Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Manual (Page 637)

630 USING PHOTOSHOP CS4
Automating tasks
Last updated 1/10/2010
Batch-process files in nested folders into different formats
1 Process your folders as you would normally, until the Destination step.
2 Choose Save And Close for the destination. You can specify options for Override Action “Save As” Commands to
do the following:
• If the “Save As” step in the action contains a file name, this name is overridden by the name of the document being
saved; all “Save As” steps are treated as if they were recorded without a file name.
• The folder you specified in the “Save As” action step is overridden by the document’s original folder.
Note: You must have a “Save As” step in the action; the Batch command does not automatically save files.
You can use this procedure, for example, to sharpen, resize, and save images as JPEGs in their original folders. You
create an action that has a sharpen step, a resize step, and then a “Save As JPEG” step. When you batch-process this
action, you select Include All Subfolders, make the destination Save And Close, and select Override Action “Save As”
Commands.
Create a droplet from an action
A droplet applies an action to one or more images, or a folder of images, that you drag onto the Droplet icon. You can
save a droplet on the desktop or to another location on disk.
Droplet icon
Actions are the basis for creating droplets—you must create the desired action in the Actions panel before creating a
droplet. (See “ Recording actions ” on page 624.)
1 Choose File > Automate > Create Droplet.
2 Specify where to save the droplet. Click Choose in the Save Droplet In section of the dialog box and navigate to the
location.
3 Select the Action Set, and then designate which action you intend to use within the Set and Action menus. (Select
the action in the Actions panel before you open the dialog box to preselect these menus.)
4 Set processing, saving, and file naming options. For descriptions of the Batch dialog box settings see “ Batch and
droplet processing options ” on page 631.
Tips for cross-platform droplets
When creating droplets for both Windows and Mac OS, keep the following compatibility issues in mind:
• After moving a droplet created in Windows to Mac OS, you must drag the droplet onto the Photoshop icon on your
desktop. Photoshop updates the droplet for use in Mac OS.
• When creating a droplet in Mac OS, use the .exe extension to make droplets compatible with both Windows and
Mac OS.
• References to file names are not supported between operating systems. If an action step references a file or folder
name (such as an Open command, Save As command, or adjustment command that loads its settings from a file),
execution pauses and the user is prompted for a file name.
Process a file with a droplet
❖ Drag a file or folder onto the droplet icon. Photoshop starts if it is not already running.