jayhan
03-14-2007, 08:17 PM
Photoshop has got this neat feature on automation of processes. Basically you can let PS CS2 do all the most frequent processes you do to an image, with just a click of a button! Stuff like resizing and adding frames, adding your own watermark are such repeatative processing activities just to name a few. Neat right? Here's how you can do this... and big daddy Jay's gonna let ya know how with this step-by-step guide. ;)
*in this example, I'm just gonna show how to create automating adding frames*
1. Firstly we need to "teach" CS2 on what we want it to automate. For this example, I'm gonan create a frame adding automation, based on a landscape orientated photo. Ok... let's get moving. Open up any sampler image which is in its original size in CS2, then click on the ACTIONS tab, which is located next to HISTORY tab.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/1_resize.jpg
2. Click on the "CREATE NEW ACTION" icon (the one next to the bin), and a menu will pop up. Create a name for this action, such as "Adding frame & resizing - Landscape OR". Dont change anything else. Then click RECORD. Bear in mind that anything you do to the image at this moment will be recorded down in this action you have just created. So be careful (although unwanted records can be selectively removed).
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/2_resize.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/3_resize.jpg
3. Next, duplicate the layer "background" - yes this action will be recorded. Then create a new layer, which by default will be shown in the background color. Drag the layer in between the layer "background" and also the duplicated one. Select the new empty layer, and press CTRL+ALT+C, this will pop up a canvas resize menu. Key in the values you would want. For my case, a 0.5px on each side will do fine. You should then have something like this.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/4_resize.jpg
4. Flatten the layers. Next, press CTRL+ALT+I and the image resizing menu will pop up. Put in a general value you would want to normally resize, lets say, a value of 800px on the longest side. Click ok and the image will be done.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/5_resize.jpg
5. Remember to STOP the recording after this. How? Easy. Just click on the stop recording icon (the square one duhh) :) Now this action is recorded and stored into your CS2. It can be used to automate the same actions you have just performed on any images you load up in future. All you need to do is load up the image you wanna process, go to ACTIONS, select the one you have created, and press the PLAY icon. :D Bear in mind that this actions can also record other stuff like performing adjustments in levels, curves etc etc, but obviously CS2 dont have the "artsy feel" in it to be able to justify whats nice and what is not. So be careful when you use this function.
Good luck and have fun exploring!
Cheers!
*in this example, I'm just gonna show how to create automating adding frames*
1. Firstly we need to "teach" CS2 on what we want it to automate. For this example, I'm gonan create a frame adding automation, based on a landscape orientated photo. Ok... let's get moving. Open up any sampler image which is in its original size in CS2, then click on the ACTIONS tab, which is located next to HISTORY tab.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/1_resize.jpg
2. Click on the "CREATE NEW ACTION" icon (the one next to the bin), and a menu will pop up. Create a name for this action, such as "Adding frame & resizing - Landscape OR". Dont change anything else. Then click RECORD. Bear in mind that anything you do to the image at this moment will be recorded down in this action you have just created. So be careful (although unwanted records can be selectively removed).
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/2_resize.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/3_resize.jpg
3. Next, duplicate the layer "background" - yes this action will be recorded. Then create a new layer, which by default will be shown in the background color. Drag the layer in between the layer "background" and also the duplicated one. Select the new empty layer, and press CTRL+ALT+C, this will pop up a canvas resize menu. Key in the values you would want. For my case, a 0.5px on each side will do fine. You should then have something like this.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/4_resize.jpg
4. Flatten the layers. Next, press CTRL+ALT+I and the image resizing menu will pop up. Put in a general value you would want to normally resize, lets say, a value of 800px on the longest side. Click ok and the image will be done.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/5_resize.jpg
5. Remember to STOP the recording after this. How? Easy. Just click on the stop recording icon (the square one duhh) :) Now this action is recorded and stored into your CS2. It can be used to automate the same actions you have just performed on any images you load up in future. All you need to do is load up the image you wanna process, go to ACTIONS, select the one you have created, and press the PLAY icon. :D Bear in mind that this actions can also record other stuff like performing adjustments in levels, curves etc etc, but obviously CS2 dont have the "artsy feel" in it to be able to justify whats nice and what is not. So be careful when you use this function.
Good luck and have fun exploring!
Cheers!