Using the Batch command (Photoshop)

The Batch command lets you play an action on a folder of files and subfolders. If you have a digital camera or a scanner with a document feeder, you can also import and process multiple images with a single action. Your scanner or digital camera may need an acquire plug-in module that supports actions. (If the third-party plug-in wasn't written to import multiple documents at a time, it may not work during batch-processing or if used as part of an action. Contact the plug-in's manufacturer for further information.)
When batch-processing files, you can leave all the files open, close and save the changes to the original files, or save modified versions of the files to a new location (leaving the originals unchanged). If you are saving the processed files to a new location, you may want to create a new folder for the processed files before starting the batch.
For better batch performance, reduce the number of saved history states and deselect the Automatically Create First Snapshot option in the History palette.

To batch-process files using the Batch command:

1. Choose File > Automate > Batch.
2. For Play, choose the desired set and action from the Set and Action pop-up menus.
3. For Source, choose a source from the pop-up menu:
• Folder to play the action on files already stored on your computer. Click Choose to locate and select the folder.
• Import to import and play the action on images from a digital camera or scanner.
• Opened Files to play the action on all open files.
• File Browser to play the action on the selected files in the File Browser.
4. Select Override Action "Open" Commands if you want Open commands in the action to refer to the batched files, rather than the filenames specified in the action. If you select this option, the action must contain an Open command because the Batch command will not automatically open the source files.
Deselect Override Action "Open" Commands if the action was recorded to operate on open files or if the action contains Open commands for specific files that are required by the action.
5. Select Include All Subfolders to process files in subfolders.
6. Select Suppress Color Profile Warnings to turn off display of color policy messages.
7. Choose a destination for the processed files from the Destination menu:
• None to leave the files open without saving changes (unless the action includes a Save command).
• Save and Close to save the files in their current location, overwriting the original files.
• Folder to save the processed files to another location. Click Choose to specify the destination folder.
8. Select Override Action "Save As" Commands if you want Save As commands in the action to refer to the batched files, rather than the filenames and locations specified in the action. If you select this option, the action must contain a a Save As command because the Batch command will not automatically save the source files.
Deselect Override Action "Save As" Commands if the action contains Save As commands for specific files that are required by the action.
9. If you chose Folder as the destination, specify a file-naming convention and select file compatibility options for the processed files:
• For File Naming, select elements from the pop-up menus or enter text into the fields to be combined into the default names for all files. The fields let you change the order and formatting of the filename parts. You must include at least one field that is unique for every file (for example, filename, serial number, or serial letter) to prevent files from overwriting each other.
• For File Name Compatibility, choose Windows, Mac OS, and UNIX to make filenames compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and UNIX operating systems.
Saving files using the Batch command options always saves the files in the same format as the original files. To create a batch process that saves files in a new format, record the Save As command followed by the Close command as part of your original action. Then choose Override Action "Save In" Commands for the Destination when setting up the batch process.
10. Select an option for error processing from the Errors pop-up menu:
• Stop for Errors to suspend the process until you confirm the error message.
• Log Errors to File to record each error in a file without stopping the process. If errors are logged to a file, a message appears after processing. To review the error file, click Save As and name the error file.
To batch-process using multiple actions, create a new action and record the Batch command for each action you want to use. This technique also lets you process multiple folders in a single batch. To batch-process multiple folders, create aliases within a folder to the other folders you want to process, and select the Include All Subfolders option.

Posted in: Photoshop