How to create an action to insert hundreds of different numbers for limited edition prints?

Question

Hi,
I sell limited edition prints of a run of between 350 and 500.
I am trying to get it set up so that my signature and the print number is included as part of the print. Here is an example:
You'll see at bottom left there is my signature and underneath is is the print number e.g. 110/350 (this is legible when printed at 18x12" size).
Inserting the signature and the "/350" is easy since it only needs to be done once per image.
The difficulty comes with inserting the actual print number e.g. "110"
At the moment I have 0 to 9 written out and scanned in as separate numbers. So to make "110" I use the "1" digit twice, plus the "0" digit. I.e. I haven't written out 1 to 500 and scanned them in all as separate numbers, I've just done the 10 digits and use those 10 digits to make all the different numbers I need.
Is there a way to create an action that will create say 350 JPEG copies of the original file, each one with its own unique print number inserted? (And ideally automatically saved with the print number as its file name!)
Many thanks in advance

Answer 1

This Script might be able to do some of what you wanted (the startNumber and endNumber would have to be set in the Script).
It needs a Layer Group named »numbers« to contain layers for the numbers named »0«, »1«, …
(script edited)
// this script saves jpg copies with numbers created from number-layers in a layer group;
// use it at your own risk;
#target photoshop;
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
// define the numbers to create;
var startNumber = 290;
var endNumber = 310;
// set to pixels;
var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;
// get doc;
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
// getting the name and location;
var docName = myDocument.name;
var baseName = docName.match(/(.*)\.[^\.]+$/)[1];
//getting the location;
var docPath = myDocument.path;
// duplicate the image;
var thecopy = myDocument.duplicate (thecopy, false);
// jpg options;
var jpgopts = new JPEGSaveOptions();
jpgopts.embedProfile = true;
jpgopts.formatOptions = FormatOptions.STANDARDBASELINE;
jpgopts.matte = MatteType.NONE;
jpgopts.quality = 9;
// get number layers;
var numberSet = thecopy.layers.getByName("numbers");
// collect in an array;
var theNumbers = [numberSet.layers.getByName("0"), numberSet.layers.getByName("1"), numberSet.layers.getByName("2"),
numberSet.layers.getByName("3"), numberSet.layers.getByName("4"), numberSet.layers.getByName("5"),
numberSet.layers.getByName("6"), numberSet.layers.getByName("7"), numberSet.layers.getByName("8"), numberSet.layers.getByName("9")];
numberSet.visible = true;
// proceed if all numbers have been found;
if (theNumbers.length == 10) {
// hide layers;
for (var n = 0; n < numberSet.layers.length; n++) {
numberSet.layers[n].visible = false
var theState = thecopy.activeHistoryState;
// process the numbers;
for (var m = startNumber; m < endNumber + 1; m++) {
// the position;
var theHor = 500;
// create an array for the new numbers;
var theArray = new Array;
// the number;
var thisString = String(m);
// duplicate layers to create the numbers;
for (var o = 0; o < thisString.length; o++) {
var theNumberLayer = theNumbers[Number(thisString[o])];
// create copy;
var theLayer = duplicateMoveRotateScale (theNumberLayer, theHor - Number(theNumberLayer.bounds[0]), 0, 100, 100, 0);
theNumberLayer.visible = false;
//alert (m+"_"+o+"\n"+theNumberLayer+"\n"+theLayer);
// set the hor to edge of the new layer;
var theHor = theLayer.bounds[2];
theArray.push(theLayer);
// get the number for the file name;
var theNumber = bufferNumberWithZeros(m, String(endNumber).length);
//save jpg;
thecopy.saveAs((new File(docPath+"/"+baseName+"_"+theNumber+".jpg")),jpgopts,true);
// remove copied layers;
//for (var p = theArray.length - 1; p >= 0; p--) {theArray[p].remove()};
thecopy.activeHistoryState = theState;
// close copy;
thecopy.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
// reset ruler;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits
//that’s it; thanks to xbytor;
////// buffer number with zeros //////
function bufferNumberWithZeros (number, places) {
          var theNumberString = String(number);
          for (var o = 0; o < (places - String(number).length); o++) {
                    theNumberString = String("0" + theNumberString)
          return theNumberString
////// duplicate layer and move, rotate and scale it //////
function duplicateMoveRotateScale (theLayer, theX, theY, theScaleX, theScaleY, theRotation) {
app.activeDocument.activeLayer = theLayer;
try{
// =======================================================
var idTrnf = charIDToTypeID( "Trnf" );
    var desc10 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
        var ref6 = new ActionReference();
        var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
        var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
        var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
        ref6.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
    desc10.putReference( idnull, ref6 );
    var idFTcs = charIDToTypeID( "FTcs" );
    var idQCSt = charIDToTypeID( "QCSt" );
    var idQcsa = charIDToTypeID( "Qcsa" );
    desc10.putEnumerated( idFTcs, idQCSt, idQcsa );
    var idOfst = charIDToTypeID( "Ofst" );
        var desc11 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idHrzn = charIDToTypeID( "Hrzn" );
        var idPxl = charIDToTypeID( "#Pxl" );
        desc11.putUnitDouble( idHrzn, idPxl, theX );
        var idVrtc = charIDToTypeID( "Vrtc" );
        var idPxl = charIDToTypeID( "#Pxl" );
        desc11.putUnitDouble( idVrtc, idPxl, theY );
    var idOfst = charIDToTypeID( "Ofst" );
    desc10.putObject( idOfst, idOfst, desc11 );
    var idWdth = charIDToTypeID( "Wdth" );
    var idPrc = charIDToTypeID( "#Prc" );
    desc10.putUnitDouble( idWdth, idPrc, theScaleX );
    var idHght = charIDToTypeID( "Hght" );
    var idPrc = charIDToTypeID( "#Prc" );
    desc10.putUnitDouble( idHght, idPrc, theScaleY );
    var idAngl = charIDToTypeID( "Angl" );
    var idAng = charIDToTypeID( "#Ang" );
    desc10.putUnitDouble( idAngl, idAng, theRotation );
    var idIntr = charIDToTypeID( "Intr" );
    var idIntp = charIDToTypeID( "Intp" );
    var idbicubicAutomatic = stringIDToTypeID( "bicubicAutomatic" );
    desc10.putEnumerated( idIntr, idIntp, idbicubicAutomatic );
    var idCpy = charIDToTypeID( "Cpy " );
    desc10.putBoolean( idCpy, true );
executeAction( idTrnf, desc10, DialogModes.NO );
return app.activeDocument.activeLayer
} catch (e) {}
Edit: This Script just uses the layers’ horizontal bounds for orientation, so it does not address the issue I referred to earlier reagrding aesthetically pleasing spacing of the elements.