Batch Processing
Here we have a look at methods for applying a set of actions to more
than one image at a time. This is where the time savings from using actions
become huge.
Getting Set Up
Make 2 more copies of "ws-photo.jpg". You now have three image
files in the process folder.
Important: batch processing in Photoshop always runs on ALL the
image files in your target folder (other file types don't matter).
[If you have come straight to this page, you still need to do the same
set-up as shown on page 1 as well as what is outlined here].
Task 2.1 - a batch run
1. Open Photoshop.
 2.
Highlight the Action 3 line just below the Set 4a line in your actions
palette. Make sure the action is how you want it, with black ticks on
everywhere and NO "tweaking" boxes filled in. If necessary reload
the "Set4a.atn"action just in case it has changed from it's
original form (see page 1).
3. Go to the main Photoshop "file" menu at the top left of
the page and select the Automate / Batch option. You will get a menu window
like the one shown only it won't have the right settings to start with.
4. Work your way through the items until you have it exactly as
shown. In particular make sure that you have chosen Source Folder c:\apics\process
and that Override Action "open" command is ticked and that Destination
is set to None.
5. Hit OK.
If you've done it right, the batch process will open every image one
at a time and run the full action across that image, then close it and
move on to the next action.
That's it. Imagine doing that for 1000 images in order to put your watermark
on the bottom right of the page. Or resizing and optimising for web 1000
images in one go. Or, doing the much longer list of actions you did just
now. Awesome.
Task 2.2 - batch run with tweak
No problem, just select the tweak box (for example on the curves action),
and do exactly as before (see Section 1, task 1.2).
Task 2.3 - batch run with stop - oh dear
Unfortunately, with Photoshop 5.5 batch processing does not work when
you have a stop inserted in your actions. Remember, you are only inserting
a stop when you want to do some hand tweaking anyway, so the fact that
it does not work is not quite so disadvantageous.
My work-around is this.
1. Assign an F key to the action. In this case, find "Action 3"
in Set 4a and double click - the Actions Options box will appear. Use
the Function Key menu in that box to assign a function key to Action 3
- say F2 in this case. Close Actions Options box.
2. Within Action 3, untick the first action "Open".
3. Put a stop into the action somewhere as described on the previous
page. I find my most common use here is to individually position the
watermark and perhaps check it's color is OK.
4. Use the main menu "file" / "open" to open a bunch
of your files that you want to process onto your Photoshop work area (in
this case the three you created in task 2.1).
5. Hit F2. When you get to the stop, do your retouching etc. Then hit
"play" on the actions palette. The action will finish by closing
that original image file unchanged and the next open file in the PS workspace
will appear on top of the pile.
6. Hit F2...
That's it, pretty easy and perfectly effective. BUT when you have 500
files to be processed in the "process" folder, you are unlikely
to be able to open them all at once without crashing so open some of them
and keep track of what is done and what is not done.
Next
The final page deals with image noise reduction and smart sharpen actions.
It provides a useful introduction to advanced Photoshop image manipulation
techniques without requiring you to understand much at all at first :)
HERE
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By Forest
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3