Batch Processing Problem

[princer7]

In order to post photos in the forums and share them with family, I often find that I need to re-size multiple images (usually in the same directory).

I try and save the original finished picture at the highest quality setting. Upon resizing, I reduce it to 800x533 (or 533x800 depending on if it is portrait vs landscape) and lower the image quality from 8 to 12. I also do a slight unsharp mask to correct for adjusting the image size in PS. In an effort to keep my head on straight identify the re-sized images, I add the word "small" to the image file name.

Is there a way to do this in PS (preferred) or other app that can do this all at once? Up to now, I am having to sort out the different dimensions and do them separately over 2-3 steps each way. Would be nice to have it be smart enough to know the difference between the layout automatically.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Princer,

I use IrfanView (which is 100% free). You can just open one of the images then go to "File-> Batch Conversion/Rename". That will let you add all your photos at once... rename them... and resize them. It's extremely fast and idiot proof!

- Wil

[JamesB]

I use Ulead photo impact and it come with the Photo Explorer (thumbnail viewer/editor) as well.

I can batch process many files at once. But its still a 2 step process (or 3 if mixing landscape and portriate images)

1. Post process first image - tell program to apply same settings to other images

2. Resize images/reduce file size - select all files then I adjust the properties, set the compression to 95% (100% is finest quality) then I set the max dimension to 800 and it automatically sets the short side.

during the resize it ask for a destination directory and appendix to the file name.

if I have both landscape and portriate shots I will resize all the landscapes then do the portriate ones after that so they are all the same size (800x533 or 533x800).

Ulead cost under $100 and is a very good editor. It has most all the tools PSCS2 has, but does not have some of the more robust tools PSCS2 has. I have been using Ulead since about 1999 and its been great. I do use PSCS2 for when I need a little more power.


James

[Clint_Smith]

You should be able to create and action (of your resized images and the saving) and when you do SAVES AS, just make sure the COPY radio button is checked. Then you should be able to just run an action on the entire folder.

[Dokk]

There's a batch rename routine in Bridge

[epoh]

Ditto Clint. Play around with recording actions in photoshop. There's not much you can't do with that!

[phiblue29]

Photoshop (and/or ImageReady) will do it. The 'easy' way to get your sizes w/o having to do it twice is figure a good percentage reduction in size-- say for instance 45% of actual size (just a guess). That way the image either vertical or horizontal will be sized properly. The rest of your process no matter what orientation of the image is the same...

I do it all the time with my images--

It might take a bit longer, but I do my 'get ready for web' images in ImageReady... you can set up your steps, save the action as a small app then just drag your image folder over it.

[princer7]

That was what I was missing!!! Thanks guys!!! I totally forgot about being able to reduce the image size by a percentage. It works wonderfully now!! My PS action is now complete in one step.

[princer7]

Scratch that. It did not reduce the image quality like I had hoped. I had thought I set this in the action but it did not save it that way. Is there a way to force this within the action? I'm missing something.

[phiblue29]

As I said, I don't really use PS for image reduction (as far as web-ready that is)... hold on though, I'll be right back :)

[phiblue29]

As far as level of compression-- make sure you use the dropdown and not type in a number. I just made an action and all is fine.

Also, just to be sure you have the compression or not-- check out the "save" step in your action (by clicking the dropdown) and see what the quality is.

You can always just re-do that step and delete the old 'bad' save step.

[princer7]

I was typing in the number. By selecting the dropdown menu it fixed the problem. THANK You!!!!!

[phiblue29]

No problem--

That's one of the 'gotchas' in action creation... everything you do MUST be in a menu or dropdown, no keyboard short-cutting or type-ins (other than image name).

[TXhummer2]

(scribble notes, scribble notes, scribble notes....)