Help Creating Open/Resize/Save/Close Action

MN
Posted By
Matthew_Norman
May 15, 2005
Views
979
Replies
5
Status
Closed
Hi everyone, I poked around and couldnt really find anything to help me in creating an action I need. I have a fairly large amount of images spread out over various directories, and I’de like to have photoshop open them, resize them, save them and close them. I figured out howto have it resize and save them, but I cant get it to open the files. I think it has something to do with the directory structure(which is similar to this)

F:\
F:\Directory 1
F:\Directory 1\Subdirectory
F:\Directory 1\Subdirectory\File1.jpg
F:\Directory 2
F:\Directory 2\Subdirectory
F:\Directory 2\Subdirectory\File2.jpg

Some of the subdirectories dont have images, but most do. So is there a way to make it so it’ll open all the files on F:\ and "search" for the image files, resize them to set size, save and close them? I’de like this as much of a set it and forget it type operation, and as of now, its no where near that. hehe. Thanks so much in advance for all the help.

-Matthew Norman
Related Tags
action close create help open resize save

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WW
Ward_Wagner
May 15, 2005
I am using Home Edition. How do I resize the image from the camera to a 4×6 image that is clear?? Ward
DR
Danny Raphael
May 15, 2005
Matthew…

a. There might be a way to do this. After you modify (say) File1.jpg, will you be OK replacing (writing over) the original File1.jpg with the modifed one?

b. Among all the files in the F:\Directory1, F:\Directory2, etc. subfolders, are there any you want Photoshop to ignore? If so, that could be problematic.

c. What version of Photoshop are you using?

d. How would you assess your Photoshop action writing experience?

e. How would you assess your experience with Photoshop batch processing?

– – – – –

Ward:

By "Home Edition," do you mean PhotoDeluxe Home Edition? If so, you need to start a thread in the PhotoDeluxe forum.
MN
Matthew_Norman
May 15, 2005
Danny,
Thanks for the response, to answer your inquiries:
a) thats what I want done, I dont want the orig. file to be there, only the resized one.
b) nope.
c) cs
d) basic, like i said, I was able to make one that resized and saved the image but thats it.
e) none.

This all being said, I am a fast learner and have been working photoshop since 4.0, just never with actions really. Any help would be awesome. Thanks alot!

-Matthew Norman
DR
Danny Raphael
May 15, 2005
This could be your lucky day…

Your action:
* No open, save or close commands needed.
* If any are present, either delete them or uncheck the embossed square to the left of the command name to deactivate it. Batch will take care of open, save and close for what you want to do.) Your action only needs just the resize command(s) and whatever other commands you want to apply.

Testing:
* Create a new folder, e.g., F:\Test
* Copy (ctrl + drag) a couple folders and their images into F:\Test * File > Automate > Batch
* Specify the Action set, action name
* Source: Folder, Choose: (browse to) F:\Test
* Important: Be sure option "Include all subfolders" is "on" * Destination: Save and close

Click OK… and away things should go, hands off and all files processed.

In a nutshell you specified the action, identified the files you wanted processed and told batch what to do with the processed images. "Save and close" = replace (overwrite) the original files — no questions asked.

Assuming things go well, as a precaution I’d highly recommend you create backups of the source folders (unless you already have backups).

The grand finale – Option 1: soup-to-nuts, hands off, all in a single pass * Delete folders out of F;\Test
* Create Windows shortcuts for each top level folder, e.g., F:\Directory 1, F:\Directory 2, F:\Directory 3, etc. The easy way to do this for a lot of folders would be to open an Explorer window for F:\, view = details, sort the items by Name, ctrl + click on the folders for which you want shortcuts. When all are highlighted, right-click and choose "Create shortcut" from the flyout menu.
* Drag the folder shortcuts into F:\Test
* Engage the Batch dialog using the same settings as above. Batch will use the shortcuts to find all the individual top level folders (and their subfolders and files).

Option 2: One high-level folder at a time
* In Batch Source, Choose the individual top-levels folders on each pass.

Let me know how it goes.

~Danny~
MN
Matthew_Norman
May 15, 2005
Danny,
Thanks so much! Totally worked! Accept 1 thing. lol. Some of the files will popup with the save properties dialog box. In which case I need to hit ok. Anyway to have it just hit on on its own? Thanks alot man, you’re the best!

-Matthew Norman

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