Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand [Electronic resources]

Working with Batch File Processing

There is nothing more exciting than working on a new creative process, and watch as your designs come to life. Conversely, there is nothing more tiresome than having to apply that new creative concept to 50 other images. For example, you just spent three hours coming up with a procedure to color correct an heirloom photograph, and the process took two filters, and three adjustments. The photo looks great; however, you now have 50 other images with the exact problem. You could create an action, but you would still have to open and apply the action 50 times. The solution is to batch process the images, after you have created the action. Batch file processing lets you apply an action to an entire folder of images, and all you have to do is click a button. Now, what could be simpler than that?

Work with Batch File Processing

Create a new folder, and then move all the images into the folder.

IMPORTANT

These files must be typical image files. There should not be any other files, such as text files, inside this folder.

Create a second folder to hold the modified images (optional).

Open Photoshop (you do not need to open a document).

Click the

File menu, point to

Automate , and then click

Batch .

Select from the following Play options:

• Click the

  Set list arrow, and then select the Set containing the Action you want to apply to the images.

• Click the

  Action list arrow, and then select the correct Action.

Click the

Source list arrow, and then select an image-source option of Folder, Import, Opened Files, or File Browser.

Click

Choose (available if Folder is selected as the source), and then select the location of the image folder.

Check the various boxes you want:

• Override Action "Open" Commands. Select to use an open command embedded into the Action.

• Include All Subfolders. Select to batch process any images located in folders embedded into the main image folder.

• Suppress File Open Options Dialogs. Select to disable the File Open dialog box.

• Suppress Color Profile Warnings. Select to disable the Color Profile Mismatch dialog box.

Click the

Destination list arrow, and then click

None, Save And Close , or

Folder .

Click

Choose (available if Folder is selected as the source), and then select the destination of the modified images.

Select the

Override Action "Save As" Commands check box to use a save command embedded into the Action.

If Folder is selected as destination, the File Naming options allows you to rename the modified files, and then select the required Compatibility options you want: Windows, Mac OS or Unix.

Click the

Errors list arrow, select an errors option, and then click

Save As to save your error information, if necessary.

Click

OK .