Making precise selections in a Photoshop action

There is a built-in action in the "Image Effects" folder of the Actions palette called "Quadrant Colors" that tints the four quadrants of your image in different colors. To select each quadrant, there is a "Set Selection" step that uses precise pixel coordinates and percentages to position and size each selection. Double clicking the step does not bring up any kind of dialog box to edit these settings, so how do I go about creating such a step?
I'm using Photoshop CS3.

Setting Your Ruler-Units to percent on recording an Action should enable You to make a selection based on percentages manually (which means it would be applied to other documents based on percentages of their respective dimensions); though if You want to do it with numeric entries I would recommend try Scripting.

Similar Messages

Need to Run Photoshop Action on every image in Export!

I would really save a ton of time if I could select a specific PS action to run automatically as a last step in the export process, like Image Processor script, only populated with the current set being developed.
The process would go like this: Lightroom develops raws, then communicates with photoshop by opening it, if not already open, and then running the action(s) identified in the export settings, without any user input. For example, process raws to jpgs then run a smart sharpen action on the newly created folder of images.
Thanks! And let me know if anyone has written a script to do this feature yet. -Dave

Figured out how to get rid of the save as prompt. This may cause confusion with others out there, so I'll post it.
1. You have to record a "save as" step in your action (I also recorded the "close" step), dont worry about the name here, just set the JPG setting you want in your action.
2. Then when you create your droplet, the key is to check the override save as box.
The combination of these two steps will get PS to sub your original filename/location recorded in your save as step in the action with the current filename (variable) the loop in the droplet passes.
Doing only one or the other will get you a JPG prompt. Do both together. The logic here confused me. I would rather be able to specify the JPG settings in the Droplet dialog and have that written to the script without recording any save as step in my action. (like Image Processor script)

Can I use photoshop text styles and photoshop actions with creative cloud photography?

I'm really confused by this subscription pricing. If I purchase the $9.99/month, do I get the full desktop app of Photoshop and Lightroom? But I see on this page Products they list something called Photoshop CC that costs twice as much. How is that different from the Creative Cloud Photography?
My main question is whether I can use photoshop text styles and photoshop actions with Creative Cloud Photography, since I just purchased a bundle that includes these and I want to be able to use them. But I'd also like to understand what comes with all of the various products and how they are different.
My other question is how is Lightroom different from Photoshop? I have a sense of what you can do in Photoshop but I don't know much about Lightroom at all.
One more question: the free trial -- is it limited in any way besides the time length? If I do that, will I get a clear idea of all that I will be able to do once I subscribe, or are the functions limited in the trial?
I tried to just send an email to Adobe to ask these questions but apparently they are not interested in responding to emails from people who are not yet paying customers, so I was directed here. Thanks very much for your help!

I always like to trot this bit about Bridge once in a while or in the voice of the "Two Bobs" from Office Space,
"Can you tell us exactly what it is you do around here?"
What Adobe Bridge does:
Bridge is the coordinating hub of the Creative Suite. Synchronizing color management settings for all suite programs is done from Bridge, and can only be done from Bridge, to take one important use.
Bridge displays actual thumbnails of many more file types than Finder or Explorer. It also allows instant play of sound or video files more readily than the native OS file managers.
Bridge allows direct access to file metadata, to embed copyright information and keywords where appropriate (e.g., for corporate logo vector and raster files). It also displays the fonts used in an InDesign file, the swatches in an INDD or AI and the output plates (including spot color plates) they use.
When managing the assets for a design project, Bridge allows quick and simple sorting, rating and custom labeling (with color flash indications) of assets. I can rate images according to whether they are rejects, possibles, for review by client, or approved. The filters built into Bridge allow instant isolation of only the approved images or designs in a folder, only the rejects (for deletion) or only files with certain ratings, no matter how many files it contains. It recognizes aspect ratios, so if I only need a landscape or a 16:9 image in a folder of hundreds of images, I turn off the aspect ratios I don't need.
Once filtered, the remaining visible files can be selected and copied, moved, or deleted without affecting the rest of the contents of a folder.
Collections are a massively useful feature. One of my clients is a performing arts center, and in a season we turn out dozens of ads, flyers, brochures, web banners, playbills, billboards and other collateral using the same assets over and over. These assets are organized by artist and/or show on disk, but I set up each season's repeating assets as a Collection in Bridge, so that I just have to open the collection and drag and drop these assets into new INDD, AI, PSD, HTML (in Dreamweaver), FLA or AE projects without having to navigate from folder to folder picking up individual files.
Bridge's Favorites is another place I stack frequently-accessed folders, such as stock photography, backgrounds, and top-level folders for active projects.
Assets can be divided into subfolders, but a quick toggle of "Show items from subfolders" exposes all of the assets in a single view while maintaining their organization. I will typically keep AIs, PSDs, EPSs, stock photography and client images in separate subfolders within a project. When I'm ready to start pulling assets into an InDesign layout, I toggle this on and simply drag what I need into the layout.
Bridge comes with Adobe Camera Raw built in, which is many times faster than using Photoshop to adjust jpegs or tiffs for things like tonal range, white balance, cropping, spotting and sharpening, and is non-destructive.
One tremendously useful Bridge function for InDesign CS5+ users is the "Show linked files" feature, which opens all the linked files in a layout into a single view, regardless of where they are physically located. I often use this when doing alternative layouts from a client-approved mockup for a campaign, to be certain the same assets are used in each piece, or when creating a motion graphic or interactive piece for the campaign in After Effects or Flash.
The batch and image processing scripts built into Bridge automate things like creating web-ready small jpegs from multiple images, renaming large numbers of files in place or by copying to an alternative location, creating sets of PSD, png, jpeg or other file types from an assortment of image files, and so on.
Bridge is so much a part of my daily workflow that on my main workstation I have one monitor dedicated to it almost 100%. Bridge just sits open 24/7, ready for use. I would run at half speed without it, no question.

How to launch photoshop action?

I'm writing a Bridge CS3 script to generate a web gallery. The user selects some files and starts the script through a context menu item. The script iterates through the selection list a couple of times, writes files, etc.
As the final step, I need to start Photoshop CS3 and run an action on the set of selected files--as if I had picked Tools/Photoshop/Batch... from the Bridge menus but with the action specified so the user does not have to go through the action dialog in Photoshop. After starting the action, the Bridge script is complete and can quit while Photoshop does its batch processing.
The Photoshop action contains mostly "fit image..." and sharpening steps. It also contains some simple scripts, mostly simple "save as" types of operations.
I'm uncertain how to do this. Is this where BridgeTalk must be used? Can anyone direct me to a sample script that does something simple like this?
Is there any problem with having scripts within the action? Some messages I've seen suggest there is, but I'm not certain I'm interpreting them correctly, or whether they apply to CS3.
Thanks.
Guy

[email protected] wrote:
> I'm uncertain how to do this. Is this where BridgeTalk must be used?
Yes. You would have some Bridge JS call some PS JS which would, in turn, call
your Batch/Action.
> Can anyone direct me to a sample script that does something simple like this?
You might want to take a look at the Bridge SDK, if you haven't already. There
are several examples using BridgeTalk. And also look at the code in Common
Files/Adobe/Startup Scripts CS3 to see how Adobe implemented the Bridge
Tools->Photoshop functionality. It's a bit difficult to follow in places but
what you really want to look at is the photoshop10.runActionCommand function in
photoshop-10.jsx. It's one way of calling PS actions from Bridge and it's also
what I use in my code.
>
> Is there any problem with having scripts within the action?
CS3 has apparently addressed this issue but I can't say from personal experience
that it works. However, this was not possible at all in CS2 unless you went to
really extreme measures.
-X
for photoshop scripting solutions of all sorts
contact: [email protected]

Selection tools make Photoshop CS crash

When I am using either the magic wand tool or the polygonal lasso tool in Photoshop CS, the tools cause the program to behave strangely, including:
-crashing (program error, PS shuts down)
-PS completes a lasso by itself without me completing it
-using the lasso tool causes the tools pallete to go blank, and hovering over each tool restores it
Is there a fix for whatever is causing this bug?
Thanks

http://forums.adobe.com/thread/375816?tstart=0
Boilerplate-text:
Are Photoshop and OS fully updated and have you performed the usual trouble-shooting routines (trashing prefs by keeping command-alt-shift/ctrl-alt-shift pressed while starting Photoshop after making sure all customized presets like Actions, Patterns, Brushes etc. have been saved and making a note of the Preferences you’ve changed, 3rd party plug-ins deactivation, system maintenance, cleaning caches, font validation, etc.)?

Photoshop actions not working!

HELP!!! I am unable to play any of my Photoshop actions! (I have CS5 extended and I'm working on an iMac) They were working fine, now for some reason, whenever I mouse over the "play" button, I get a circle with a diagonal line through it. I tried deleting and reloading the actions, but the same thing happened. I have scoured the internet trying to find a solution. I would really appreciate help with this matter!!!!

Do you by chance have the action set selected and not an actual Action selected?

Creating a photoshop action to save a batch of images as patterns

I am trying to use Photoshop actions to script about a thousand image files into PAT files. I am running into a problem with actions when it comes to defining a pattern. The program naturally selects the filename as the name of the pattern when doing it manually, but when I do this while recording an action Photoshop logs the filename used in creating the action and then uses that filename for all sripted patterns. Is there a way to alter that setting to select the current file's name instead?

You might want to move this thread to the general photoshop forum if tou want an action. However your not going to be able to do create the action you want for when you record menu Edit>Define Pattern the "Pattern Name Dialog" will pop up and whatever is used in it will be recorded into the action.
Also Photoshop Scripting DOM does not have a interface for creating and nameing patterns. However you should bne ale to write a script to do what you want using code generated with Photoshop Scriptlistner Plug-in and modifying the hard coded name to a variable you set with somthing like the active document name.
Before defining the patern you may be able to see if the name is all ready use for a pattern name so you can add something to the name to avoid duplicateing name.
ScriptListner Code difine pattern
// =======================================================
var idMk = charIDToTypeID( "Mk " );
    var desc14 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
        var ref12 = new ActionReference();
        var idPtrn = charIDToTypeID( "Ptrn" );
        ref12.putClass( idPtrn );
    desc14.putReference( idnull, ref12 );
    var idUsng = charIDToTypeID( "Usng" );
        var ref13 = new ActionReference();
        var idPrpr = charIDToTypeID( "Prpr" );
        var idfsel = charIDToTypeID( "fsel" );
        ref13.putProperty( idPrpr, idfsel );
        var idDcmn = charIDToTypeID( "Dcmn" );
        var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
        var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
        ref13.putEnumerated( idDcmn, idOrdn, idTrgt );
    desc14.putReference( idUsng, ref13 );
    var idNm = charIDToTypeID( "Nm " );
    desc14.putString( idNm, "Pattern 5" );      <------ change "Pattern 5" to be a variable
executeAction( idMk, desc14, DialogModes.NO );

How to see filename of loaded Photoshop action?

Is there a way to view the filename of loaded actions?
I am trying to find the .atn file on my computer of a Photoshop action that I loaded ages ago and frequently use. The action was a free download and creates a new document displaying a before and after view of the image I am working on. I have hundreds of .atn files on my machine and have been unable to identify the one I am using by just scrolling through all the available .atn files in my presets folders. I also did a search on the computer itself in case the .atn file was loaded from some other folder, but for the life of me I can't find it.
It would be convenient if there were some way to display the properties of a loaded action that would include the path to the action file.

Actions are usually stored in one of 2 places. First is within the PS program directory under Presets\Actions (installed drive letter:\Adobe\Photoshop CS5\Presets\Actions) or under you user name and basically the same path but on Win 7 it is a little different (C:\User\username\(Local or Roaming)\AppData\Adobe\Photoshop CS5\Presets\Actions)(I think that is the path. I'm on XP box right now). So look in both those locations.
With Win 7 it REALLY likes to hide stuff from users, even users that have FULL Admin rights. If you haven't made changes to the folder view settings, like Show hidden and system file and unchecked "Hide Protected operating system files" it just may be that Win 7 is protecting those .atn file from view.
More then likely you saved that action set to the default Save location which is in the user profile. So I would start my search there.
In any event you can start to load action sets until you fined the one that has those that are listed in your screen shot. PS might even be smart enough to come up with a warning when you try to load the same action twice. But I wouldn't count on it. I just tried loading the same action twice and PS CS4 had no problem making a duplicate action set in the actions pallet.

Batch Photoshop actions?

Is it possible, somehow, to run a batch of images from Aperture with a PhotoShop action? I use this feature a lot in Bridge and hoping something similar is available in Aperture.

If you have the images outside Aperture's Library then would be pretty easy.
You can select the images in Aperture, right click on one and then "show in finder". You can make a Photoshop action as a droplet on the desktop where you can drop the images now selected in the finder.
To finish it you could have the action to save every image to a hot folder that will automaticaly re-import the retouched images back to Aperture.
To find how to make a hot folder to import to Aperture, have a look at this:
http://www.automator.us/aperture/example-04.html

How to Attach Script to Photoshop Action or Folder?

I'm not familiar with Applescript at all! However, I downloaded a script for use with Photoshop which crops an image to a specific format. It works great if I've got an image open in Photoshop.
What I can't figure out how to do is to either apply that script to an entire folder to process all images in that folder, or better yet, record a Photoshop Action that uses that script.
How can I use that script to do a batch process from either Photoshop or the Finder?
Thanks for any help for this total newbie.

The Mac I am currently using does not have 'Adobe Photoshop CS3' installed. However, based on [1], the code samples should work. Some editing may be needed, based on your specific requirements.
Sample code01:
-- Code starts here --
on run ()
my handle_Items(choose folder with multiple selections allowed)
end
on open (dItems)
my handle_Items(dItems)
end
on handle_Items(tItemss)
tell application "Adobe Photoshop CS3"
repeat with i in tItemss
set fList to list folder i without invisibles
repeat with j in fList
try
open file ((i as string) & j)
try
set docRef to current document
set (docWidth,docHeight) to (width of docRef,height of docRef)
set minDimension to docWidth
if docWidth > docHeight then set minDimension to docHeight
crop docRef bounds {(docWidth - minDimension) / 2, (docHeight - minDimension) / 2, (docWidth + minDimension) / 2, (docHeight + minDimension) / 2}
save current document
close current document saving no
end try
end try
end repeat
end repeat
end tell
end handle_Items
-- Code ends here --
Save the code as an application (AppleScript 'applet').
You and then either double click on the applet - and navigate to and select a desired folder (or folders), of which its / their contents will be processed; or, you can drag a folder (or folders) onto the applet, of which the folders contents will be processed.
Code sample02:
-- Code starts here --
on adding folder items to tFolder after receiving tItems
tell application "Adobe Photoshop CS3"
repeat with i in tItems
try
open file (i as string)
try
set docRef to current document
set (docWidth,docHeight) to (width of docRef,height of docRef)
set minDimension to docWidth
if docWidth > docHeight then set minDimension to docHeight
crop docRef bounds {(docWidth - minDimension) / 2, (docHeight - minDimension) / 2, (docWidth + minDimension) / 2, (docHeight + minDimension) / 2}
save current document
close current document saving no
end try
end try
end repeat
end tell
end adding folder items to
-- Code ends here --
See 'Folder Actions Reference' about AppleScript Folder Actions; and, 'Running an automation when a folder is changed' for attaching an AppleScript Folder Action.
[1] - Consult 'photoshopcs3_applescriptref.pdf' for Adobe Photoshop AppleScript classes and commands.

Use Relative Path for Photoshop Action?

I have a Photoshop Action that is programmed to open an existing file located in a specific directory. The path to this directory is an absolute path, i.e.:
C:\Program Files\Photoshop Actions\filename.jpg
As long as the Action can find the file in the specified absolute path, everything works fine.
My problem is that if someone tries to run this Action on a different computer (like a Mac), the path specified in the action does not exist and the Action will not work.
The simple solution to this would be to make the action open the file located at a relative path. This way no matter what computer the action is run on, it will always be able to find the file.
Unfortunately, I don't think Photoshop Actions allow relative paths. Does anyone know if using a relative path in an action is possible?
Failing this, how would I use a Photoshop Script to somehow direct the Action to find the correct location of the file? Or is there a better solution?

The idea that I use in the xtools installer and else where is this:
1) Convert the action file to XML.
2) Package the XML file and the apps/ActionFileFromXML script with your stuff.
3) An installer script will do a 'replace' (or whatever) on the XML file so that the paths are converted to whatever is needed.
4) The new XML is saved and then converted to a .atn file which is then loaded.
There is an xtools forum at ps-scripts.com that may have some info in addition to the PDF file that comes with the package.
-X

How can a classic report be filtered using one select item and dynamic action?

APEX 4.2.1
DB 11g
I have a page with 4 reports on it. The top report is an interactive report and the following 3 are classic reports. The users would like to be able to use a select list to filter the 3rd report by PO line number without refreshing the entire page.
After verifying that the report is set to allow partial refreshes, I took the following steps
1. Created a PO Line select item (p_po_line_select) in the same report region
2. Added p_po_line_select to the report query
3. Created a dynamic action on p_po_line_select with 2 true actions
     1. Set value (p_po_line_select)
     2. Refresh report region.
The Set Value dynamic step was not working; I would get an out of memory error at line 2, memory stack error, or the value did not get saved to session state depending on the settings I selected. I was able to get it working with the following set:
1. Action = Set Value
2. Set type = PL/SQL Expression
3. PL/SQL Expression = :p_field_does_not_exist
4.   Page items to submit = blank
5. Selection Type = Item(s)
6. Item(s) = p_field_does_not_exist
p_field_does_not_exist does not exist as a page or application item which leads me to believe that this is a bug and I am just lucky that it worked. I would rather know how to do this properly. Can someone please provide a link to a working example of how this should be done or state which settings are wrong?
I was able to reproduce the issue in the following app
http://apex.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p=4500:1000
workspace = occam
user test/apex1
Thanks,

STOP POSTING DUPLICATE THREADS.
If you have additional information, continue the discussion by posting it as a follow-up on the original thread: What is the proper way to filter classic report using just an LOV select field with dynamic action?

Sudden loss of print selected area in Photoshop 10.0.1?

Between printing one image and printing the next I seem to have lost the ability to print a selected area in Photoshop 10.0.1. I am using this old program because the new Photoshop does not have that option. The box is now greyed out. Does any know why I could lose this, and what can I do to get it back? This is extremely important to my work method...
Thank you.
Mary Challinor

Great news! "Print Selected Area" was restored in Photoshop CS6.
Go to File > Print, scroll down in the dialog box that appears, et voila:

Lightroom won't ask how to edit a file when I select "edit in Photoshop CS6"

Yesterday Lightroom suddenly stopped asking how I want the file edited when I select "edit in Photoshop". I opens the file directly in Photoshop without asking do I want to "edit with Lightroom changes", "edit a copy", or "edit original".
I've tried finding a setting to turn this on or off and found nothing. I've tried shutting down. I've even tried removing and reloading both Photoshop and Lightroom. As far as I can tell it has defaulted to always opening with LR edits.
I'm using Lightroom 5.3 and Photoshop CS6 extended version 13.0. I ran updates on both after reloading yesterday. I'm using the Mac versions of the software.
Please help!
Message was edited by: Jon Beverly in Homer AK

Is it possible that you've switched to using Raw (or DNG) files? There is a different process when using a Raw file versus using a rendered file such as Jpeg, Tiff, PSD....and it's only the latter file-types which will prompt the "Edit a copy, Edit original, etc" question. If the ACR levels are compatible (which they will be if your ACR plug-in for PS CS6 is up-to-date) then there will be NO question when using "Edit In...." on a Raw/DNG file, the file is rendered automatically in the background by Photoshop's ACR plug-in, when you then "Save" in PS the now-rendered file (Tiff or PSD, depending on your external editing preference setting) will appear back in Lightroom.

Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop Actions

Hi guys,
I'm having troubles with Adobe Camera Raw settings and Photoshop actions. Basically, here is what I want to do :
apply settings for the general colours, exposure, tint, etc., but keep an automatic undistortion of the images thanks to the metadata of the CR2 file.
The preset I've done is working fine, and when I'm in ACR, I can apply the same preset to different photos with different lenses. Then when I'm opening them in photoshop, they look allright.
The problem seems to appear when I'm creating the action in photoshop. No matter if the lens profile is set to 'auto' in the preset, it looks like it's applying the one from the original preset. Then let's say the preset was created with a 50mm, then when I launch the action on a 85mm, the undistortion is wrong ...
If anybody has an idea how to fix the problem, that would be really helpful !
Thanks a lot,
Julien

This particular forum (sharing and storage) was created to help those transitioning from Photoshop.com to Adobe Revel. I am moving your post to the correct forum so that it can get proper attention. I understand that it is difficult to determine which forum to post in since there are so many.
I'll put I this posting in the photoshop community so the experts there can help you.
We also have many other forums relating to other Adobe products
http://forums.adobe.com/community/
http://forums.adobe.com
Out of curiosity, can you tell me how you found our forum page?

Making precise selections in a Photoshop action

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