henley/graphics Beater - a Photoshop Windows v5.5 to CS3: Multi-File Processing Utility

Beater:
Batch Process Multiple Images via Photoshop Automation
requires Photoshop for Windows Systems - v5.5, 6, 7, CS, or CS2

Batch process multiple image files from one image file format to another using Photoshop.

In addition, apply either:

1) a Custom, dialog defined Drop Shadow Effect,

or

2) Resize to Thumbnail Size,
with a option to create a thubnails web page embedding optional Autodesk iDrop XML code, or links to the source images.

or

3) a Selected Photoshop Action,

Then,

Save Each Image File to any Photoshop supported File Format, in a specified Target Directory.

If the Source Directory contains subdirectories, they are replicated to the Target Directory as required for image file placement.

In order to use this program productively, you are expected to know Photoshop well.

You need to know how to do the automated processes manually, and which conditions need to be met to not display an error or a dialog in Photoshop. Without this understanding, you may find that automating an action or dropshadow on a whole subdirectory of files while it should work, is not as effective as you would like.

The critical item to processing actions successfully is to never leave open any images other than the final image to be saved when the action completes.

The primary impetus to write this program was to reliably batch process images for web pages, and incorporate a standard black drop shadow effect into a variety of differently sized source images and formats.

Consequently, certain design criteria were used as default for the dropshadow web file format images, since the ouput file format mostly required it: a RGB colorspace (sRGB IEC61966-2.1), 8 bit not 16 bit images, one flattened layer in the final output file.

In addition the images with drop shadow have a default white background.

Later on the program was generalized to support other image file types. Some of the original design decisions for creating dropshadows, and resized images (thumbnails) are not necessary for other non-web file formats. Those differences have been removed.

Within the limits of the file output format, the program always attempts to preserve the original colorspace, and image bit depth.

In order to retain as much image data as possible, when the source colorspace will not save as the target output file type, the program first tests to see if a reduced bit depth can be saved. It that test fails, the program converts the image to either the GreyScale, or RGB colorspace (as appropriate). Then if the target output format still does not handle the image bit depth for the colorspace, the image's bit depth is set to 8 bits.

Program global options are provided on the 'More Options' dialog tab. Options available include the choice to saveas a RGB colorspace image inplace of a CMYK JPG file format, and an option to activate Digimarc image watermarking.

It is possible to do a straight conversion from one file format to another, by simply skipping the drop shadow option as explained below. To start you out, the dialog’s "What’s This ?" question mark help will assist in explaining the current dialog features.

a Quick How to:

1) A straight conversion from one file format to another:

Select a Source File location.
Select a Target File location, and File Type.
On the ‘Custom Dropshadow’ tab, uncheck the ‘Add DropShadow’ check box,
click the ‘Start’ command button.

2) Resize an image:

Select a Source File location.
Select a Target File location, and File Type.
On the ‘Custom Dropshadow’ tab, uncheck the ‘Add DropShadow’ check box,
Check the ‘Create Thumbnails’, enter the maximum horizontal and vertical image size
click the ‘Start’ command button.

3) Add a Watermark to any image:

On the ‘More Options’ tab, check the Embed Digimarc Watermark checkbox.
Set the copyright year.

4) Run an Action:

Select a Source File location.
Select a Target File location, and File Type.
On the ‘Photoshop Actions’ tab, click the ‘Get Actions’ command button.
Click the ‘Start Action’ command button.

Start the 'RunPhotoshopActions' Utility, Then Follow this Sequence of Steps:

A) First, Select the Source file location, using the following dialog tab:

Source Files Dialog Tab
Source Tab

Select the Source Directory/Folder
of the Image Files to Process.
Only files listed in the listbox are processed.

See the ReadMe Notes for information on batch processing
Kodak's Photo CD PCD files.

B) Second, Select the Target Directory root location, using this dialog tab:

Target Directory Dialog Tab
Target Tab

Select the Target Directory/Folder
and an Output Format for the Processed Image Files:
bmp, eps, fpx,^* gif, iff,^* jpg, pbm,^* pct, pcx,^* pdf, pix,^* png, psd, pxr,^* raw, rla,^* sct, tga,^* tif

^*Note that the designated file formats need to have the appropriate plugin available in the "\Photoshop x.x\Plug-Ins\File Formats\" directory for the option to appear in the dialog's drop down list.

C) Then, *EITHER*
Decide on any Drop Shadow, Image Expansion, Resolution, and Resizing Parameters using this dialog tab:

Custom Drop Shadow Dialog Tab
Drop Shadow Tab

After Setting the Dialog Options for the Drop Shadow and Image Expansion,
Selecting 'Start' performs the following functions when 'Add Drop Shadow' is Checked:

1) Image Mode Change to RGB (if necessary)
2) Flatten Layers
3) Background Color Set to White.
4) Set the Image Resolution (if Selected).
5) Resize the Image to Thumbnail Sizes (if Checked).
6) 8 bit Image Mode (if necessary)
7) Set Selection -> All -> Cut
8) Canvas Size increased on the Bottom and Right by Dialog Specified Amount (20 = Default).
9) Make a New Layer: "_the_DropShadow_Layer"
10) Paste Image Into the New Layer
11) Moves the Image to Allow for the Drop Shadow border.
12) Set Layer Effects -> Drop Shadow -> Width = 15 (default), Blur = 12 (default), etc.
13) Save the Processed Image File as specified.

Note:
Unchecking the 'Add Drop Shadow' checkbox, skips all the previous steps for creating a drop shodow, and only processes selected options for the 'Image Resolution', 'Create Thumbnails' and 'Embed Watermark', prior to saving the output file. If none of these options are selected then the program simply converts the source file to the selected output file format, and saves it in the target directory. Note that any file format limitations apply to the saved files. Most formats for instance do not support layers, so any source layers are flattened before saving to those file formats.

D) *OR*,
Obtain all Available Photoshop Actions, and Select an Action to apply to each image file using this dialog tab:

Action Dialog Tab
Actions Tab

Select an Existing Photoshop Action, Process, and Save Images as Specified.

E) Additional Options:

More Options Dialog Tab
More Options Tab

Global options which affect all saved output files, or the program.

To continue processing with different parameters or files, it's unnecessary to close the application to do the following:

use a new set of image files -» update the file list in dialog A
different parameters in dialog C -» change the parameters, and click the 'Finished' button
a different Action in dialog D -» select the new action, and then the "Start Action' button, when it's available

Beater:

Batch process Multiple Images via Photoshop Automation

Demo Versions are Not Presently Posted - eMail With Photoshop^™ Version
and (x32/x64) Platform Required.

13 June 2007

info@henleygraphics.com