Actions Question…

RB
Posted By
Robert_Barnett
May 31, 2005
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712
Replies
19
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Closed
Hello,

I am working on a set of actions that I want to make available on the Adobe Exchange. but I have some questions.

1. Are actions created on the PC usable on the Mac? If so, is there anything I need to consider when creating the action to help ensure that it works flawlessly on the Mac as well as the PC?

2. What about the foreign language versions of Photoshop. Is there anything I need to keep in mind when creating my actions to help ensure that they will work in all language versions of Photoshop. I already name all layers, channels, etc. that the action makes and modifies.

3. Backwards compatibility. It is my understanding that actions created in say Photoshop CS 2 will not work in any of the previous versions of Photoshop, is this true? It is also my understanding that actions are forwards compatible meaning that actions created is say Photoshop 6 will work fine in Photoshop 7, Photoshop CS and Photoshop CS2, is this correct?

4. Anything else I need to know about creating full cross-platform, multi-language compatible actions?

Thanks for your time and help. BTW this is something that should be added to the Photoshop FAQ’s section.

Robert

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Y
YrbkMgr
May 31, 2005
Robert,

The only thing to assure in cross platform compatability, is any step that includes saving (which isn’t generally recommended anyway) or one in which a file is called to open (like a displacement map). Other than that, as far as I’m aware, Adobe has done a stellar job in assuring that platform is not an issue for performing any tasks; thus your actions should run flawlessly.

It is my understanding that actions created in say Photoshop CS 2 will not work in any of the previous versions of Photoshop, is this true?

That is a broad generalization. Actions that contain steps utilizing features that are not present in previous versions will fail in previous versions. Using an algorithm (bicubic smoother) or a filter which is not present in a previous version will also fail. Et cetera.

On the other hand, an action step of Select|All will not fail.

Users should be cautioned that it was developed under CS2 and, depending on what your action does, it may not work in previous versions.
RB
Robert_Barnett
May 31, 2005
Actually, what I have done is went back and created the actions in Photoshop
6.0 (that is the oldest version I wish to deal with). And then loaded them
and saved the actions in Photoshop 7.0, Photoshop CS and Photoshop CS2 so each version have its own .ATN file that was saved in that version of Photoshop.

Also, there are no open and save commands and nothing for any of the filters, etc. is loaded or saved. Too messy IMO.

All layers created, all channels created. etc. are named and do not use the default names that Photoshop normally gives them.

Robert
DR
Danny Raphael
Jun 1, 2005
re:

Actually, what I have done is [gone] back and created the actions in Photoshop
6.0 (that is the oldest version I wish to deal with). And then loaded
them and saved the actions in Photoshop 7.0, Photoshop CS and Photoshop CS2 so each version have its own .ATN file that was saved in that version of Photoshop.

This is unnecessary. For example if you load PS6.atn into CS2 and save it from CS2, this has no effect on compatibility. Either an action works or it doesn’t.

Other cross platform considerations:
* Insert Menu Item > Window > Documents > Tile works on a Mac, but the resulting action will fail on the inserted command on a PC
* PC action sets with actions containing Play Action commands need to be renamed when loaded into Mac PS7. This is because Mac PS7 appends ".atn" to the end of the Action Set Name when the PC .atn is loaded.

re: Non-English PS editions:
It’s good that you’re taking into consideration Photoshop-generated layer names. This is only necessary if during the course of the action you select one of these layers.

While you’re at it, don’t forget "Background" which is not "Background" for non-English language editions of PS I’m aware of.

Good luck on your project.
PC
Pierre_Courtejoie
Jun 1, 2005
4° to avoid problems in the localized versions of PS. Do rename the layers, groups/sets, immediately after creating them.

Be aware that if you use distort>displace that the name of the displacement maps is localized. It might apply for the texture filters.

Creating a pattern and saving it to re-use it later in the action will not work: it will receive a unique identifier that varies from machine to the other.

For Way more info, see Danny Raphael’s mega tutorial: <http://www.atncentral.com/tutorials.htm> (the first one of the page. Unplug the phone take a confortable seat, end be enlightened by his work!)
RB
Robert_Barnett
Jun 1, 2005
Thanks Pierre, I will take a look at that.

Robert
RB
Robert_Barnett
Jun 1, 2005
Danny, What do you mean by…

"While you’re at it, don’t forget "Background" is not "Background" for non-English language editions of PS I’m aware of."

?

Robert
KC
Kent_C
Jun 1, 2005
Robert,

Danny means that ‘background’ isn’t call ‘background’ in some other language versions, so that if you do a ‘select background’ that won’t translate in other languages. The ‘workaround’ is to relabel each layer or layer set/group, etc.

Danny’s action tut is available online here:

<http://porg.4t.com/DRActions.html>

Scroll down to item 50.1
DR
Danny Raphael
Jun 1, 2005
Thanks, Kent & Pierre… 🙂

– – – – – – –

Robert: Sorry I did not make that clearer. Based on your stated understanding of renaming other PS-assigned layer and channel names, I thought my reminder would click.

Here’s an example…

The French version of Photoshop assigns "Fond" (instead of Background), so an action that attempted to execute Select Background or Delete Background commands would fail. (Translation courtesy of Pierre.)

A couple ways to get around this are…
* Duplicate original file
* Flatten duplicate image
* Duplicate current layer (doesn’t matter what the layer is named) * Rename the duplicate layer, e.g., "My Background" and use it as you normally would the background.

-or-

If you want to preserve the layer structure of a multiple layer file: * ## Enter keyboard shortcut: ctrl + shift + [ This will make the ‘bottom most’ layer active, regardless of its name and regardless of which layer in a multiple-layer file is highlighted when the file is opened.
* Then, do as above to duplicate the bottom layer and give the duplicate a custom name.

This will work for multiple layer or flat images.

## When you record the action, you will need to be operating on a multiple layer file with any layer active (highlighted) except the Background, otherwise the keyboard shortcut will not record.

I hope this is helpful.

~Danny~
RB
Robert_Barnett
Jun 1, 2005
Thanks to everyone for the help. It looks like I need to recreate my actions then.

Robert
RB
Robert_Barnett
Jun 1, 2005
Ok, I want to make sure I have this before I re-record all of the actions.

Assume that a user in France with French language version of Photoshop has opened a digital camera image. The image is on the "Background" layer or whatever it is called in the French language version. Now also assume that he or she wants to run my action on it.

If I have my action duplicate that background layer using the Layer > Duplicate Layer command under the layer menu and then give it a name I choose that should work because I could then have my action work from that duplicated layer and ignore the "Background" layer completely.

Now also assume that after my action is done I want to delete that unused "Background" layer only leaving the new image as it was created by my action. I could then use the ctrl + shift + [ keyboard short-cut so jump to the background layer and then use the Layer > Delete Layer command to delete that unused background layer. This should work?

Robert
RB
Robert_Barnett
Jun 1, 2005
Ok, well the Control + Shift + ] won’t allow the selection of the "Background" layer. So I don’t know how I would go about deleting it and still have it cross language workable. I guess I will just have to put in the User’s Guide that one should just ignore it and that it is a copy of the image before the action was applied.

Any suggestions on how to delete it and keep it cross language?

Robert
TM
Trevor_Morris
Jun 1, 2005
It’s Alt+, to select the bottom-most (Background) layer.
RB
Robert_Barnett
Jun 1, 2005
Thanks.

Robert

wrote in message
It’s Alt+, to select the bottom-most (Background) layer.
DR
Danny Raphael
Jun 2, 2005
First of all, my apologies for fat fingering the keyboard shortcut. I got alt and ctrl bass ackwards.

Should be:

Alt + Shift + [ …which records a Select Back Layer command

Re:

If I have my action duplicate that background layer using the Layer Duplicate Layer command under the layer menu and then give it a name I choose that should work because I could then have my action work from that duplicated layer and ignore the "Background" layer completely.

True

Re:

Now also assume that after my action is done I want to delete that unused "Background" layer only leaving the new image as it was created by my action. I could then use the ALT + shift + [ keyboard short-cut so jump to the background layer and then use the Layer > Delete Layer command to delete that unused background layer. This should work?

True, with the corrected keyboard shortcut. 🙂
PC
Pierre_Courtejoie
Jun 2, 2005
Danny, I will need to double check, but I think that Photoshop "knows" that the "calque de fond" is the background layer.

It is when you copy it that it does not get that "Background copy" is "Fond-copie". Renaming every layer created in an action should be an automatism to avoid such problems.
DR
Danny Raphael
Jun 2, 2005
Hey, Pierre…

I’m always up for learning more and getting it right. 🙂

If you can, e-mail me a "small" multi-layered (3-4) .psd rendered by any non-English version of PS you might have on hand. I’d like to further experiment, too.

Thx/Danny
PC
Pierre_Courtejoie
Jun 2, 2005
I think that Photoshop would just label the layers according to the language version of the host application opening it (besides the fond copie or calque-1)
DR
Danny Raphael
Jun 3, 2005
Pierre…

I got files in PS-Italian and PS-Dutch. You were correct on both points.

English PS commands "Select background" and "Delete background" will work regardless of language edition.

As you noted if one’s PS-English action duplicates the bottom most background of a non-English PS file and later attempts to do a Select "Background copy," this will cause a problem because "Background copy" will not exist.

Like the other layers/channels to which PS assigns names the safe approach is rename the layer/channel with your own name immediately after PS creates it.

Thanks for clarifying that. I can be trained and here’s to another correction for v2.0. 🙂

~Danny~
PC
Pierre_Courtejoie
Jun 3, 2005
Glad to know that my menory did not trick me…

"another correction for v2.0. :)"

I can’t wait! You should seriously consider publishing it as a book!

MacBook Pro 16” Mockups 🔥

– in 4 materials (clay versions included)

– 12 scenes

– 48 MacBook Pro 16″ mockups

– 6000 x 4500 px

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