p.1 #1 · Three PS CS6 questions from reasonably experienced user
Hi all, I've been using PS for some time, but I have three questions that I can't get answered through the usual help/search avenues:
1. A client of mine needs the jpgs I give them to fit into a 900x900 space while keeping the original (2:3 or 4:3 or whatever) proportions (trust me; long story). In other words, my rectangular images have to be cropped to 900px on the long dimension and something less on the short dimension. Is there any way in PS to set up the Crop tool so that only the longer of the two dimensions is 900px?Obviously I can set up the horizontal crop to 900px, but then the vertical images are larger than that on the height, and vice-versa. (Flipping the rotate-crop circular arrow doesn't seem to solve it in any useful way.) I know how to run Scripts > Image processor to downsize batches of photos to fit into a 900px square, but since I usually have to add a consistent-width border and layer effects to each image after cropping, that process means cropping, saving/closing the file, running the Script, and then reopening all of the resized photos to add the consistent-size border and layer effects. If I could cut out the middle steps there, it would save me a lot of time.
2. Is there any way to increase the size of the middle (side and top/bottom) handles in the to-be-cropped view? With many subjects I find the little handles hard to see. Can't find anything in Prefs, but maybe I'm missing it?
3. After an image I'm viewing in fit-on-screen mode is cropped, it is obviously small on the screen. Assuming the image is smaller than my screen area, is there any way to get it to show the entire image at actual pixel size (Ctrl-1 on PC) without first going through Ctrl-0 (fit-on-screen)? Everytime I downsize a photo (sometimes hundreds of times a day) I do this two-step process to view a downsized crop at 100% (i.e., first Ctrl-0, then Ctrl-1), and I'd like to cut out the first step.
p.1 #2 · Three PS CS6 questions from reasonably experienced user
I hope I'm understanding your questions. I'll check back in later today, this evening.
#1 - Could you write an action to add the border & effects? Once this is created you can batch process the re-sized jpgs using the file>automate>batch routine.
#2 - I don't know of anyway to increase the handle sizes, haven't looked either. I can simply grab any edge of the crop box and drag it. I don't need to grab the handle specifically.
#3 - I don't use <ctrl>0 or <ctrl>1 on a regular basis. I zoom with the scroll wheel on the mouse. It's on the general screen of the preferences to enable it.
I have an action that is run on a file open to 'fit to screen'. You could do the same and add another step to the 100% zoom.
p.1 #3 · Three PS CS6 questions from reasonably experienced user
re: your 1st item, I'm assuming you want it to run automatically, but if not. You can set the dpi of your crop tool and then set it to the dimension that you would want like 2 by 3 inches at 300 dpi. I don't know a way to change from landscape to portrait automatically, but you could pretty easily select all the vertical shots run your cropping/framing action for them and then select all your horizontal shots and running a similar action for them.
p.1 #4 · Three PS CS6 questions from reasonably experienced user
I tackled the crop problem a while back when trying to prep a large number of images for transfer to an Ipad. Wanted the vertical/portrait images cropped to the height of the Ipad and the horizontal/landscape images cropped to the width. But I also wanted to manually and visually set the position of the crop.
Nothing within Photoshop could do this without first separating the images by orientation and then processing two batches with separate custom actions for portrait vs. landscape. Actually, that's not too difficult using Bridge to select the orientation and the Image Processor to do the batch (with an action).
But then I found this neat little script. It automatically senses portrait vs. landscape orientation and sets a selection according to the long edge.
I put that in an action with a stop and the move tool selected. Then included this action in the Image Processor. On each image, the process stops with the marching ants selection displayed. Use click-and-drag or arrow keys to reposition the selection and hit enter. That image is cropped, sized, converted to sRGB, and saved. Then the process moves on to the next image.
p.1 #5 · Three PS CS6 questions from reasonably experienced user
I would only worry about the aspect ratio while cropping and then use the Fit Image (900x900) command on the automation menu to resize with the the long side restricted to 900px.
p.1 #6 · Three PS CS6 questions from reasonably experienced user
Thanks, redcrown! I too used to separate the verticals from the horizontals -- there being no automatic way to do it that I know of -- and that script you linked to looks promising. (Thanks to to the others who replied, but again, I really would prefer to avoid cropping, then saving/closing, then running a script, then reopening to apply the border and layer styles.)
p.1 #7 · Three PS CS6 questions from reasonably experienced user
RalphJ wrote:
Hi all, I've been using PS for some time, but I have three questions that I can't get answered through the usual help/search avenues:
1. A client of mine needs the jpgs I give them to fit into a 900x900 space while keeping the original (2:3 or 4:3 or whatever) proportions (trust me; long story). In other words, my rectangular images have to be cropped to 900px on the long dimension and something less on the short dimension. Is there any way in PS to set up the Crop tool so that only the longer of the two dimensions is 900px?Obviously I can set up the horizontal crop to 900px, but then the vertical images are larger than that on the height, and vice-versa. (Flipping the rotate-crop circular arrow doesn't seem to solve it in any useful way.) I know how to run Scripts > Image processor to downsize batches of photos to fit into a 900px square, but since I usually have to add a consistent-width border and layer effects to each image after cropping, that process means cropping, saving/closing the file, running the Script, and then reopening all of the resized photos to add the consistent-size border and layer effects. If I could cut out the middle steps there, it would save me a lot of time. ...Show more →
OK the image processor script uses a Photoshop plug-in "Fit Image" to do the actual resize. So you can just as easily record its use in an action to do the resize you want. Its a resize not a crop. the resize image retains the images original aspect ratio be it 2:3, 3:2, 3:4, 4:3. An Action can do it all. Step 1 menu File>Automate>Fit Image. In the Fit Image Dialog enter 900 px in width and height. Adding a layer effect would be very easy you would simply flatten the image in case the image was layered so there would only be a background which you then convert to a normal layer and add the layer style to. Adding the consistent width border is also easy you add an new layer as a bottom layer fill with white and convert it to a background layer. You then use canvas size check relative leave the anchor point centered and set width and height to something lime 20 px to add a 10 px border around the image you can also set the color of the added canvas.
Works for both landscape and portrait images the logic is in the Fit Image Plug-in script there is no need to to separate or rotate image. Fit Image will resize your images to fit the 900x900 area retain your images aspect ratio and canvas size will add the border you want.
Once you record this action and save it so you do not loose it. You can batch the action. Use menu File>Automate>Batch in the dialog select action set and action set up a source and destination folder
2. Is there any way to increase the size of the middle (side and top/bottom) handles in the to-be-cropped view? With many subjects I find the little handles hard to see. Can't find anything in Prefs, but maybe I'm missing it?
No
3. After an image I'm viewing in fit-on-screen mode is cropped, it is obviously small on the screen. Assuming the image is smaller than my screen area, is there any way to get it to show the entire image at actual pixel size (Ctrl-1 on PC) without first going through Ctrl-0 (fit-on-screen)? Everytime I downsize a photo (sometimes hundreds of times a day) I do this two-step process to view a downsized crop at 100% (i.e., first Ctrl-0, then Ctrl-1), and I'd like to cut out the first step.
If you batching the action you don't see the image it gets saved. You can also add the Ctrl+0 and the Ctrl+1 to the end of the above action when run manually it will end displayinf the images actuall pixels including the added border.
You may want to look at my crafting actions package. I also contains some scripts I wrote to be uses in Action two are plug-ins and very useful when you want to automate cropping actions.
Crafting Actions Package Contains
Action Actions Palette Tips.txt
Action Creation Guidelines.txt
Action Dealing with Image Size.txt
Action Enhanced via Scripted Photoshop Functions.txt
CraftedActions.atn Sample Action set includes an example Watermarking action
Sample Actions.txt Photoshop CraftedActions set saved as a text file with some additional comments I added
12 Scripts for actions
