How do add a B&W image to a layer mask using Photoshop JS Script?

[ChristopherBellach]

I am trying to generate a Photoshop script that automatically crops a black and white image. Then I want to take that cropped image and put it into a layer mask. The goal is to generate an opacity mask I can us in my application.

I have code to crop the image and I have found code to add a layer mask (though I don't quite understand what the code is doing). But I am failing to find code to edit the layer mask.

Here are the steps in the Photoshop UI I am trying to replicate

1. Crop image to desired dimensions
2. Copy the cropped image
3. Start a new document without a background layer
4. Add layer mask to the only layer
5. Alt-Click the layer mask to edit it
6. Paste the copy from step 2 into the layer mask
7. Export as PNG

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here is the code I have so far

var dir = new Folder('Some Directory')var files = dir.getFiles("*.psd");  for (var i = 0; i < files.length; i++) {   var doc = app.open(files[i]);  doc.flatten();   var bounds = [96, 155, 722, 613];  doc.crop(bounds);  doc.selection.selectAll();  doc.selection.copy();    var blankLayer = doc.artLayers.add();  doc.activeLayer = blankLayer;  newColor = new SolidColor;  newColor.rgb.red = 255;  newColor.rgb.green = 255;  newColor.rgb.blue = 255;  doc.selection.selectAll();  doc.selection.fill(newColor);  doc.selection.deselect();  makeMask();   //Open Layer Mask for Edit  doc.paste();  savePng(doc);  doc.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);}function savePng(doc) {   var file = new File(doc.path + '/' + doc.name + '.png')   var opts = new PNGSaveOptions();  doc.saveAs(file, opts, true);}// FUNCTION MAKE MASK ()function makeMask(){  // =======================================================  var id4556 = charIDToTypeID( "setd" );  var desc983 = new ActionDescriptor();  var id4557 = charIDToTypeID( "null" );  var ref657 = new ActionReference();  var id4558 = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" );  var id4559 = charIDToTypeID( "fsel" );  ref657.putProperty( id4558, id4559 );  desc983.putReference( id4557, ref657 );  var id4560 = charIDToTypeID( "T " );  var ref658 = new ActionReference();  var id4561 = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" );  var id4562 = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" );  var id4563 = charIDToTypeID( "Trsp" );  ref658.putEnumerated( id4561, id4562, id4563 );  desc983.putReference( id4560, ref658 );  executeAction( id4556, desc983, DialogModes.NO );  // =======================================================  var id4564 = charIDToTypeID( "Mk " );  var desc984 = new ActionDescriptor();  var id4565 = charIDToTypeID( "Nw " );  var id4566 = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" );  desc984.putClass( id4565, id4566 );  var id4567 = charIDToTypeID( "At " );  var ref659 = new ActionReference();  var id4568 = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" );  var id4569 = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" );  var id4570 = charIDToTypeID( "Msk " );  ref659.putEnumerated( id4568, id4569, id4570 );  desc984.putReference( id4567, ref659 );  var id4571 = charIDToTypeID( "Usng" );  var id4572 = charIDToTypeID( "UsrM" );  var id4573 = charIDToTypeID( "RvlS" );  desc984.putEnumerated( id4571, id4572, id4573 );  executeAction( id4564, desc984, DialogModes.NO );}// FUNCTION APPLY LAYER MASK()function applyLayerMask(){  // =======================================================  var id1949 = charIDToTypeID( "Dlt " );  var desc398 = new ActionDescriptor();  var id1950 = charIDToTypeID( "null" );  var ref291 = new ActionReference();  var id1951 = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" );  var id1952 = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" );  var id1953 = charIDToTypeID( "Msk " );  ref291.putEnumerated( id1951, id1952, id1953 );  desc398.putReference( id1950, ref291 );  var id1954 = charIDToTypeID( "Aply" );  desc398.putBoolean( id1954, true );  executeAction( id1949, desc398, DialogModes.NO );}

[JJMack · Accepted solution]

You are making things harder then need be. You can automate a centered crop to a specific aspect ratio. Cropping though is normally an interactive process where you choose the composition you want.  A simple action can do the rest of your automation. The simplest way  is to record an action. Add  a new empty layer Shift+Ctrl+Alt+N.  Stamp the visible layers into to the new empty layer Shift+Alt+Ctrl+E. The move that layer to to top of the layer stack  Shift+Ctrl+] the step may need to be inserted or forced to record. Load the Luminosity Channel as a selection Alt+Ctrl+2.  Add the selection as a layer mask click the add layer mask icon in the layers palette on menu layer>Layer Mask>Reveal Selection. You could also record these steps with the Scriprlistener Plug-in as a Photoshop script.

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[ChristopherBellach]

Thanks for the response.

The cropping isn't the part I am trying to answer. The scenario I am trying to solve for is I have a folder with hundreds of psd files that are laid out in a similar way except for the area I have selected to crop. So I want to cut out that part and put it into a layer mask. The image above is what I am trying to accomplish.

The cropping code in the example is exactly what I need and works fine. The problem I am having is I need to find a way to script adding the cropped image to the layer mask.

Admittedly, I may be attacking this the wrong way. Essentially what I want to accomplish is and opacity mask from the gray scale images where white is opaque and black is transparent. Photoshop accomplishes this when I paste the gray scale image image into the layer mask. But if there is another way to accomplish this through a script where I can process hundred of files, I would be glad to learn how.

[ChristopherBellach]

I believe the ScriptingListener plug-in is what I needed. Thanks