Batch Processing beginner - can file conversion be an action (CS2)?

WinsomeWorks · April 26, 2010

I'm such a beginner at batch processing that I haven't even tried it yet... have only read a tutorial (Photoshop for Dummies, under the "actions" chapter) and am going to attempt it step-by-step. I have never even created an action, but I'm really sick of having whole folders of files that need the same 5 adjustments or so & never getting around to them, so I'm going to try to make a set of actions & apply them to 7 photos as a first trial. (yes, they're copies that I dragged into a special source folder). Here's the first hurdle: I always shoot jpegs so far, so these photos I'm fixing are jpgs. I've done a lot of photoshop editing & am pretty efficient in certain procedures, but am obviously very limited in my scope since I haven't even learned about actions yet!

I normally save a jpg as a PSD before doing any work on it. Then I'll usually save the final edit as a PSD and jpg, for 2 reasons: usually need a jpg for uploading or submitting somewhere, and the PSD is in case it needs more work later, and I don't want compression issues. For some family snapshot-type photos in a batch, I may just do the process on jpgs & save them as jpgs since I don't have much extra space on my HD, esp. if they're likely to only be re-saved that one time. Is that stupid? They don't lose that much the first time, right? Question 2: HOWever, the photos I'm working on right now are going to need a lot of lightening, and I care about them a bit more than some. Can I do a whole set of actions in a batch process that actually includes the conversion to PSD for the edit, & back to PSD+jpg? If not, could I do a set that includes conversion to PSD for the edit, then just back to Jpg? The situation was a concert in which I should have had flash but could not use flash, so they're mostly too dark & too red. Thank you for any advice. If there's an online tutorial that you think is great for this (I need the whole process-- actions and batch) I'd love to hear about it. I'll post back on my progress, too. All I've done so far is create 2 folders, source & destination, on my Maxtor (external HD) Let's hope that's a good first step

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zoomer · April 26, 2010

Have you looked at Lightroom. You can batch process by just clicking a couple buttons.

If you have a lot of photos to process run don't walk.....

WinsomeWorks · April 26, 2010

Lightroom-- Beta for version 3 or trial version of 2 ?

zoomer wrote:

Have you looked at Lightroom. You can batch process by just clicking a couple buttons.

If you have a lot of photos to process run don't walk.....

Haha! I know you are exactly right!! Believe me, I've looked, drooled over, Lightroom. I just can't afford it right now. I DO have the latest Beta version of Lightroom 3 until June... the only problem is there are no tutorials for that. Now I'm thinking I should just get a tutorial for LR 2 & download the trial version of LR 2 instead. I just don't know how different they'll be though. Am I going to drive myself insane by learning LR 2 & then having to switch over when LR 3 comes out? The timing is just rather bad. Also, I don't know how long it's gonna take me to learn enough in LR to get through to batch processing. I don't think I'm quick w/ this stuff, unless the instruction is perfectly tailored to the way I learn, which is rare. I need to watch a step, then do it myself. Watch a step, then do it myself... etc. And yes. I have literally thousands of files that should be batched.... mostly from concerts, band competitions at night, & other school stuff where I couldn't use flash. I have an old DX1-- excellent camera for its day, but limited at high speeds. 640 is about the highest that's worth even using.

zoomer · April 26, 2010

Get the current version of Lightroom, the upgrade will be easy when the new version comes out.

Lightroom is very easy to use WAY easier than Photoshop and WAY faster.

I learned what I needed to know in a day or two, EASY.

Get Scott Kelby's book The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers I think I paid $35. for it. Best money I ever spent was getting Lightroom and the book on how to use it.
You will be cruising batch actions in 10 minutes, it is so easy, really.
You can batch all the processing steps at once or individually really there is no setup.
You just click twice to select all the photos, then edit that photo how you want it and all the rest of the photos you selected have the same changes made to them at the same time.

WinsomeWorks · April 26, 2010

zoomer wrote:

Get the current version of Lightroom, the upgrade will be easy when the new version comes out.

Lightroom is very easy to use WAY easier than Photoshop and WAY faster.

I learned what I needed to know in a day or two, EASY.

Get Scott Kelby's book The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers I think I paid $35. for it. Best money I ever spent was getting Lightroom and the book on how to use it.
You will be cruising batch actions in 10 minutes, it is so easy, really.
You can batch all the processing steps at once or individually really there is no setup.
You just click twice to select all the photos, then edit that photo how you want it and all the rest of the photos you selected have the same changes made to them at the same time.

Ok, I think I will get LR 2 Trial for now... you're confirming what a couple others have said on NaturePhotogs. The problem I have though with my current job is I really should finish it up pronto-- as in by tomorrow. I already know basic & even very detailed editing in PS... been using it to sell stock for 3 yrs. now, whereas I know nothing at all in LR. So I don't see myself learning it in the next few days-- probably a week at least. I really want to work on this batch tonight if I can. Beyond that, though, I do completely plan to take your advice! I've already read lots of reviews of Kelby's book-- looks like the one.

WinsomeWorks · April 27, 2010

Batch processing -- files getting stuck at "Save as jpeg" step
I still have not answered my main question in Post #1, which was mainly about what kind of files could be output through batch processing. If anyone knows, I'd love to hear. However, I have another related question. I was feeling quite good because I created an action & recorded it. Filled out the batch process dialogue box (although was a little unsure of a couple of the check-boxes). But I ran one batch. It looked successful (I could see the files processing), but no files saved into my destination folder. So I un-checked one of the boxes I was unsure of, as my Photoshop for Dummies book seemed to contradict what PS instructing me when hovering on the "Override Action 'Save As' Commands" check-box.

So, after I un-checked that box instead, the batch process seemed more successful in one sense-- at least each file got edited & went to the "Save as jpeg" box (In the first instance, when the Override box was checked, I never saw that "Save as Jpeg" box come up). However, each file now gets stuck there, waiting for me to click "ok" to save the new jpeg. I know it should do this on its own, and don't know what's preventing this. If I click "ok", all's well & they go to the correct destination folder. But the whole purpose of batch processing is to not need to baby-sit it, so where am I going wrong? I don't see any way to choose what type of file is saved; I only told the dialogue box how to name the files. I'm ok w/ just being able to do jpegs for the time being, but don't want to have to sit there helping them save. Any ideas? (I'm following pages 200-201 in the PS for Dummies book, in case that enlightens anyone who isn't a dummy) As a side-note, I think I need PS for Morons!

BinaryFx · April 27, 2010

Have you had a look under file/scripts/image processor?

Best,

Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

WinsomeWorks · April 27, 2010

BinaryFx wrote:

Have you had a look under file/scripts/image processor?

Best,

Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

Stephen, I just found out about this through a tutorial. I plan to try it on Tuesday. However, I see there's not a place to customize method of adding the title to the image with image processor. In my case, I suppose it won't matter so much, but I wonder why....? Also, now I'm fairly confused about when to use which batch method-- there's Image Processor, a Droplet, and File>Automate>Batch. They seem to all have nearly the same purpose. Thank you though--- I'm going to keep reading....

BinaryFx · April 27, 2010

Going back to a previous question on actions and batch processing...

I generally dupe a target file into a new doc, then set-up my action how I wish it to go, including a step to save into a particular format and other save options, including a destination directory if desired.

I then trash the test file saved by the action.

Next I use the batch command to play the action to a source list/folder of files, making sure that the "override save as" checkbox is ticked.

Back to the image processor:

P.S. If using the image processor and it is missing a method to customise the file name, Adobe Bridge would be used:

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Bridge/3.0/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-734da.html

Hope this helps.

Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

WinsomeWorks · April 27, 2010

Still wondering why files won't save to jpg in batch process
This is all very helpful. I haven't used Bridge for anything yet, but this sounds like a fairly simple venture into Bridge. (If I use Image Processor & want to customize the folder names, etc.) And yes, I did what you recommend with a dupe file & then just trash it after recording, etc. However, I still do wish I could find out why my files aren't saving to jpg on their own when I do a regular batch process. I followed all the steps described... it doesn't appear that one should need to record the save steps as part of the action, depending whether that override box is ticked or not. But I can't get them to save either way. Frustrating after getting such success with the rest. I loved watching those files come in on their own & do their thing.

BinaryFx · April 27, 2010

It can be done, so the next step would be for you to upload the action to a file sharing site or to email the action to me for inspection (my email can be found at the sites listed below).

Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

WinsomeWorks · April 27, 2010

BinaryFx wrote:

It can be done, so the next step would be for you to upload the action to a file sharing site or to email the action to me for inspection (my email can be found at the sites listed below).

Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

Stephen, I'm not sure how to email an action. Or did you just mean to list the steps I built into the action? Somehow, I'm thinking it's not the action that's the problem, however, but instead the dialogue box for File>Automate>Batch. I can tell you right now that everything in my action is related to lighting boosts, color correction, filters, and contrast. I didn't put anything in the action related to how to import, save, or name files. (the ...Dummies book didn't mention it, and it appeared I could do all that with the help of the dialogue box) Step one of my action was "Auto-levels", and the last step-- 6, was "Selective Color".

So if the importing & saving can't be done through the dialogue box only, my problem is that I'm missing things I should have in my action. In this case, I would have liked to change my orig. jpgs into PSDs, do the color & lighting action, then save as a new jpg with a name that includes the original file #. At other times, I might like to do this same action but instead save as a PSD+ jpg, as I was able to do today in Image Processor. It appears that I should be able to at least do the first thing (save as jpg only) through the batch dialogue box, but so far it hasn't happened.

Where it's getting "stuck" is right where you normally need to tell a jpg what quality to save as. I want the highest quality, or 12, so I have to click that & ok on each file or it just sits there. Problem is... if I record this as part of my action, then I will be recording the file-naming process too, as that comes first! I don't want the action to give every file the same name. Hope this makes sense! Oh, and I do want to thank you again, because I DID successfully process a bunch of photos with Image Processor today & that worked beautifully! Great load off my mind; I've needed this for yrs! I didn't try tackling the re-naming though, so all those files have the exact same name as the originals... I just kept them in a different folder so I'd know.

BinaryFx · April 28, 2010

WinsomeWorks wrote:

Stephen, I'm not sure how to email an action.

Highlight the action set folder for the action in question, then using the actions palette menu select the "save action" option - which will prompt for a location to save the ".atn" file. Then perhaps .zip compress and email me the action or have it hosted on one of the numerous free file hosting or file transfer sites.

Or did you just mean to list the steps I built into the action?

No, not the steps, the actual action itself. See above.

BTW, One can hold down multiple modifier keys when saving the action, which when done correctly will save the file as a ".txt" file rather than a true ".atn" file.

Somehow, I'm thinking it's not the action that's the problem, however, but instead the dialogue box for File>Automate>Batch.

As mentioned previously in post #9, If you record a save step into the action to a designated folder using a designated JPEG quality setting - and then use the batch command option to override save as, then it should all work as intended. The override save as checkbox will ignore the filenames and only use the file settings and directory location.

If that fails, perhaps you could do a screen capture of the batch dialog box window/screen.

I really want you to make this work, so please keep at it!

EDIT: Attached is a combo screen cap showing both a simple action test and the batch command test.

Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

WinsomeWorks · April 29, 2010

BinaryFx wrote:

Highlight the action set folder for the action in question, then using the actions palette menu select the "save action" option - which will prompt for a location to save the ".atn" file. Then perhaps .zip compress and email me the action or have it hosted on one of the numerous free file hosting or file transfer sites.....
Stephen Marsh

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~binaryfx/
http://prepression.blogspot.com/

Thanks a bunch, Stephen! I think you helped me understand the override/ or not check-box. That was making absolutely no sense to me before. Now I see what is actually being overridden. Also, the screen shot & the jpg instructions really clear things up. I have to head on a long trip to North Carolina, so I won't be able to get back to you until Mon. or Tues. at the earliest. After that, I hope to try all the things you suggested. Fortunately, I was able to at least make enough parts work to get my gallery finished for the folks who need the photos-- adjusted 100s of photos, not perfectly, but enough to show me that "I can do this". So-- more later, and I'm immensely grateful for the info. I'm hoping others will benefit from this too. Have a great rest of the week, & lets pray I don't take many photos in NC that need fixing, because I have about 3 yrs. worth others that do!

WinsomeWorks · May 11, 2010

why not sRGB when batch-processing
I'm back to working on some of this batch processing after my travels. One thing I'm wondering-- why do most instructions on this tell me to NOT put files in sRGB when batch-processing? I thought that's what most of my files are normally in. I thought I'd read that here, but maybe it was in the PS for Dummies book.

Batch Processing beginner - can file conversion be an action (CS2)?

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