Re: How to Feed Files to Actions via Batches

"Warren Sarle" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<aRLIa.76439$(E-Mail Removed). com>...
> "Michael Greer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:HuJIa.142643$(E-Mail Removed). com...
> > I want to write an action for making a proof sheet. Each sheet/page will
> > have 4 images. This is what I need to occur:
> >
> > 1) Create background page
> > 2) Load 1st image
> > 3) Resize Image to proof size
> > 4) copy resized image and paste as new layer in background page
> > 5) close resized image
> > 6) Load 2nd image
> > 7) Repeat steps 3 thru 5
> > 8) Load 3rd image
> > 9) Repeat steps 3 thru 5
> > 10) Load 4th image
> > 11) Repeat steps 3 thru 5
> > 12) Save proof sheet
> > 13) Create background page for second prrof sheet
> > 14) Repeat 2 thru 12
> >
> > This process continues until all images have been exhausted.
> >
> > I have two problems that I can't figure out. t seems as though I need to
> > write an action and then use the "File->Automate->Batch" function.
> > 1) How do I "tell" the action to get the required image files from the
> > Batch command?
>
> As far as I know, the Batch command will insist on applying an action
> to every selected image. You can't get it to operate on groups of four
> images.
>
> > 2) Are ther "If-then" clauses in actions?
>
> No.
>
> > I need the action to size the
> > image one way if it's a portrait oriented image, and another way if it's a
> > landscape image. How do I do this?
>
> If you have some programming experience, preferably with Javascript,
> VBScript, or Applescript, you could use the Photoshop Scripting plug-in,
> which is a free download from Adobe. It is poorly documented, but there
> is a Photoshop scripting forum/newsgroup where you can often obtain
> advice.

As far as I know a standard action is included in Photoshop 6.0 (and
higher) which automatically generates contactsheets:

>MENU > FILE > AUTOMATE >CONTACT SHEET II

You can make perfect contact sheets with this action! You choose a
folder with images (even sub-folders can be chosen) You set a
resolution and a size for the images and colourspace (RGB or CMYK) and
make a layout for the thumbnails (e.g. four images per page or
whatever) Even the filenames are automatically placed under each
image in a desired Typeface and size!

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