layers, then save as a new file... working non-stop 8 hours / day it would take me 3 1/2 weeks to complete. Obviously I need an automated solution 😞

[Chuck Uebele]

No, what I mean is if you combine the two files, what do you want to do with them? Of do you just want to combine the files and save?

[tim33625]

Ah, I see... so I am combining the 2 layers together to run another script that creates an a\image as shown in the attachment. Basically taking 2 individual sides of a business card to create a realistic looking business card mockup for a shopping cart.

[Chuck Uebele]

also do these files have multiple layers? if so do you flatten them or put them in a smart object?

[Chuck Uebele]

Well, you can try this script. It will combine two file if the naming is how you state with the files ending in a and b. It will flatten the b file. You can comment out the rasterizing function (ras()) to leave it as a smart object. It will save the file as "c" in the same folder. You will need to change the folder name.

#target photoshop
var srcFolder = new Folder('~/desktop/combine-test/');
var mask = '*a.psd'
var fileList = srcFolder.getFiles (mask);
var psdOptions = new PhotoshopSaveOptions()
psdOptions.layers = true

for(var i=0;i<fileList.length;i++){
    var sndFileName = fileList[i].name.substring (0, fileList[i].name.length-5)
    var sndFile = new File(srcFolder + '/' + sndFileName + 'b.psd')
    var doc = open(fileList[i]);
    placeFile (sndFile);
    ras ();
    doc.saveAs (new File(srcFolder +'/' + sndFileName + 'c.psd'), psdOptions)
    doc.close (SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
    }

    

function placeFile(file){
    var idPlc = charIDToTypeID( "Plc " );
        var desc12 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idIdnt = charIDToTypeID( "Idnt" );
        desc12.putInteger( idIdnt, 2 );
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
        desc12.putPath( idnull, new File( file ) );
        var idFTcs = charIDToTypeID( "FTcs" );
        var idQCSt = charIDToTypeID( "QCSt" );
        var idQcsa = charIDToTypeID( "Qcsa" );
        desc12.putEnumerated( idFTcs, idQCSt, idQcsa );
        var idOfst = charIDToTypeID( "Ofst" );
            var desc13 = new ActionDescriptor();
            var idHrzn = charIDToTypeID( "Hrzn" );
            var idPxl = charIDToTypeID( "#Pxl" );
            desc13.putUnitDouble( idHrzn, idPxl, 0.000000 );
            var idVrtc = charIDToTypeID( "Vrtc" );
            var idPxl = charIDToTypeID( "#Pxl" );
            desc13.putUnitDouble( idVrtc, idPxl, 0.000000 );
        var idOfst = charIDToTypeID( "Ofst" );
        desc12.putObject( idOfst, idOfst, desc13 );
    executeAction( idPlc, desc12, DialogModes.NO );   
    }

function ras(){
       var idrasterizeLayer = stringIDToTypeID( "rasterizeLayer" );
        var desc16 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
            var ref1 = new ActionReference();
            var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
            var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
            var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
            ref1.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
        desc16.putReference( idnull, ref1 );
    executeAction( idrasterizeLayer, desc16, DialogModes.NO );
    } 

[tim33625]

Thank you, I will give it a try. 

[Chuck Uebele · Accepted solution]

I just realized that in the lastest version of PS, you can ungroup smart objects. So I changed the code to that it won't flatten the "b" image.

#target photoshop
var srcFolder = new Folder('~/desktop/combine-test/');
var mask = '*a.psd'
var fileList = srcFolder.getFiles (mask);
var psdOptions = new PhotoshopSaveOptions()
psdOptions.layers = true

for(var i=0;i<fileList.length;i++){
    var sndFileName = fileList[i].name.substring (0, fileList[i].name.length-5)
    var sndFile = new File(srcFolder + '/' + sndFileName + 'b.psd')
    var doc = open(fileList[i]);
    placeFile (sndFile);
    undoSO ();
    doc.saveAs (new File(srcFolder +'/' + sndFileName + 'c.psd'), psdOptions)
    doc.close (SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
    }

function undoSO(){
    var idplacedLayerConvertToLayers = stringIDToTypeID( "placedLayerConvertToLayers" );
    executeAction( idplacedLayerConvertToLayers, undefined, DialogModes.NO );    
    
    var idungroupLayersEvent = stringIDToTypeID( "ungroupLayersEvent" );
        var desc7 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
            var ref3 = new ActionReference();
            var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
            var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
            var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
            ref3.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
        desc7.putReference( idnull, ref3 );
    executeAction( idungroupLayersEvent, desc7, DialogModes.NO );    
    }

function placeFile(file){
    var idPlc = charIDToTypeID( "Plc " );
        var desc12 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idIdnt = charIDToTypeID( "Idnt" );
        desc12.putInteger( idIdnt, 2 );
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
        desc12.putPath( idnull, new File( file ) );
        var idFTcs = charIDToTypeID( "FTcs" );
        var idQCSt = charIDToTypeID( "QCSt" );
        var idQcsa = charIDToTypeID( "Qcsa" );
        desc12.putEnumerated( idFTcs, idQCSt, idQcsa );
        var idOfst = charIDToTypeID( "Ofst" );
            var desc13 = new ActionDescriptor();
            var idHrzn = charIDToTypeID( "Hrzn" );
            var idPxl = charIDToTypeID( "#Pxl" );
            desc13.putUnitDouble( idHrzn, idPxl, 0.000000 );
            var idVrtc = charIDToTypeID( "Vrtc" );
            var idPxl = charIDToTypeID( "#Pxl" );
            desc13.putUnitDouble( idVrtc, idPxl, 0.000000 );
        var idOfst = charIDToTypeID( "Ofst" );
        desc12.putObject( idOfst, idOfst, desc13 );
    executeAction( idPlc, desc12, DialogModes.NO );   
    }