I know lots of similar questions have been asked before, but this is killing me. I am trying to overlay my logo - which is an image file - onto a batch group of images.
I have found the adobe tutorial on "branding" and it is quite good. The one problem I am having trouble with is that in that tutorial it assumes your "logo" it a path that can be inserted into the action you are creating. I am not using a path, but an image file.
Is there a way to create an action to automate the stamping of a picture with an image based logo file? I cant seem to find a way to insert the image into the action.
You can use an image instead of a path, however, you cannot embed the image in an action like you can a path. You can reference an existing image for an action to call upon. Although after creating the action, you shouldn't move or rename the file because the action will then stall when it can't locate the file.
Thanks, that makes sense. However how do I insert the image file while I'm recording the action. If I just do a File > Open, then the action errors out once I try to run it.
I could create an action action to do what you want. However I can not figure out how to scale the logo image for different image image sizes. I can not get free transform to record using inches as units which I set rulers to?? Free tansform always seem to record in % or pixels when I try to scale the pasted layer to size If I could get it to record in inches I couldscale all image to something like 8" wide without resampling. It easy to overlay the current image with your logo image in an action and even position it. However I have not figured how to scale the logo image for the current image. I can create the action if you allow me to resample the current image to something like 8" wide at 300 dpi. You could use a fixed size logo like 2" x 2" 300DPI.
The action would be easy.
1.) Image size resample 8" wide 300dpi
2.) Open Logo.png file (PNG supports transparency)
3.) select all
4.) Copy
5.) Close no save
6.) Paste
7.) Name current layer "Logo"
8.) Move current layer to front
9.) Set current layer layer style
10) Select all
11) Menu Layers>Align layers to Selection>Vertical center
12) Menu Layers>Align layers to Selection>Horizontal center
13.) Deselect
14.) insert menu item fit on screen
Mr Mouse, thank you for the run through. That has been basically what I have been doing with a few exceptions.
- My image file has been a JPEG, not a PNG file.
- I have been dragging and dropping the JPEG onto the picture. This creates a new layer.
Does the logo necessarily have to be a PNG file? Do I absolutely have to copy/paste instead of dragging and dropping. The issue that I have been running into is when I go to select the logo file, photoshop records a "switch to previous document" line in the action I'm recording. Then when I go to run the action, photoshop tells me "Previous document not available - continue or stop?".
Should I stop recording when I switch to my logo file to copy and paste it?
deepbluejh wrote:
- My image file has been a JPEG, not a PNG file.
- I have been dragging and dropping the JPEG onto the picture. This creates a new layer.
I think it more like you have been trying to to drag and drop to create a new layer and found out you can not record that in a Photoshop action
Does the logo necessarily have to be a PNG file?
No the Logo can be a file like a Jpeg file if it the logo is rectangular and has no transparency.
Do I absolutely have to copy/paste instead of dragging and dropping.
All thing you can do in Photoshop can not be recorded in an action. I would write you can not use drag and drop.
The issue that I have been running into is when I go to select the logo file, photoshop records a "switch to previous document" line in the action I'm recording. Then when I go to run the action, photoshop tells me "Previous document not available - continue or stop?".
That a sequence thing you would need to record the action so when the action is recorded when you switch to the logo image it is recorded as a switch to next document then when you drag and drop the logo on the image the previous document this will be recorder as switch to previous document. You must open the image document in Photoshop. Then open the logo document. Switch to the Image document and record the action. When you record the action you will see "switch to next document switch to previous document" recorded when you do the drag and drop the new logo layer. When you play the action it will switch between documents however no logo layer will be created. For nothing was recorded for the actual drag and drop. All the was recorded was the switching between document. It is hard to record actions when there a many open documents because Photoshop records the switching between the documents relatively. You need to have the document in the correct order.
Should I stop recording when I switch to my logo file to copy and paste it?
That would not work. Photoshop need to know what to copy and paste all must be recorded. Open the document you want to overlay the logo on and record the action I outlined, As I outlined it.
I do this with my logo as well. My logo file is a GIF. As Mr Mouse has said, my action contains the open command and path for the GIF, and uses the copy and paste commands to apply it to the image I want to watermark. It runs fine even if really slowly. Downside is that I can't use the clipboard in other applications whilst this action is running in PS. I'm running mine on RAW files from four different bodies and so the logo appears identically scaled for a particular camera, but varies between the camera bodies. I guess I should do something about standardising the image dimensions in my action before applying the logo and then downsizing to give a uniform appearance on my web images.
Steverock01 wrote:
I'm running mine on RAW files from four different bodies and so the logo appears identically scaled for a particular camera, but varies between the camera bodies. I guess I should do something about standardising the image dimensions in my action before applying the logo and then downsizing to give a uniform appearance on my web images.
Good luck with your action jh.
If you create a Custom Shape instead of a Gif you can create an action that the Logo will be the same relative size for all your cameras without having to resort to resampling the images to a common size. When you add a shape layer you can control the size of the shape in inches. All you need do is start the action with a "Image Size" step with resample NOT checked set the image width to 8". The does not change a single pixel in the image just scale the print size by adjusting the images DPI. Then when you add you shape logo lets say 1" wide the correct number of pixel for each camera will be added for each will have different DPI.
You would be better off using a png image instead of a gif if you logo is very colorful GIF only supports 256 colors PNG even supports 16 Bit color however you display and clipboard does not. You can use"Place" instead of copy paste. If you needed 16 Bit support. The problem I have using an image file is the one you write about. I have not found a way to scale the logo for each camera. For the only way I know how to scale/resize a layer is through the use of some form of Transform. The problem has to do with the way Photoshop records a transform step. Be it in "Place" or just a layer transform. Depending on how I have ruler units preferences set Photoshop will record the x y center offset using ruler units. However it always records the width and height as a percentage change. I can enter all values in the option bar using any units I care to Photoshop however will convert those to ruler units and percentage. The problem here percentage will produce a different size logo for each camera. Because the image file alway get added with the same number of pixel. One need the Width and Height recorded in inches so the layer will be resized to the correct number of pixels depending on the images 8" DPI value. Scaling the number of pixels using a single percentage will produce different size logo for the logo will alway be so many pixel wide but each cameras 8" wide DPI is different and will only be 1" wide for one of the cameras.
Thanks for that info Mr Mouse. I'm using the GIF so I can get a clear background and I'm only using two colours. Can I do that with a PNG as well?
I will have a play with shapes. I'm also told you can use a brush, but for single colours.
I'm going to spruce up my watermark at some stage, but at the moment I'm only throwing it on proofs and web images to discourage people from putting them on Facebook without my permission. At least I get some free advertising when they do it.
Steverock01 wrote:
Thanks for that info Mr Mouse. I'm using the GIF so I can get a clear background and I'm only using two colours. Can I do that with a PNG as well?
As I wrote Ping like Gif supports transparency and does not have limited color capabilities like Gif. Ping supports all color profiles and even 16 bit color depth.
I will have a play with shapes. I'm also told you can use a brush, but for single colours.
Shapes do not support multiple colors as you add a shape lay. For two colors you could try two shapes sized and linked together. You can also add color after adding a shape layer with layer styles and layer filling. You also need to watch what Photoshop records when you size the shape. If ruler units are set wrong the shape action will have problems. If rulers units are set to pixels the action will have the same problem the copy paste and place action have the logo will have a fixed number of pixels and have a different size for each camera body. I ruler units are set to percent the logo appearance will change with the images aspect ratio. Make sure that the top left bottom right units are recorded in inches..
You can use a brush but I think you can only do it manually. Brush strokes can not be recorded in an action. You also need th set the brush size in pixels in the brush options.
I'm going to spruce up my watermark at some stage, but at the moment I'm only throwing it on proofs and web images to discourage people from putting them on Facebook without my permission. At least I get some free advertising when they do it.
There is a iTunes podcast from Russle Brown that show you how to create the action to put you logo on to a photo then how to run it on a group of photos at once. It resizes the image and locates the logo indented in the bottom left corner of the photo. The logo is resized with the photo. It also shows you how to create the logo to work with.
