Repeating Actions in Photoshop 6 – Can you set up ‘macros’?

GO
Posted By
Gwilym_Owen
Apr 4, 2004
Views
446
Replies
7
Status
Closed
Hi there,

I have a few dozen pics that all need to be resized to the same size and slightly sharpened up.

Is there a way I can ‘record’ these actions and automatically play them over all these pics as you would a macro?

Thanks in advance!

Gwilym

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L
LenHewitt
Apr 4, 2004
Sure,

Create your action and run it in Batch mode
DR
Danny_Raphael
Apr 4, 2004
Gwilym:

RE: Is there a way I can ‘record’ these actions and automatically play them over all these pics as you would a macro?
You sure can.

I’m assuming you’re starting with .jpg images. If not, wave the flag. There are a couple other tidbits you’ll need to know.

Here’s a quick overview on one way to do this.
* Open a test image that represents the group you want to resize and sharpen * If the Actions palette is not visible, Window > Actions * Record the action: From the Actions Palette menu (click black triangle, top/right of palette), choose "New Set". This will create a ‘folder’ (for organizational purposes) for the action you’re about to create.
* Assign a meaningful (to you) name, e.g., "My actions" * From the Actions Palette menu again, choose "New Action." * Assign a name, e.g., "Sharpen and size" and click the "Record" button * Image > Image size (size accordingly)
* Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp mask (apply as needed) * Click the square STOP button at the bottom of the Actions palette. * Keep or delete the test image as needed.

Congrats! You’ve just created an action!

If you want to apply the same sharpening settings to each image, do nothing. Otherwise, in the action click the embossed square to the immediate left of the Unsharp Mask command. Doing so will case the USM dialog to display with each image processed, allowing you to apply custom sharpen settings if necessary.

For illustration purposes, create a folder named \Destination

Invoke batch processing:
* File > Automate > Batch
* The action you just recorded should be selected
* Source: Folder. Choose (specify source folder)
* Destination: Folder. Choose (navigate to \Destination) * Click OK

PS will read each record from the source folder, apply the two-step action to it, and place the processed image in \Destination. Generally speaking until you get used to how batch processing works, a \Destination different than the source folder is a good idea. That way if things go horribly wrong, the original images are untouched.

Hope this gets you moving.

~Danny~
P
Phosphor
Apr 4, 2004


After Sir Raphael’s detailed instructions, don’t you feel a little sheepish about your compact addition to this thread?

I see that it was just a matter of bump timing, but still…

Good, serendipitous chuckle.
MV
Mathias_Vejerslev
Apr 4, 2004
Instead of Image Size you might want to use File>Automate>Fit Image in your ation, especially if you have different orientations.
L
LenHewitt
Apr 4, 2004
The joys on using the Newsreader, Phos
GO
Gwilym_Owen
Apr 4, 2004
Thank you everyone for your helpful comments and all so quickly on a weekend!

Cheers Danny for such an informative step by step guide – really appreciated!

Now to conquer the World with batched actions… 😉
DR
Danny_Raphael
Apr 4, 2004
In all fairness my take on Len’s reply was "to teach one to fish," which in and of itself is a noble thing to do. I couldn’t agree more that there’s nothing like sloughing through actions and batch to get an appreciation of what works and what doesn’t.

Having personally struggled so much, so long and so often with actions and batch processing, when I have the time and inclination I tend to toss out few fish to nibble on that will hopefully soothe the hunger pangs while learning to fish. That’s just me.

There’s definite value in being pointed in the right direction. I’m a much better Photoshop fisherman having taken the ball (bait?) and run with it based on suggestions from Len on various topics in the past.

Ditto for Mathias.

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