Automator image batch process problem

Hi.
I am surprised how much difficulty I am having with something I believe Automator should be perfect for!
I want to create a hot folder to drop an image into, and to create 5 different versions of that image in 5 different folders. I have tried it using the 'render' action, and also using photoshop actions, but when I drop my images in the folder the system tries to do them all at the same time, resulting in chaos, and mostly failed results.
I can't seem to find any way of processing them one at a time. It works if I add all the files into a 'get specified finder items' action, but I need this to be an automatic, remote process. Any suggestions gratefully received. I have spent days trying to teach myself Automator, but feel I must be missing something obvious?
Cheers. Rob Mac

I want to create a hot folder to drop an image into, and to create 5 different versions of that image in 5 different folders...
In an example scenario, I created five folders with the following names:
1) *_Master Folder_* -- +this is the "hot" folder, meant to house the original images+
2) *_BMP Folder_*
3) *_JPEG Folder_*
4) *_PNG Folder_*
5) *_TIFF Folder_*
Each Folder has its own Automator workflow, saved as a Plug-in for Folder Actions attached to it.
First, an Automator workflow is created for the *_Master Folder_* using the following actions:
1) *Copy Finder Items* (from the Finder library) -- +To: select Other > BMP Folder+
2) Pause (from the Automator library) -- +for 5 seconds; adjust if necessary+
3) *Copy Finder Items* -- +To: select Other > JPEG Folder+
4) Pause -- +for 5 seconds+
5) *Copy Finder Items* -- +To: Other > PNG Folder+
6) Pause -- +for 5 seconds+
7) *Copy Finder Items* -- +To: Other > TIFF Folder+
From Automator's File menu select: Save As Plug-in... > Plug-in for: Folder Actions. Give the Plug-in a name, attach it to the *_Master Folder_* and press Save.
And now the destination folders. Save each workflow as a Plug-in for Folder Actions as described above and attach it to its respective folder.
*_BMP Folder_:*
1) *Filter Finder Items* (Finder library) -- +Whose: Name Extension - Is not equal to - bmp+
2) *Change Type of Images* (Preview library) -- +To Type: BMP+
*_JPEG Folder_:*
1) *Filter Finder Items* -- +Whose: Name Extension - Is not equal to - jpg+
2) *Change Type of Images* -- +To Type: JPEG+
*_PNG Folder_:*
1) *Filter Finder Items* -- +Whose: Name Extension - Is not equal to - png+
2) *Change Type of Images* -- +To Type: PNG+
*_TIFF Folder_:*
1) *Filter Finder Items* -- +Whose: Name Extension - Is not equal to - tif+
2) *Change Type of Images* -- +To Type:TIFF+
Dropping an image file into the Master Folder triggers a folder action which sends a copy of the file to each destination folder. Once an image file is added to a destination folder the folder action attached to that folder is triggered. The script determines whether the added file contains the specified name extension, and converts it to the appropriate file type if it doesn't.
The script worked for me as long as only one file was added to the Master Folder at a time, and when the entire routine was allowed to complete for that one file. Adding more than one file at a time, or adding files in too rapid succession produced unpredictable results.
This is offered merely as an example of the kind of thing which can be done using Automator only. Of course, your needs may be much more elaborate. Hope this helps; good luck.

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