CS3: how to create action to add fixed text of foreground color, etc.

Question

I'm trying to create an action and/or brush preset(?) that will:
1) Add a fixed text string in the forground color, consistent font, size, etc.
2) Apply a consistent Layer Style -> Bevel and Emboss setting
3) Allow me to move the text to whatever position
4) Change text layer opacity
5) Flatten
At some point in the past when searching the internet I came upon a description of how to create a brush preset (I think that was it) that did at least most of this, but somehow I seem to have lost the preset and don't know how to recreate it.
thanks,
Mike

Answer 1

j_m_d wrote:
I'm trying to create an action and/or brush preset(?) that will:
1) Add a fixed text string in the forground color, consistent font, size, etc.
2) Apply a consistent Layer Style -> Bevel and Emboss setting
3) Allow me to move the text to whatever position
4) Change text layer opacity
5) Flatten
At some point in the past when searching the internet I came upon a description of how to create a brush preset (I think that was it) that did at least most of this, but somehow I seem to have lost the preset and don't know how to recreate it.
thanks,
Mike
First it is And/or you can create both or one or the other. For in actions  and scripts you can not automate the use of a brush.
1) Add a fixed text string in the forground color, consistent font, size, etc.
    Easy if all images are the same size and a little more work if image size vary for you will need to scale the image.
    If you want to scale the image back to it original scale at the end of the action you need to use a little script in the action. .
2) Apply a consistent Layer Style -> Bevel and Emboss setting
    Again easy if aoo images are the same size not posible if images vary in size for many setting in layer style are in absolute pixel size.
    However layer styles will look good for a range of images sizes like Print Size or thunbnail size or small web sizes.
    Therfore I create actions for print size images and work full size. if I need smaller image I work full size and resize before output.
3) Allow me to move the text to whatever position
     This is quite easy to do in an action you simply add an interactive transform step after adding the text layer.
     However this is not a good idea if you want to batch the action. Interactive sort of defeats batch.
     With an action it is easy to posion a layer.
4) Change text layer opacity
    Simply change the added text layers opacity and or fill and it will be recorded.
5) Flatten
    Simple just record it I don't like actions that flatten though. If you give your action to some and the use it on an image the did a lot of work on the may get very upset the your acrion flatten all their work.
Have a look at my Crafting Actions Package it cantains a sample action that add a text copyright layer to any size image.
Package Contains
Action Actions Palette Tips.txt
Action Creation Guidelines.txt
Action Dealing with Image Size.txt
Action Enhanced via Scripted Photoshop Functions.txt
CraftedActions.atn Sample Action set includes an example Watermarking action
Sample Actions.txt Photoshop CraftedActions set saved as a text file.
12 Scripts for actions
Example
Download