JJMack's Image Visualization
Photoshop Actions and Scripts

• Files
• Package
• Groupings
• Groups
• Collage Toolkit
• Actions
• Scripts
• Footnote

Files Included in this package

Documentation Files

1. ReadMe.txt
2. ReadMe.html
3. Examples

   Text and HTML write up "this file" and a directory containing example that have been resized for the web. The animated GIF files were created using Photoshop's Animation palette to demonstrate how layers are added by the actions in this package. To view them in your browser open index.html in the Examples directory or use this link Examples.

   The package itself is very large distributed in three downloadable zip files of which only the first is required to be download. That zip file must be unpacked and the unpacked files must be move into place following the instructions below. The additional downloads are optional the files add no function. These zip files may be downloaded from Action Central or from my Web server using the below download URLs.

   • Required files       12 MB in size.
   • Documentation     13 MB optional this document, the above examples and the actions text listing.
   • Large Template   70 MB optional very large colorful three slot precut mat template PSD file.

   One Photoshop Action Set

4. JJmack's Image Visualization.atn

   This file contains JJMack's Image Visualization Actions Set. Drag and Drop this file on Photoshop or use the Action Palette Fly-out menu item "Load Actions" select this file to load these actions into Photoshop's Actions Palette.

   Seventeen Photoshop Scripts

5. AspectRatioSelection.jsx
6. ConvertBackground.jsx
7. ExifData.jsx
8. LongSidePrintLength.jsx
9. NewDocFromSelection.jsx
10. OneInchMiteredLeftEdgeSelection.jsx
11. orient.jsx
12. RandomColors.jsx
13. SaveAndRestoreColors.jsx
14. SaveAndRestoreResolution.jsx
15. SelectBackground.jsx
16. SelectEllipse.jsx
17. SelectVignette.jsx
18. SelectVignetteBorder.jsx
19. StampExif.jsx
20. BatchOneImageCollage.jsx
21. BatchMultiImageCollage.jsx

    These Photoshop Scripts are used by some of the included actions. These Script must be in the directory "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Scripts\My Scripts\". That is where I install Photoshop Scripts that I write. This is not one of Adobe's directories. I have placed a shortcut to "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Scripts\" into the CS3 Preset Scripts directory. Once the shortcut is added scripts installed into this tree will show up in Photoshop. The shortcut is optional. The actions will still work if the shortcut is not added. The scripts full file path "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Scripts\My Scripts\..." is recorded into the actions. If you put these script elsewhere you need to re-record the script steps in these actions. Highlight the script you need to re record use the Action palette fly-out menu and select "record again...". Hopefully if the script being recorded is one of the two plug-in script the dialog settings recorded will show up and be correct in the plug-in dialog.

    Two Photoshop Style Collection

22. Oval Frame Styles.asl
23. Photo Collage Styles.asl

    This contains two Layer Styles used by the Oval Frame actions. Drag and Drop this file on Photoshop or use menu Edit>Preset Manager, and use the pull-down menu to select patterns. Then use the Load button to select this file to load this set of layer styles into Photoshop's loaded styles. The Oval Framing actions defaults to styles in this set. The Photo Collage Styles set styles are use by the photo collage toolkit.

    Two Photoshop Custom Shape Collection

24. Golden_Guides.csh
25. ProofMark.csh

    These are sets of Photoshop custom shapes. The first contain Image composition outlines for the golden rules of thirds. Drag and Drop these files on Photoshop or use menu Edit>Preset Manager, and use the pull-down menu to select Shapes. Then use the Load button to select this file to load this set of custom shapes into Photoshop's loaded custom shapes. The Rule of Thirds Shape layers Action requires the custom shapes in this file. The seconded is a Sample Custom Shape to use as a Proof Mark or a Logo. Delete the sample Shape and add one of your own with the same name. There is a PSD template for the sample Proof Mark in the shape file.

    Two Photoshop Pattern Collections

26. Corkboard.pat
27. Frame Patterns.pat

    These two Photoshop patterns sets that are used by the Framing and Matting actions. Drag and Drop these files on Photoshop or use menu Edit>Preset Manager and use the pull-down menu to select patterns. Then use the Load button to select these files and click load to load them into Photoshop's loaded patterns. Some of the actions default patterns are in these sets.

    Eleven Photoshop PSD file

28. ProofMark.psd
29. 1ImageOvalTemplate.psd
30. Dummy.psd
31. pb3_14x11B2_6x4.psd
32. pb3_14x11BL_TR_6x4.psd
33. pb3_14x11L2_6x4.psd
34. pb3_14x11R2_6x4.psd
35. pb3_14x11T2_6x4.psd
36. pb3_14x11TL_BR_6x4.psd
37. time cover.psd
38. Baseball Card.psd

    ProofMark.psd is a sample Proof Mark/Logo file to help create a custom shape named "ProofMark". It must have that name for the Proof Mark action to work. The remaining PSD files are photo collage templates. These photo collage templates must be in folder "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Templates\Collage" for the photo collage actions to work. This directory is not one of Adobe's. It is one I created to store photo collage templates.

About this Package

This Package was created by John J. McAssey (JJMack) and contains Photoshop Actions he designed, recorded and edited. As well as scripts that he hacked. Most of the scripts were create using Photoshop Scripts supplied by Adobe or found as freeware on the Web. They were used as models and a source of code syntax. This Packages also contains Photoshop Styles, Custom Shape and Patterns collected from the Web and which were labeled freeware. This Package requires Photoshop CS3 because two of the scripts included are Photoshop Plug-ins. Photoshop Script Plug-in support was added in Photoshop version CS3.

I would like to thank Penny Deutz for proof reading this document to help make it better. I have changed sections after she help me out. If you find parts of this document difficult your most likely in a section modified after her edits. Thanks again Penny.

About the Action Set

All the actions in this set were designed to work with Print Sized Images. You need not worry about image orientation Landscape or Portrait. Images are never resampled or flattened by any of these actions.

The intent here is to help the user to visualize their finalized image. There are also actions here that can be used with Photoshop's Batch and Image Processing facilities to do the conventional center crop and resize for printing without resampling.

While you can print the matted or the matted and framed images created with these actions, they were created mainly as visualization aid for Mounting, Matting and Framing Images is expensive. See before you spend.

Crop your images any creatively any way you want with or without the aid of the cropping action found here. Use the other actions to see what your finalized image can look like.

These actions can create photo realistic mats and frames around your cropped image. Images can have any aspect ratios and the mats created can as well. Standard and non standard finished sizes are supported. Rectangle and Oval mats and frame can be visualized and you can mat mats and frame frames. All Mats and frames are on their own layer. So you can change their colors, textures and styles after these action run.

Back to Top

The action set has grouped actions

Action Grouping is as follows

---------------------- Please Read -----------------------------

• Info

-------------------- Visualization Aids ------------------------

• Rule of Thirds Guides Lines
• Rule of Thirds Shape Layers
• 4:6 Center Select
• 5:7 Center Select
• 8:10 Center Select
• 8.5:11 Center Select
• 11:14 Center Select
• 13:19 Center Select
• 16:20 Center Select
• 16:9 Center Select
• 16:10 Center Select
• Aspect Ratio Center Selection Interactive
• Ellipse 4:6 Center Select
• Ellipse 5:7 Center Select
• Ellipse 8:10 Center Select
• Ellipse 8.5:11 Center Select
• Ellipse 11:14 Center Select
• Ellipse 13:19 Center Select
• Ellipse 16:20 Center Select
• Ellipse 16:9 Center Select
• Ellipse 16:10 Center Select
• Ellipse Current Aspect Ratio Select
• Aspect Ratio Elliptical Center Selection Interactive
• Stroke Standard Aspect Ratios
• Stroke Standard Aspect Ratios Ellipse
• Stroke Rectangle + Ellipse

------------------------- Utility Actions ----------------------

• Make JJMack's Action Set Groups
• Use a Rule of Thirds to Crop
• Sharping Adjustment Layer Interactive smart sharpen
• DodgeBurn
• Show All Exif Info slow
• Stamp Exif
• Proof Mark
• Copyright Text Layer
• Random Textured Layer
• Quick Painting
• Feivel Gothic Glow +
• Feivel C.O.I. Glow +
• Set Image Print Size
• Soft Proof

----------- Add Vignette before you Mat and Frame -------------

• Vignette Darken
• Vignette Heavy Darken
• Vignette Lighten

----------- Interactive Custom Matting Actions -----------------

• Custom Quick Mat
• Custom Quick Oval Mat
• Custom Mat Gray Bevel
• Custom Double Mat Gray Bevels
• Custom Mat Colored Bevel
• Custom Double Mat Colored Bevels
• Custom Oval Mat Gray Bevel
• Custom Double Oval Mat Gray Bevels
• Custom Oval Mat Color Bevel
• Custom Double Oval Mat Color Bevels

---------------- Interactive Framing Actions -------------------

• Add Photo Board and Photo Corners
• Mitered Frame 365 px
• Mitered Frame 464 px
• Oval Frame 1 Inch Metal
• Oval Frame 1 Inch Wood

------- Standard Crop Actions Interactive Positioning -----------

• 4 x 6 Interactive
• 5 x 7 Interactive
• 8 x 10 Interactive
• 8.5 x 11 Interactive
• 11 x 14 Interactive
• 13 x 19 Interactive
• 16 x 20 Interactive
• 16 x 9 Interactive
• 16 x 10 Interactive
• Aspect Ratio Crop + Print Size
• Aspect Ratio Crop, + Corkboard Oval Mat + Print Size

------------------ Cropping Action Templates --------------------

• How to use these Action Templates
• Interactive Crop + Print Size Template
• Crop + Print Size Template
• Crop + Print Size + Corkboard Oval Mat Template

---------- Standard Crop Actions for Batch Processing -----------

• 4 x 6
• 5 x 7
• 8 x 10
• 8.5 x 11
• 11 x 14
• 13 x 19
• 16 x 20
• 16 x 9
• 16 x 10
• 4 x 6 + Corkboard Oval Mat
• 5 x 7 + Corkboard Oval Mat
• 8 x 10 + Corkboard Oval Mat
• 8.5 x 11 + Corkboard Oval Mat
• 11 x 14 + Corkboard Oval Mat
• 13 x 19 + Corkboard Oval Mat
• 16 x 20 + Corkboard Oval Mat
• 16 x 9 + Corkboard Oval Mat
• 16 x 10 + Corkboard Oval Mat

---------------- JJMack's Photo Collage Toolkit ----------------

• Photo Collage Template Rules

-------------- Photo Collage Action Collection -----------------

• Generic 1 Image Collage
• Generic 2 Image Collage
• Generic 3 Image Collage
• Generic 4 Image Collage
• Generic 4 Image Collage
• Generic 5 Image Collage
• Generic 6 Image Collage
• Generic 7 Image Collage
• Generic 8 Image Collage
• Generic 9 Image Collage
• pb3_14x11T2_6x4
• pb3_14x11B2_6x4
• pb3_14x11L2_6x4
• pb3_14x11R2_6x4
• pb3_14x11TL_BR_6x4
• pb3_14x11BL_TR_6x4
• pc20x16_8x12_2_6x4
• pc20x16_8x12_2_6x4
• TimeCover

• Photo Collage 1 Image Template
• Photo Collage 2 Image Template
• Photo Collage 3 Image Template
• Photo Collage 4 Image Template
• Photo Collage 5 Image Template
• Photo Collage 6 Image Template
• Photo Collage 7 Image Template
• Photo Collage 8 Image Template
• Photo Collage 9 Image Template

-------------- Photo Collage Image Layers Styles ---------------

• Photo Collage Layer Style 1
• Photo Collage Layer Style 2
• Photo Collage Layer Style 3
• Photo Collage Layer Style 4
• Photo Collage Layer Style 5
• Photo Collage Layer Style 6
• Photo Collage Layer Style 7
• Photo Collage Layer Style 8
• Photo Collage Layer Style 9

• Photo Collage 1 Image
• Photo Collage 2 Image
• Photo Collage 3 Image
• Photo Collage 4 Image
• Photo Collage 5 Image
• Photo Collage 6 Image
• Photo Collage 7 Image
• Photo Collage 8 Image
• Photo Collage 9 Image

• Old Custom Mat
• Thin Mat
• Narrow Mat
• Mat
• Wide Mat
• Cork Mat
• Frame Foreground Color

Actions Groups

---------------------- Please Read -----------------------------

A brief description about the intent of this Action set.

-------------------- Visualization Aids -----------------------

Action in this group work well in button mode. These actions will help with your image composition. Play the first action to show rule of third guide lines. Clicking play a second time will clear all Photoshop guide lines on this image. The second action provides different rules of third mapping in shape layers. These shape layers are placed within a layer group. The basic rule of third visibility is on by default. Just expanding the layer group and clicking on each of the vector layer mask one after the other to reveal something about your image's composition. You can switch between rule of third mapping move the guide around and use free transform on these layers to change the mapping Aspect Ratio and size. Other Actions in this group will quickly select centered Aspect Ratio selections both rectangular and elliptical. These selections can be move and transformed. While transforming these remember to hold the Shift key depressed if you want to maintain the selections Aspect Ratio. Additionally you can hold down the Alt(option) key. When both the Shift key and the Alt(option) key is held depress the transformation will be from the center of the selection. Coupling these selection with menu Image>Crop is useful. The last three actions in this group will create new layers and stroke outlines of different aspect ratio selections. These stroke actions take a long time to execute therefor they are not very useful. They exist only because the Plug-in Script I wrote made such actions possible.

------------------------- Utility Actions ----------------------

The first action is a action group will create Action sets in the action palette that you can move these action groups into so these groups can be collapsed in the action palette. This is followed by a few Actions to help identify your images as yours. There is a lighter weight version of my sharpening action which does not use smart filters and objects. Smart Filter swill slow down many Photoshop processes such as Rotate Image because every smart object and smart filter needs to be redone during these processes. Set Image Print Size is an interactive action that will set an image print size without going into the Image size dialog.

----------- Add Vignette before you Mat and Frame -------------

There are three simple actions to add a vignette layer over you image. The vignette is created mostly by the layers layer mask. Painting on the layer mask is useful for fine-tunning the effect and so is adjusting the layers opacity.

Note: Before running any one of the matting or framing action for the first time you should first set the image's print size using Image Size with resample not checked. Set the actual size you want the image to print not the mat size or frame size. Of course the size should be smaller then the total size of the mat(s) you want to create. When Canvas size is increased the added canvas will be size by using the DPI that was set by your use of Image Size without resampling. Be careful because these actions use Canvas Size and most of the time you will be given control of the Canvas Size setting. Canvas Size can crop as well as increase the canvas size. With these actions you want to be sure you are adding canvas area for the mats and frames. Your not trying to crop you image so be sure to use a good setting in the Canvas Size Dialog.

----------- Interactive Custom Matting Actions -----------------

Actions in this group let you creatively mat you images. All actions in this section run the same way. "Quick" mat actions run somewhat faster because they lack certain steps that add texture and better bevels. Mats added will automatically be cut out and sized for the images current aspect ratio plus any mats already added. The mats created can be any size and have any aspect ratio. You can also mat mats. Single and double mat actions are supplied for both rectangular and elliptical mats. These actions are interactive. You will have control in the "Canvas Size" steps where you set the mats size relatively, Absolute settings can also be made if desired. You should always be adding canvas. If you see the canvas size anchor point arrows pointing inwardly (toward the anchor point) you are doing something wrong. You will also receive control in a texturizer steps that lets you alter the texture of the mats surfaces. The inner mat on the double mat actions will be 1/8" black. Outer mats and single mats will take on the color Photoshop's foreground color was set to when the action was started.

Single mat actions contain two stop messages The first message a reminder that allows you to stop the action if you have forgotten to perform the requires prerequisites. "Did you set the Foreground Color first ? Before adding any mat did you resize the image to a known size without resampling? If both answers are yes Press Continue otherwise Press Stop. Fix the problem and then press Play in the "Action Palette". Actions can not use logic but you can. The second message reminds you a bit about how to use the canvas size dialog. "In Canvas size dialog leave Anchor (white) square centered. To maintain the current Aspect Ratio check relative and enter the same % in width and height. To change the Aspect Ratio un check relative and enter the width and height". You can use the action as many time as you want. After you create your mats you can use the action again to add a frame around them, such as a 1" black mat relative to the width and height. If your memory is better then mine you can turn these stop messages off. You will still get control in the Canvas size dialog.

If you are matting a 16 bit image you will get an error message texturizer not available. Ignore the message and click continue. Maybe some release of Photoshop will add 16 bit support to all Photoshop filters. You can fill 16 bit color mat layers with a pattern to add a texture. You never know what patterns are loaded, therefore I did not use fill to add texture. You can always change the mats layers colors and textures after the action is run.

Double mat actions are somewhat like running the a single mat action twice however you can not maintain the images current aspect ratio. The inner mat will be a Black 1/8 inch mat all around the image which changes the images from its current aspect ratio. If you want to maintain the current Aspect ratio you need to use the single mat action twice. Double mat actions also have two Stop messages. The second message "In Canvas size dialog leave Anchor (white) square centered. The current image Aspect Ratio was changed by the addition of an inner 1/8 inch black mat. Set the width and height size to the size you want the outer mat to have.". The comments on the 16-bit mat layers applies to double mat actions as well..

---------------- Interactive Framing Actions -------------------

First action is a simple action to add a Photo Board and Photo Corners. Photo Corners take on the aspect ratio of the image. If the image has a real Photoshop "Background" layer, then that layer will be converted so the Photo Board layer can be placed below it.

The action contains two stop messages. These can be turned off or removed they are just reminders. The first message is a reminder that the current foreground color will be used when adding the Photo board. The second stop message is to reminds you that it is easy to reposition the Photo Corners using free transform. On the 4 Corners layer press and hold the Alt+Shift keys while moving a corner to maintain the current aspect ratio and position all four corners at once. You can always change the photo board color after you run the action add a texture to it or adjust its color using the color balance adjustment layer.

I downloaded the Photoshop Frame patterns from the Adobe Exchange. These were created by George S Dingwall (http://www.georgedingwall.co.uk/index.html). Some actions and scripts can be downloaded from the Adobe Exchange and some from his site. He created these for his Nikon D70 and D200 cameras images. He had some predefined ideas how he wanted to print and mat his images. He created three set of patterns each set contain a set of frame patterns for his D70 and an identical set for his D200. I have combined his three sets into one for this package. I liked his patterns and thought the 464 and 365 pixel width were good sizes.

The Mitered Frame Actions add frames that are xx pixel wide on all sides of the image. You will be given control in "Fill" steps. The fill will default to one of the patterns in the supplied pattern set. You can choose any other pattern in the set. If you hold the mouse cursor over a pattern its name and size will be displayed. Use patterns with the correct xx pixel width for the action being played. You can add your own patterns for frames to Photoshop.

Oval mats actions give you the opportunity to change Photoshop's foreground color which will be used for the wall color. There are only two styles of oval frames one shiny metal and one wood. These frame get their appearance from two things a creative layer style and the layers underlying fill pixels. You can always play with these after you run the actions. The shiny metal style came from Adobe Exchange I renamed it "Oval Metal" and made a variant of it and called it "Oval Wood".

------- Standard Crop Actions Interactive Positioning ---------

These are interactive actions for better cropping control. After the action sets a selection for a standard center crop you will be in control in a Transform Selection step. You can move the selected area using the arrow keys or the mouse. You can also Transform and move the selected area with the mouse. If you transform the selection you must hold the "Shift" Key or the "Shift" and "Alt" Keys to constrain the selection to its current Aspect Ratio. Note: If you mess up and change the Aspect Ratio while doing the Transform hit the "Esc" Key to cancel the transform instead of committing the transform with the "Enter" key. The Action will stop at that point and revert back to the center selection. Press the Play button in the action palette and you will be back in the Transform step and you can try again remembering to use the "Shift" and "Alt" keys this time.

-------------------- Cropping Action Templates -----------------

You copy these actions and then rename the copy for the Aspect Ratio actions you want to create. You then use "Record Again..." from the Action Palette fly-out menu to re-record the first and last script steps in renamed action. You record the aspect ratio crops you want and also the print size. You then move the new action the group they belong in the save the action set.

---------- Standard Crop Actions for Batch Processing ----------

These actions will do an automatic center crop selection in the correct aspect ratio, crop the image and then set the images print size. These actions are intended to be used with Photoshop's Batch and Image Processor functions. Actions in the Standard Crop Actions Interactive Positioning group can also be used in the Batch and Image Processor functions, however User intervention is required with those actions. That will really slow down any batch processing being done, but you will have great control over the cropping. Still I think the interactive actions are best used outside of batch processing.

---------------- JJMack's Photo Collage Toolkit ----------------

Photo Collage Toolkit

I mainly saw picture collages of done two ways. Way one using precut mats with various cutouts for pictures to be placed into. The second way to use a large image as a photo-board where several smaller size pictures are placed onto it. .

It seemed to me that it would be very easy to come up with set rules for creating photo collage templates that could then be populated interactively using a generic collage populating action. And it would also be possible to create template testing actions that could be run while you're creating a template to see if it conforming to the rules and see how it will be populated when the photo collage population action is run. It might even be possible to create Photoshop Scripts that could automate the process of populating Photo Collage templates.

The rule for creating template files must be simple and easy to understand. So they will be easy to create. To that end I came up with what I believe is a very simple set of four rules. Which are not complex and not very restrictive.

The four Rules:

1. Size the photo collage templates for the print size you want - width, height and DPI.
2. Photo collage templates must have a Photoshop background layer. The contents of this layer can be anything.
3. Photo collage templates must have alpha channels named "Image 1", "Image 2", ... "Image n".
4. Photo collage templates layers above the background layers must provide transparent areas to let the images show.

Rules Details:

1. Size the photo collage templates for the print size you want width, height and DPI. Normally a print size like 8" x 10", 11" x 14", 16" x 20" at 300 DPI for printing.
2. Both types a photo collage templates those with and those with out mats must have a Photoshop background layer its contents can be anything.

   Images will be placed above the required Photoshop background layer.
   

3. Beside the required Photoshop background layer photo collage template files are required to have alpha channels named "Image 1", "Image 2", ... "Image n".

   These will be used by the actions to help facilitate image placement and masking. The template will be populated by the use of Photoshop menu File Place. Place supports all image file types RAW, PSD, Jpeg Tiff etc. Photoshop place will put the user into an open place dialog and once the image file is selected the user will then be in a place transform dialog that the user will use to position and sizes the part of the image he wants to use into place. This transform will resample the Photoshop smart object layer to the required DPI. The actions will use the required image alpha channels the named "Image 1". "Image 2" ... "Image n". to provide placement guides while the action runs and to mask the Image layers so only that area of the layer will show. Image layers image should be larger then the alpha channel area you could think of the alpha channels as a cropping mask. Image files will be placed in the collage in order image 1, image 2, ... image n. Each image will be in a Photoshop smart object layer this makes it possible for users to re-transform image tweak cropping and framing after the action is run without loosing quality. The Size shape and placement is controlled by the alpha channels "Image 1", "Image 2", ... "Image n". These channels may overlap. In fact Photo-board photo collage templates the alpha channel "Image 1" will be the same size as the photo collage or slightly smaller to leave a border. The rest of the image alpha channels will overlay parts of image 1. Individual images layers may overlap higher image numbers are on top of lower image numbers in the Photoshop layer stack. In fact that all that is needed for a Photo-board type collage template is the background layer and the required Image alpha channels.
   

4. Additional layers above the background layers can contain anything as long as they provide transparent areas to let the images places above the background lay to show though.

   Rules for photo collage templates that have pre made mats are identical to these rules but they may also have as many Photoshop layers above the background that are needed to make the pre made mat. In fact Photo-board type templates can have layers over the required background layer also for example a border frame and some over laying text. Layer created above the background layer need to have some transparent areas to let the lower images layer to show through. There is no restriction on what is in upper layers and part of the may overlay parts of lower level image layers. For example a pre made mat may be a "Time Magazine" cover template. Have and opening for the cover photo and other layers and text layers that are opaque or semi transparent that will partially obscure the image layer below. The image alpha channels must correspond to the openings in the pre made mat. Image Alpha channels can be any shape, size and may overlap each other. Photo collage template are stored as Photoshop PSD files. Photo collage template file are stored in "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Templates\Collage\". This is not an Adobe directory it is one I created for the storage of my photo collage templates. In reality you can store collage templates anywhere you want because you will be recording the open actions step for theses. However they need to be stored somewhere and I think "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Templates\Collage\" is not a bad idea. With these rules I was able to create generic collage action to test new photo collage templates while they are being developed and generic photo collage action template to create a collection of collage actions for the templates you create. I believe that many existing Photoshop templates could easily be edited and by just adding the required additional "Image N" alpha channels they would comply with my rules and these actions could test and populate them.

   Just placing flat image on a photo-board image would not be to very stylish. Adding a layer style to these image layers would add punch to these photo-board collages. Only having one style available would be boring. So I created a collection of photo-board image layer styles and actions to add these style to the photo image layers in a created photo-board collage. Photoshop ships with some layer styles that would work well as photo collage image layer styles. The collection style I created to be used with photo collages have the styles named "Photo Collage Style 1" through "Photo Collage Style 9" and action to match. You can create you own set and not use replace mine. Just remember to use the correct style names "Photo Collage Style 1" through "Photo Collage Style 9" then the provided actions will add your styles to photoboard type photo collages. Actually these actions can also be used on the precut mat type photo collages.

   Photo collages template need not have frames. If you want to add frames. My custom framing actions can be used to frame a collage.

Photo Collage Actions Set.

The actions in this action set are grouped into four sections:

1. ------------- Photo Collage Action Collection ----------------
2. ------------- Photo Collage Action Templates ----------------
3. ------------- Photo Collage Image Layers Styles -------------
4. --------------Photo Collage Development---------------------

The first group "Photo Collage Action Collection" contains Photo Collage Template populating action. The first nine are generic actions the will put the user in an open image dialog where the user must open the template file they want to populate. The generic collage populating action are name "Generic X Image Collage" where X is a the numbers 1 through 9. The generic collage population actions are follow by collage population actions that automatically open a particular template and interactively populates. These usually have name that identify which template is going to be open and populated.

The second group "Photo Collage Action Templates" are action that you use the create the collage populating actions that automatically open a Photo Collage Template and populate it. These actions are action templates. You start off by duplicating the template action with the same number of images that the template you want to automate has. You rename the copy to reflect your templates name and move it to the bottom of the "Photo Collage Action Collection" group. You then Play that action and it will walk you through the steps you need to perform to customize the action for your template.

The third group "Photo Collage Image Layers Styles". After you populate a Photo Collage Template you wind up with a layered document open in Photoshop a Photo Collage which you can still tweak. You can the image placement and cropping by re-transform them, You can add other embellishments and add layer styles to the smart object Images layers. The actions in this group will add the same layer style to all placed smart object image layers. Nine Photo Collage Layer styles are furnished with this package you may want to develops some for yourself. Once you satisfied with your collage you can print the photo collage or you may want save a layered or flatten image file. Save it where you want an give it a new name.

The forth and last group "Photo Collage Development". The action is this set can be used to populate a template you are currently developing. The will duplicate your current document and try to populate it. The action will work or fail close the active document when the actions complete to continue your template developing.

Note:

Recap:

1. Size the photo collage templates for the print size you want width, height and DPI.
2. Photo collage templates must have a Photoshop background layer its contents can be anything.
3. Photo collage templates must have alpha channels named "Image 1", "Image 2", ... "Image n".
4. Photo collage templates layers above the background layers must provide transparent areas to let the images show.

Usage:

1. Create a new photo collage template with Photoshop.
2. While your creating photo a collage template use the actions in the group "Photo Collage Development" to test your progress. Use the action with the number of image alpha channels you have added so far.
3. When the photo collage template is completed save it as a PSD file in a folder like "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Templates\Collage\"
4. Use one of the Generic Image Collage actions in the group "Photo Collage Action Collection" to populate your template or Copy one the action template from the group "Photo Collage Action Templates" into the group "Photo Collage Action Collection" for the number of images your photo collages template has and customize the action by renaming it and running it.
5. Run the action to re-record the open step and delete the stop step.
6. Your action is now ready to run. Test it run it make sure it works.
7. Optionally run an action in the group Photo Collage Image Layers Styles to add layer style to the image layers the new photo collage.
8. Don't forget to Save the action set after you make a photo collage action.

Tweaking Photo Collages

1. Select the move tool and check the "Auto select" check box on the Photoshop tools option bar
2. Note: CS5 will link the Smart Object layer to its Layer mask. To tweak the image size and position with in the layer mask you must click on the link Icon between the smart object and the layer mask icon in the layers palette to unlink them. Move the mouse cursor over an image and you will be able to drag it around within the frame to position it.
3. Once an image is selected either in the layers palette or clicking after doing the two step above this use Ctrl+T to re-transform, size, and crop the image within its window frame. Note CS5 be sure the smart object and layer mask are not linked. Targeting the smart object layer mask you can use free transform to change the position and size of the image within the collage.
4. You can Run one of the Photo Collage Image Layers Styles action to add a layer style to all image layers. This will leave all image layers targeted. When all image are targeted you can click on style icons int the "Style Pallet" to quickly switch between layer styles or remove them.

   While both type photo collages photoboard and precut mat collages can have layer styles added to the image layer. With precut mat type photo collages you will only see the layer styles that fall with in the images window frame. With photoboard photo collages there is no frame so layer style can extend outside the image and frame images.

   Additional tweaking is possible with photoboard type photo collages because there are no matting layers above the image layers framing them.
   

5. Because photoboard type photo collages have no matting layers you cam move the image position around on the collage and change their size and shape.
6. Image layers are smart objects Photoshop versions lower then CS5 can not link the smart object to the layer's layer mask you can not move the image window frame and the image at the same time. However you can move them one at a time. With CS5 the smart object image is linked with its layer the move tool can move the image and its mask together.
7. To work on the images windows frame you need to target the smart image layer's layer mask. You Can then use the move tool to move the window frame and the free transform tool to change its size and shape. You can even paint on it and go wild.
8. Additional Collage embellishment can also be added to any Photo Collage document.

Batch Auto Populating Collage Templates

In a production environment being able to batch populate a collages may be very productive. Therefor I have included two Photoshop Scripts to populate Photo Collage Templates without user intervention. The first script ("BatchOneImageCollage.jsx") can automate the population of Photo Collages templates that only have one image placed into them. Like a special frame, a baseball card or a magazine cover type of collage may have. This script has options that can be use to have the script stamp the image file name on the image or on the Collage. The second script can populate any Photo Collage Template. Its file name stamp option will only stamp file names onto the image within the collage.

Images are placed into collages in filename sort order. To allow you to control the order of image placement you can prefix the Image Name you want stamped into the collage with a prefix sequence number followed by a "#" character. File Systems file name may be up 255 characters in length and can not contain the special characters <>:"/\|?* So I could do something like this for file name (Sequence number,Collage Title,Image annotation#Image Name) in the future. You should also not expect a long name stamp to fit with the collage. As of now I just strip off everything up to and including the "#" before stamping the remaining part of the file name into the collage. So right now you can use the prefix area anyway you want. However that may change in the future.

For the script to be able to automate the placement and transformation of images into the collage the script needs to be able to determine the size of the image and the size the image need to be for the collage image placement. Photoshop re-sizes placed images when the Photoshop preference "Resize Image During Place" is checked or not. When Checked images will be Transformed down in size if the image is larger then the canvas's width and or height. When un-checked Photoshop will transform the placed image to have the same DPI print resolution as the template. It is only when this option is un-checked and the image has the same DPI print resolution as the Template that Photoshop will place the image into the collage with the images actual pixel size. To be able to successfully use the script templates and images files must have the same DPI print resolution setting they do not need to be the same size. Something on my machine also seen to keep checking this Photoshop preference. This script will always un-check this option before placing an image into a collage. The user only needs to insure that the images DPI setting is set to the templates DPI resolution. Using the image processor an a one step action "Image Size resample NOT checked and setting the print DPI resolution will do that without changing a single image pixel.

So if you want to batch populate photo collage templates the is now a new rule 5.
5.) Templates PSD files and Images files must have the same DPI print setting. They do not have to be the same size.

While it is not a requirement images and template image slots should have the same orientation landscape or portrait. Changing a Landscape into a Portrait or a Portrait into a Landscape does not really work well.

Often it would be nice to be able to annotate the collage with something like a person's name. However since the script places the images into the collage the script does not have access to the image file's meta-data information like exif, title, description etc. The only information the script has about the image is its file name. The script has an option to stamp the filename onto the collage or onto the placed image in the collage. One only needs to named their files with a persons name or other unique information they want annotated.

The script will always save a layered Photoshop document PSD of PDF that the user can tweak and or add other embellishments to. Layer Photoshop documents tend to be very large so there is an additional option you can use to save jpeg files as well if the are OK you can delete the layered document. to save space. Output file names will be "Image Filename Collage Filename".ext. The script does not attempt to make sure that output filename are unique so if in the input folder there is a Filename.PSD, Filename.RAW, Filename.jpg etc there will only be one output file "Filename Collagename".ext the last image file processed wins.

The scripts dialog with the upper part you specify the collage name and input and output folders these setting are recorded and will stick. The lower there are options you can check and select these settings are not recorded you must set the one you want to use each time. So I did not want to have too many options so I hard codes some additional options in the script they can only be changes by editing the script and customizing these hard coded settings. That are set in the beginning of the script.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////CUSTOMIZE Here/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Some Hard Coded variables that some day I may put into the dialog options area

var imageStyle = "Photo Collage Style 3"; // Image layer's layer style 1-9

var textSizeFactor = 2; // > 1 scales down text size
var textAngle = -10; // center text angle
var textColor = new SolidColor; // text color
textColor.rgb.red = 255;
textColor.rgb.green = 255;
textColor.rgb.blue = 255;
var textStyle = "Shiny Metal"; // Text Layer's layer style

// End hard coded variables
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

-------------------- Old Actions ------------------------------

Some old action from my old package just in case anyone was fond of them.

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About my Actions

I like to create Actions that will work on Layered Documents, preserve the layers, work all the time and not produce error messages. These action were created to work on large image files. While most will work on web size file the results may be bizarre. It does not make sense to add 700 to 900 pixel to the width and height of a web size image which is what the Miter Frame actions do. The Mat Actions trim 20 pixel all around its inner opening for the Mat bevel. That would be too large for a web size Image, and may even delete all pixels in a mat causing the texturizer step to fail. If you want to user these Frames and mats on the Web resize the image for the Web after using these actions on print sized files. The Photo Corners action will most likely work on any size image because every thing it does is done relatively.

Many of the included actions use Photoshop Scripts I created to make these actions more user friendly and easier to use. Some of the included actions would be impossible to record or even create without these scripts. This package is a bit more advanced than the ordinary actions created by users. While the action themselves are quite easy and simple there is a heavy reliance on two included Photoshop Scripts That Scripts behave like a Photoshop Plug-ins. They will appear in Photoshop's Automate menu i.e.. File>Automate>Aspect Ratio Selection... and File>Automate>Long Side Print Length... if you put a shortcut into Photoshop Script folder linking it to my Photoshop Script Folder "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Scripts\".

Because these Scripts work like Photoshop Plug-ins when their "use" is recorded by Photoshop's Action recorder the recorder will record the parameters set into the script's dialog by the action creator. When the action is played back no dialog will be displayed and the recorder parameters will be passed to the script. Like any Photoshop action step that has a dialog the dialog can be activated in the script step by clicking the second box in the action step. If you would like to use the scripts in your own actions you need to link Photoshop's script directory to mine or menu>File>Scripts>Browse browse to my directory and select the script.

When Actions are recorded if they use a script that Script's full path is recorded within the action so these actions will work even it you do not link Photoshop's script directory to mine. Having my own Script directory outside of Adobe's normal path allows my actions that use my scripts to be used from one Photoshop release to an others without having to edit the action and record again the script steps. One might even forget what setting the used when the originally recorded the action.

These scripts allow action creators to easily create actions that work on images and not have to worry much about which orientation an image has (Landscape or Portrait). If you wish to create you own actions that use these scripts remember to copy the link shortcut into Photoshop's script directory. Then the Aspect Ratio Selection script and the Long Side Print Length Scripts will be in Photoshop's menu File>Automate>Script Name and available for use.

Some details about some of the actions

The Add Photo Board and Photo Corners action needs to place a new layer on the bottom of the layer stack and then enlarged the canvas size. You can not do this if there is a real Photoshop "Background" layer. If there is one it must be converted to a normal layer. If one record a convert Background to normal layer it can be done. However if you play such an action when there is no background layer an error message Object Background not available Continue ? or Stop ? will occur. User intervention is required to continue the action and it would work but they could as easily stop the action. So I hacked a script which will convert the background layer to a normal layer if there is one and target it. If there is no background the script will target the bottom layer. There will be no error massage.

The Mat actions originally relied on the Document having a background layer for the Mat bevels styles to fall on, where the Canvas added was gray. If there is no background layer when canvas is added by Photoshop, Photoshop adds transparent canvas. This cause the Mat layers bevel to be transparent. You can fix this by addling a 50% Gray layer and moving it to the bottom of the stack. Still I considered this a bug so I hacked a script that added a new background layer if the document did not already have a background layer. However then I noticed a second problem with the mats bevels. Outer mats bevels were being mixed with layer style from inner mats. I needed to hide these lower layer style that were being cut off because there was no more canvas for them to fall on. I needed to add a layer for the Mats bevel to fall on and also hide any inner mat layer style. So I added the needed action steps and removed the script that took me a while to hack for it was no longer needed.

On the Mitered Frame actions I originally created, the user interface bothered me. The user needed to select the frame pattern for both Vertical and Horizontal frame pieces. I wanted to create all four sides with one selection from a single filled piece. In order to do this I needed to select and fill a mitered selection of the images longer side. So I needed to fix the bugs in a script I had down loaded. The Script is designed to be used twice in an action. The first time the script is used it will rotate Portrait images to Landscape and mark the meta-data to rotate back. The second time the script is used, if the image meta-data says to rotate back the script will rotate the image back and remove the mete-data marking. You now only need to select the frame pattern once. The down side of this update is that Portrait images are now rotated four times not just twice which add time to the execution.

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About Photoshop Scripting

Photoshop Scripts though I hack at these I do not really know Object orientated programming Java or Javascript

If you want to learn a bit about Photoshop Action, Scripts and shortcuts I would highly recommend that you visit Trevor Morris Web Site http://morris-photographics.com/photoshop/index.html There you will find a few short, well-written introductory tutorials that address Photoshop Actions and Scripts. You will receive great tips and learn some very good practices. There are also more then a dozen free well-written Photoshop Scripts you can download. There you will also find a complete list of shortcuts for Photoshop versions 5 through CS3 and his presets for CS, CS2 and CS3. These were a godsend when writing my actions.

Scripts can use logic to manipulate a Photoshop Document using Scripting Programming Languages (AppleScript, VBScript and JavaScript) through the Adobe Photoshop Scripting Interface. Script can retrieve document data and information like attributes, sizes, layers, meta-data EXIF and others. Adobe also provides a Plug-in called the Script Listener that will record Photoshop Scripts in the same vein as Photoshop's Action Palette records Action. However like Action there is no logic in these Scripts just step, step, step. You also have no recording controls once the Plug-in is installed Photoshop will record every thing that is recordable until you remove the plug-in, then you must extract the step you did and add the logic you want. There are some thing that the Script Listener can record that can not be done using Adobe's normal Scripting functions. The Script Listener uses a special object model that is used with the Action Manager. The Script Listener steps are well delimited but not easy to read. You can replace some constants recorded in the Listener steps with script variable and create script functions from these. If you're looking at a Photoshop script and come to a section the you can't seem to read or understand. the author most likely used the Script Listener for that function.

About the included Scripts

These scripts perform simple logical steps for actions.

ConvertBackground.jsx

This Script simply targets the bottom layer and ensures that it is a Normal layer. While it is easy to target the bottom Layer in a action by recording the short cut "Alt(option)+," you do not know if the layer is normal layer or the unique Photoshop background layer. If you record a convert background step in an action and that action is played with a document that does not have a real background layer error message "Object Background not Available Continue or Stop?" will occur and the user must make a choice. This script solves the problem. This script is used by the Add Photo Board and Photo Corners action.

NewDocFromSelection.jsx

Creates a new Document containing the selected part of the current actives layers will fail if the selected area is empty contains no pixels or needs to be rasterized like text, fill 0 shape layer style, etc.

OneInchMiteredLeftEdgeSelection.jsx

This Script simply retrieves the document current resolution DPI and its height in pixels. Then it makes a 1" wide vertical selection on the left side of the document with mitered 45 degree end cuts. This script is used by the Mitered Framing actions.

orient.jsx

This script I downloaded from the Web it was hacked from an old Adobe sample script. The original designer/hacker made some logic error and omissions in implementing his design. I fixed these problems. The script is designed to be run twice in an action. Sometime when you create an action you would like to know the documents orientation Landscape or Portrait. Running this script for the first time in an action will ensure that the document is in landscape orientation. The document will be rotated to landscape and marked that it was rotated if need be. The second time the action runs this script, it will find that the document is marked as rotated, so will rotate it back and remove the "rotate" marker from the document. This script is used by the miter framing actions to enable them to create a full frame from a single filled selection.

RandomColors.jsx

Sets Photoshop's Foreground and Background colors randomly.

SaveAndRestoreColors.jsx

This script records Photoshop's current Foreground and Background swatch colors into the images metadata on the first run. During the second usage the script retrieves and removes from the documents metadata the saved colors and set Photoshop's Foreground and Background colors to the saved colors.

SaveAndRestoreResolution.jsx

The script is designed to be run twice in an action. Sometime when you create an action you would like to know the documents dimensions remember them change them temporary resize without resampling do something then restore the original dimensions. Using this script twice in an action lets you do that. Running this script for the first time will see that it the first time and will insert into documents metadata file info instruction field the documents current resolution. The second time the script is run from the action the script will see that this is the second time it is being run and will insure the dimensions are the same as the when first run by resizing the document to the original resolution without resampling and remove the saved resolution from the metadata. The documents metadata file info instruction field original data is preserved a similar update was made to the orient.jsx script so the are save to run in the same action. This script also saves and restores Photoshops preferences units (ruler and type) settings.

SelectBackground.jsx

Sound like an easy thing to do, but it is not so easy when there is no background layer. A document may have many layers with the name "Background" and none of these has to be a real Photoshop Background layer. The Background layer sits at the bottom of the layer stack . No layer can be moved below it and it does no support transparency. When Canvas gets added to a Background layer it will always have a color. This script targets the bottom layer if the target is not a background layer the script add a new Layer moves it to the bottom of the stack and converts it into a real Photoshop Background layer. I created the script for use with the Mat actions, Then I ran into an other problems with the mat actions. Solving those problem negated the need for a background layer. So I removed this script from the action, but still the script may com in handy some day.

SelectVignette.jsx and SelectVignetteBorder.jsx

Make a feathered elliptical selection that has the same aspect ratio as the image. Used by the Vignette actions.

SelectEllipse.jsx

Makes elliptical selections that have the same aspect ration as the image. Used by the oval mat and oval frame actions.

ExifData.jsx

This add a text layer with all the Cameras EXIF data. For some unknown reason Photoshop's script text interface performs very slowly when setting the text paragraph contents.

StampExif.jsx

This scripts acts like the ExifData script but the text added is not a paragraph and only some of the EXIF is in the text layer. The script also tries to retrieve lens information the may be in the images XML data. There are also two variables "Biz" and "Owner" are business and name. You should change them set to your name and business unless you're so embarrassed by you images you want to blame their existence on me!

BatchOneImageCollage.jsx

Batch Populate One Image Photo Collage Templates.

BatchMultiImageCollage.jsx

Batch Populate any Photo Collage Template.

Two scripts included were modeled after a script that ships with Photoshop CS3 "Fit Image". Fit Image will resample an image and constrain its size to fit within some Pixel size. This script is very handy when you create actions for making Web size images. My two scripts do not change any of the image's pixels. Aspect Ratio Selection script just sets a selection of the requested aspect ratio fitted to the current image. It is up to the user of the script to do the actual crop. The Long Side Print Length Scripts only changes the current documents DPI setting to so it will print the requested size.

The Aspect Ratio Selection script and the Long Side Print Length Scripts can be found in Photoshop's menu File>Automate>Script Name if Photoshop's script directory is linked to my Photoshop script directory. These Scripts can be used within a Photoshop action. Setting used in the scripts dialog while recording the action will be recorded and used when the action is played back without showing any dialog. You of course can turn the Dialog Back on within the action to make it interactive.

AspectRatioSelection.jsx

The Aspect Selection Script is like using the Rectangle and Elliptical Marquee Tools with a couple of twist thrown in. The selection will automatically be sized to fit the image and can be centered. All the normal features of the marquee tools have been implemented. You can feather and anti-alias the selection. The selection mode can be new||replace, diminish||subtract, extend||add, and intersect. The selection can also be shrunk to allow a 25% border around it. Most of these features are not used by these actions. Maybe you can come up with some uses for them.

LongSidePrintLength.jsx

The Long Side Print Length Scripts only changes the current documents DPI setting to so it will print the requested size. Though this is a very simple function the script is quite involved. To be able to pass parameters to a script the script needs to be coded in a very complex way and act as a Photoshop plug-in. The amount of work involved to do such a simple "If" then "do" else "do" turned out to be a file well over 400 line long. Thankfully most were stolen from Photoshop's "Fit Image" script. You've got to love software reuse!

Finally a note regarding the script code in these two Photoshop plug-in scripts. The code uses some strange strings that look like some kind of registration numbers. I do not know how one would get such a thing. So I use the ones that belong to "Fit Image" and changed two string by on number. I changed the one "Fit Image" used to record and retrieve its parameters, and the string that identifies the script as "Fit Image". My scripts work and do not interfere with "Fit Image". However I do not know if using numbers like "Fit Image's" registration numbers will not cause any problem sometime in the future. Later, Xbytor informed me the things that looks like a registration code is actually a UUID. There are several places on the net to have a unique on generated for you. I get mine at http://www.famkruithof.net/uuid/uuidgen. Now I know what it is, however I'm not going to change the strings that I have used unless there is a conflict. I think there is a small chance that this will happen, for the actions have been recorder and many users are using them. I do not know if getting my own UUID and changing the scripts to use them will affect the installed base script.

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Footnote

I wish there was a way in Photoshop's Action Palette to have nested Action Sets to help organize Actions within the action palette. With the limited space of the Action palette it would very helpful to be able to collapse areas and do less scrolling to get to the action one wants to use. This Action set has a large number of actions, so it is hard to navigate within the package. So I grouped the action and recorded an action you can run to make action sets with the group name then drag the actions groups here into them.