CS5 Action Batch

Windows 7. (64bit) Illustrator CS5 (15.0.0)
I am trying to run an action on a batch of EPS files. The action runs as expected, but Illustrator is determined to SAVE AS ai files. I have no Save or Save As steps in my action.
If I choose Save and Close for Destination, each file will present a Save As Dialog Box, set to the AI format.
If I choose Folder, and choose the destination folder as the same as trhe source (Which is what I want), then Illustrator does not prompt me. However, it ends up saving 2 copies of the file. One with a number appended to the file name (Which also appears to be a slightly smaller file size).
My understanding is that when you choose Save and Close, Illustrator should do just that. Not change the format.
Any ideas?
Thanks
-Karl

Hi Kurt. Basically I'm taking a small Tiff (500 x 357) that I have edited in Photoshop and finishing it off in Illustrator by first Live Tracing it and then resizing to 1920 x 1080.
I tried Bridge and it would not ignore white, also the resize stage seemed to miss every other file, which is why I have two instances of it in my actions.
I would have liked to have the action read from my RAID (d drive) and then write to my my export drive (e drive) but everytime I configured the batch dialogue to do that, I ended up with duplicates of each file. EDIT duplicates in the export folder.
I added "save and close" to the action steps, but could only get that to work by writing to the same folder I am reading from.
I intend to use this process a fair bit in the coming months and the small amout of time saved in each instance will add up to a lot, which is why I want to understand this fully.
Thank you.

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Hi
Brand new to this forum. Quick intro: Eivind from Norway, 32, Photographer, Nikon D300, CS5
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No comments on this one?
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My Problem in Photoshop CS5: Action is not running automatically while I trying to save PDF to JPG, in the batch process:
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What is part of the Action?
Could you please post a screenshot with the pertinent Panels visible?
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How does one transfer CS5 actions for use with CS6?

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I hope this helps.
and I hope there are no typos.

Healing brush / action / batch?

I have a massive amount of photographs with the same view of Shanghai and I'm trying to make a still image animation using these pics. When i started working my images I found two huge spots in the skyline. I'm wondering if theres a way to do something like an action/batch thing in photoshop using the healing brush to clean these spost that are sitting in the same damn place in all of my images, or would it just be easier to clean the spots from the animation video with premier or something. I'm not that familiar with video editing and would like to clean these spots before I get started.

Reynolds (Mark) wrote:
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Photoshop CS5 HELP- batch processing/ actions

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While I'm at it, I might as well ask if anyone knows how to change the illustrator default image trace preset.... Without being able to change it, or much less specify in the action sequence that I'd like to use a user created image trace preset rather than the default setting, it's greatly overcomplicating my workflow. Makes what could easily be one-step batch processing into two. Seems pretty silly if you ask me.
Please, if you guys have any insights on this, let me know. It's super frustrating... By the way, if you're wondering what type of effect I'm going for, the idea (as well as some explanation into their own process) starts at 12:44 of this video (http://vimeo.com/77427470).
THANKS!

Just wanted to let you guys know, for anyone who might be having my same issue... My home computer, even after a fresh install of Illustrator, was still placing the linked jpeg over the traced vector shapes when batch exporting... I did however find a workaround. Rather than using Bridge CS6 for the batch image tracing, I used Bridge CS5 to trace in Illustrator CS5. Then, I used Illustrator CS6 to batch export an action that imported and applied an effect to those image traced sequences. When you do this, it forces you to expand the tracing on import (because of the difference in Illustrator versions I'm assuming). This way, when you batch run the action, it's already working with expanded vector shapes. Not sure why this works, but it does.
Also, I was having some issues getting Illustrator to apply the graphic style when batch exporting. I got it to work by copying an object with that particular graphic style to the clipboard, then adding in the action I was running a "paste" command, followed by a "clear" command. I can only assume that Illustrator was having issues loading custom graphics styles while batch exporting. The paste/delete technique is annoying, but gets it done.
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Using CS5 actions in LR3

My apologies in advance if I ask this question with the wrong terminology. I am a fairly recent adopter of LR3 and CS5 for my workflow, with a goal of using LR3 for the in-bulk, batched sorting/selecting, adjusting/processing and conversion/output of images, with CS5 as the editor for those special images that require additional processing not available in LR3. My question is, if I develop an automated action in CS5 (say with several adjustment layers, etc.) and want to use it for batched processing in LR3, is there a way to do that? I'd like to preserve LR3 as the "final writer" of output files since that is where the best tool (I have found) for writing watermarks with my signature and copyright seems to reside.

Here's how you create a droplet in Photoshop.
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CS5 Actions compliant with earlier versions?

This must be somewhere on the forum, but my searches must have the wrong wording. I'm turning up nothing.
I'm having a brain freeze on this subject. I used to have CS2 installed on my computer with CS5 to make brushes and actions, but I removed it as I was having conflicts. Anyway, how far back - if at all will an action made in CS5 go? Also for Elements if you know.
Thank you.

Thanks Bob, I'll check that guy out.
Something interesting just happened with some CS3 files we sent to a client, which they opened and worked on extensively in CS5. They are, I'm certain, completely unaware as to the problems that can potentially occur. So I'm sure they simply opened the files in CS5.
They sent the files back in two batches, the first batch not showing any oddities. In the second batch, however, when H&J violations is turned ON, EVERY line of every paragraph except the last in each paragraph was highlighted yellow, most the darkest yellow.
In the style lists there is no plus sign next to the style name showing an override, yet if we reapply the style from the tool bar menu or we Ctrl+Shift click (Windows) the paragraph symbol at the bottom of the paragraph style panel, the yellow becomes what we would expect to see, only sometimes does the paragraph re-run.
Another interesting thing is that when the style name is clicked in the paragraph style panel it does NOT fix the paragraph. In CS3 this would have had the same affect as applying it from the tool bar menu so perhaps that's just a new change in CS5.
I'm inclined to put this down to the conversion from CS3 to CS5. You think?
I'm trying to muster the fortitude to call the designer and try and get him to explain what they may have done different with the two batches. I'll post back if I find out anything.
Thanks again for the soxy tip,
Ken

Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?

I posted this in the Mac forum but received no responses after a couple of days, so I am trying it here.
Photoshop CS3 Actions seem to have a bug such that when used in Automate > Batch mode it will use the name of the first file opened in the batch session for every file processed in that session. Since that name is used in Save step, this means having to deal with the "File Already Exist" dialog for every file in the batch because it is attempting to save at the designated location with the same file name. If the continue option is chosen each time, the final result is one file with the first opened file name, but with the contents of the last processed file.
To confirm that this is a problem particular to the opening step, I have disabled all processing steps as well as the saving step by toggling them in the Actions panel. I then ran the action in batch mode on a folder containing 4 files. This resulted in 4 opened files all with the same name but different image content.
This was with the "Override 'Open' Action Commands" checked/not checked, and the "Suppress File Open Options Dialogs" checked/not checked. The problem described also occurs when using a Droplet.
By comparison, Photoshop CS exhibits the expected behavior: when an action is used in batch mode to process an entire folder of files, the name of each file is retained after opening and used after processing in the save or export step.
The above described behavior of CS3 is a change acquired along the way to the CS3 version (I do not have the CS2 version to test). But more importantly, can someone please report if the CS4 version behaves as I described for CS3, or if it has been returned to the CS behavior?
OS X 10.4.11
G4 800 MHz 2 MB L3/processor 1.25 GB SDRAM
Is this a known bug?
Al

Hello Miguel,
I was going to come back to post some of my findings, one of which relates to your staement:
"- The open command created by Photoshop 6 doesn't keep the file's name, it is a much simple open command, and so it opens the file with the own file's name."
In my case I found that my CS version of the "same" action worked, while the CS3 version failed, precisely because the earlier one records less detail for the open step.
My need is to convert dozens of Quark pdf files to GIF and JPEG files for the web. What I found after several days of testing is that it is best to record the opening step in CS3 NOT using a pdf file, so that the "Open As Generic Pdf with 'Name____' " would not be coded into the opening step. Instead I recorded the whole action using a PSD file. Then I can proceed to run it in Batch mode choosing a folder of Quark pdf files as the source location with "Override 'Open' Action Commands" checked, and the "Suppress File Open Options Dialogs" checked, and it opens all the pdf files just fine in some background process, not getting stuck in the details of the file name, and proceeds to cary out the flattening, saving, and closing steps to my chosen target location and uses the finder file name of each pdf files in the source folder to save a filename.ext in the Target folder.
Contrary to what I stated in my original post, "Override 'Open' Action Commands" checked/not checked does indeed make a difference. If it is not checked, the files do open in batch mode, but the other steps are not performed. There is much more about this that I would like to know, and this may not be a general solution for all types of files that a user may wish to process in batch mode, but it works for my case. The main trick is to use as simple an opening step as possible when recording the action, and then letting Photoshop use whatever background process it requires to open a particular file type. I tested this by manually saving a pdf file to each of the twenty some odd formats available in the save as dialog to a Source folder, and then proceeded to batch process that folder with the action described above, and it worked for all except one.
So while there may not be a bug involved in this problem, there certainly is a lack of documentation about how the "improvements" in the opening step in newer versions of Photoshop affect using Actions in Batch mode.
Please comment if you can further explain any of the reported results. In particular, what is the situation in CS4?
Thanks,
Al

In need of CS5 Actions help

Last week I was trying to set my actions up to be in button mode and was trying to categorize them and so forth. I dont remember exactly what all I did, but I ended up really messing up my actions - here are the issues.
*Some actions that I try to play want to bring up dialog boxes(if applicable) for each step in that action - but did not do this before. Or it will stop (even when there is no stop inserted in the action) and wont continue to play.
* Actions that I created no longer work properly. For example, I created a "studio action" to play on all my images that I shoot in my studio. This action contained a step using a plug-in, and then about 3 other steps using other actions that I had purchased to use. When I would have a studio image, I could press play, it would process each step in that action without stopping, and then I could adust any un-flattened layers at the end. After my attempt at Button Mode, when I went back to having the Actions in a regular list, that action would no longer play each step. So I deleted it and tried to recreate that same action, but it wont record some steps/actions in the new action set I am trying to create.
*In trying to create a new action set, some actions/steps wont record, but previously had before trying to switch to button mode.
My computer is a pc and I have the windows 7 operating system. I am using PS CS5 and have updated it with the patch.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as this has now slowed down my editing process

Christina M Newby wrote:
"When I try to record a new action set and use an action from this group, "
You don't record a new action set you create one and when you do you name it and its empty ther is nothing in it to play. Once created you can record or copy or move actions into it.
"and use an action from this group"
Use what action what is the group your writting about?
"it will not record it in the new set."
I don't under stand you record a new action by highlighting an action set then click on the new acyion icon. You name the new action and click on record or yourecord into an existing action by highlighting the step in an action you want to record steps after and clicking on the record button.
" I have deleted the action set that I had previously created (and used to work just fine) "
that is what I ask you to post not delete.
"so I am trying to create a new action set. namely the midtone lifter and magical contrast are ones I am trying to use in the new action that I am creating."
" Does that make sense? "
Yes and No. Some of what you wrote shows your lack of knowledge. When you move things adround and delete(unload loaded actoion set) things can become broken. Your not going to fix you problems without learning a bit.
Yes you can not attach files here you must upload them to a service like you send it and include a link to it in you append using the link icon.

Problem with Action/Batch

OK, PS CS4 extended v. 11.0.1 on a Win XP sp3 OS
I recorded a simple action set
Open | Set File Info of current document | Save | Close
I then performed an Automated Batch run to duplicate this on a series of more than 100 photo images in a folder. In the Batch dialogue box, I clearly identified a new folder - located in the same directory as the original - as the Destination Folder for the images. However, when the batch process was complete, the newly created folder was EMPTY and all of the photo images in the Source Folder had been rewritten!
Now, since this was as simple as entering file information, no harm was done to the image files. However, I have had other times when I run a batch action to resize the images from their raw size to, for instance, 6" X 4" @ 300 dpi for printing. When these save to the original source folder it IS a problem because my native files are overwritten.
Did I do something wrong in the action? Did I set something incorrectly in the batch process?
If I do this correctly, there should be a screenshot of my action steps and my batch settings here.
Please help me! I use this feature A LOT because I am responsible for cataloging all of the photos taken at our airport.
Thank you!
Susan

ZB: Please don't apologize! I am grateful for the assistance, I was just confused by the "save" vs. "save as" information and wanted to be certain that I understood what you were saying. I figure if I'm going to ask someone to share their knowledge/time with me, the least I can do is understand it well enough to put it to use and possibly pass it along to someone else at a later date! I certainly don't want to have to keep asking the same questions each time I try to do a task. Oy ve...that would be annoying!
Thank you very much for your help. I don't have another project right now to try this with, but I'm certain I will soon enough. We have a $138 million dollar construction project we are photographing almost daily.
Again, my heartfelt thanks!

Issues with Illustrator CS5 Actions

Hello All,
I'm trying to create an illustrator action that isn't functioning properly on playback. I'm using Illustrator CS5 on a Macbook. In setting up for print production of CD's and DVD's, on what's called an OMAP; I have to copy, paste and then place the image at a specific point on the artboard. Then I repeat 143 times. I'd like to create an action that pastes and moves each of the 144 disc images to the precise x and y coordinates given. I've tried creating this action through the steps outlined below, but the result of the playback is never consistent and the images end up off the artboard. Any tips or answers are welcome.
1. Copy disc image from an existing illustrator file.
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3. I hit command>V to paste.
4. In the transform panel I put in the x and y coordinates
(Then repeat)
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I think I may have it solved... or perhaps just a workaround. I duplicate the x axis coordinate in the action's playback. Then rearrange the playback to: paste> x axis coordinate> y axis coordinate> x axis coordinate. This seems to be working for some odd reason. Unfortunately, this doesn't work if the x axis is simply put after the y axis: paste> y axis coordinate> x axis coordinate. The x has to be given before y, then x again: paste> x axis coordinate> y axis coordinate> x axis coordinate = desired result. This is really strange. If anyone has a better solution, please reply. I'll update the actions for my client and see if this works in it's entirety, on windows and mac, and then update this post.

PS CS5 Action will not stop for interactive dialogue

I've written an action for CS5 that worked just fine in CS2...but doesn't work now. I want the action to stop so that I can adjust layer opacity manually, but it just runs right on by that part of the process with the values I wrote the first time. I've checked the box to the far left and the dialogue icon is showing in the second box from the left in the actions palette. Any ideas on why it won't stop where I'd like it to?

Not sure why it's not working - but you could insert a stop in your action from the drop down menu just before the step where your error is. then record the next stage again where you change the layer opacity (and turn the dialog on for this part of the action). Disable the previous stage of the action where the problem was and then try running it again.

PS CS5 Actions Bug

Hello!
I have a wierd issue happening involving an Action I created. The action has a step where I place an image (crop marks).
If I go through the action step-by-step (cmd-dblClick), the action completes as expected. However, when I try to batch a group of files the placed image step messes up and the image is offset -181px horizontal. I have rebuilt the action a couple times to no avail.
Has anyone seen this issue other than myself. Could use some expert advice.
Thanks!
I am running PS 12.2 64bit on a Mac Pro 2x2.8 Quad Core with OS 10.6.8 & 16gb RAM

Thanks for replying.
All images are the same res and size. Been trying to fix this and here is what I have come up with so far.
If I try on a single image in full-screen mode works fine. Single image in standard scren mode and I get the offset again. So I think it has something to do with the window. I did try inserting a menu item into action (change screen mode) but did not help.
I will try your idea with the ruler though.
Thanks again!

CS5 Action Batch

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