Photoshop Automator Actions v5.0
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If you routinely find yourself slogging through tedious, repetitve chores in Photoshop, then you should try using Automator to streamline your batch processing chores. Built-in to Mac OS X 10.4 and later, Automator makes it simple to create sophisticated, complex automations. Out-of-the-box, Automator can’t control Adobe Photoshop, but with the addition of this Photoshop Automator Actions collection, you get everything necessary to drive Photoshop using Automator. |
Why would I use Automator instead of Photoshop’s own actions?
While Photoshop’s Actions palette provides a simple way to record and playback complex actions, it’s functions are limited to only things you can do in Photoshop. Since Automator workflows can span multiple applications, you can easily automate entire photo and graphics production pipelines. For example, you can can use Automator and the Photoshop Automator Actions collection to batch process the manipulation of your images and then automatically upload the results to a server, archive them to a CD or DVD, build and print contact sheets – and all with a single button press.
The Photoshop Automator Actions collection also provides sophisticated logical actions, which allow you to filter your images based on many EXIF and IPTC tags, color mode, size, orientation, and more. So, you can build build workflows that only perform edits on images that match specific criteria. For example, you could build a workflow that processes CMYK images one way, but performs different actions on RGB images.
Finally, while Adobe Bridge provides a simple interface for launching batch processes, it limits you to only operating on the files within a single folder. Automator has no such limitations, so you can process images from multiple folders, or even images located through a Spotlight search. And, with Automator, you have many more ways to launch a batch process. You can save your workflows as applications, turn them into Folder Actions, trigger them from iCal, or save them as OS X Services.
Is Automator hard to use?
No! To use Automator, you simply string a series of "actions"
together to create a workflow. The resulting workflow is an easy-to-read flowchart. No scripting is required.
The full Photoshop Automator Actions collection provides 95 Actions that allow you to control a tremendous number of Photoshop’s functions. Obviously, painting operations are not feasible with an automated system, but just about every other Photoshop operation can be automated. What’s more, you can trigger Photoshop’s internal actions from an Automator workflow, so if you’ve already got Photoshop actions that you regularly use, you can now add Automator functionality on top of them.
You can see a full list of actions below.
What’s new in version 5?
Version 5 brings compatibility with Photoshop CS5, as well as the final release of the CS4 actions. As always, there have been lots of bug fixes along the way including file naming, and image resizing – two problems that were introduced with the CS4 beta. Some actions have seen the addition of new parameters, and the v5 package ships with three new actions.
The new Diptych and Triptych actions automate the process of creating two-up, and three-up layouts. With full control over margins and spacing, diptych and triptych creation has never been easier.
The new Contact Sheet action replicates most of the functionality of the Contact Sheet script that is available as an optional install from Adobe. Of course, the advantage of having such power within Automator is that you can now automate the production of your contact sheets. Contact Sheet produces a PSD (either flat or layered) and gives you the option of displaying up to two lines of metadata beneath each thumbnail.
Sophisticated Architecture
Normally, when you pass a group of files to an Automator workflow, every file is processed by the first action, then every file is processed by the second action, and so on. While this is fine for small documents, for large Photoshop documents, having to open every file in a batch at once (which is what Automator will do, by design) can be a tremendous computing hog. The Photoshop Automator Actions collection uses a sophisticated Open/Render architecture so that only one document is opened at a time. This makes for much speedier processing, and better resource management than you’ll get with normal actions.
Wow! All this for free??
Er..uh…well, most of it for free! After five years of giving away these actions for free, I’m afraid that I have to start charging for some of them. Development just takes too much time, and I fear there haven’t been enough donations to offset my costs. So, with this release there are now two different Photoshop Automator Action bundles, the free bundle which includes 41 actions covering all of your day-to-day automation needs, and a $20 Pro bundle that packs 95 actions, delivering an incredible amount of high-end automation power. These two packages are available for Photoshop CS4 and CS5.
In addition to the actions, the package includes an assortment of sample workflows. The 73-page manual gives you a reference for all of the included actions, as well as an introduction to using Automator, and strategies for building Photoshop workflows. In addition, training videos are now available!
A full list of actions is provided below.
System Requirements
If you can run Photoshop CS4 or CS5 on your Mac, then you’ve got all the hardware and software you need to use these actions.
Important note for CS5 users: the CS5 actions only work with Photoshop CS5 version 12.0.1, a free upgrade from Adobe.
If you’re still using CS3, then you’ll want the older, CS3 collection.
After paying, you will be sent an email with a download link. It's a 16MB download.
Note for CS5 Users: You must be running Photoshop CS5 12.0.1 (a free update) for these actions to work.
Download the free package for CS2 (v3.5)
Download the free package for CS3 (v3.7)
Download the free package for CS4 (v5.0)
Download the free package for CS5 (v5.0)
Free Video Tutorials Available Here
Complete list of actions:
| Add Empty Adjustment Layer (Pro only) | Flip Canvas |
| Add Graphic Watermark (Pro only) | Gaussian Blur |
| Add Layer (Pro only) | Glass (Pro only) |
| Add Watermark | Hue/Saturation |
| Arbitrary Rotate | Invert |
| Assign Color Profile (Pro only) | Load Selection (Pro only) |
| Assign Custom Profile (Pro only) | Make Clipping Path (Pro only) |
| Auto Color | Maximum/Minimum (Pro only) |
| Auto Contrast | Mono Gaussian Merge Visible Layers (Pro only) |
| Auto Levels | Mono Gaussian Noise |
| Average (Pro only) | Motion Blur |
| Bleach Bypass | NTSC Colors (Pro only) |
| Change Bit Depth | Ocean Ripple (Pro only) |
| Change Mode (Pro only) | Open |
| Change Pixel Aspect Ratio (Pro only) | Open as Raw Data (Pro only) |
| Change Resolution | Paint Daubs |
| Channel Mixer (Pro only) | Paste (Pro only) |
| Clouds (Pro only) | Photo Filter (Pro only) |
| Color Balance | Pinch |
| Contact Sheet (Pro only) | Polar Coordinates (Pro only) |
| Convert to Profile (Pro only) | Posterize |
| Copy Data to IPTC (Pro only) | Purge (Pro only) |
| Copy IPTC to Spotlight Comments (Pro only) | Radial Blur |
| Crop | Reduce Noise |
| Deinterlace (Pro only) | Render |
| Desaturate | Resize Canvas |
| Deselect (Pro only) | Resize Image |
| Despeckle | Resize to File Size (Pro only) |
| Diffusion | Restore Original File List (Pro only) |
| Diptych | Ripple |
| Do Action (Pro only) | Scale Image |
| Duplicate Current layer (Pro only) | Select All (Pro only) |
| Dust and Scratches | Select Path (Pro only) |
| Edit IPTC Info | Set Blend Mode of Current Layer (Pro only) |
| Exposure (Pro only) | Shadow Highlight (Pro only) |
| Filter by Aspect Ratio (Pro only) | Sharpen Edges |
| Filter by Bit Depth (Pro only) | Sharpen More |
| Filter by Color Mode (Pro only) | Smart Blur |
| Filter by EXIF (Pro only) | Smart Sharpen (Pro only) |
| Filter by File Type (Pro only) | Sphereize |
| Filter by IPTC (Pro only) | Strip Extra Channels (Pro only) |
| Filter by Orientation (Pro only) | Swap Colors (Pro only) |
| Filter by Size (Pro only) | Threshold (Pro only) |
| Fit Image (Pro only) | Trap (Pro only) |
| Flatten Document | Trim (Pro only) |
| Triptych (Pro only) | |
| Twirl | |
| Unsharp Mask | |
| Use Currently Open Documents |
Comments
26 Comments on Photoshop Automator Actions v5.0
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John Nack on Adobe : Photoshop Automator Actions enhanced, revised for CS5 on
Tue, 27th Jul 2010 11:41 pm
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Movie: Diptychs, Triptychs, and Contact Sheets : Complete Digital Photography on
Tue, 27th Jul 2010 11:59 pm
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JohnS on
Wed, 28th Jul 2010 9:56 am
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Ben Long on
Wed, 28th Jul 2010 9:58 am
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jpp on
Wed, 28th Jul 2010 3:47 pm
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Photoshop Automator Actions v5.0 | [Adobe Chronicles] on
Wed, 28th Jul 2010 6:42 pm
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Air Conditioning Repairs on
Thu, 29th Jul 2010 12:34 am
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Photoshop Automator Actions: Automatische Abläufe für Photoshop CS5 « macnews.de on
Thu, 29th Jul 2010 4:17 am
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Cheeku Jee on
Thu, 29th Jul 2010 12:35 pm
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Movie: Resizing Images With Photoshop and Automator : Complete Digital Photography on
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John on
Thu, 29th Jul 2010 8:11 pm
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Ben Long on
Thu, 29th Jul 2010 8:27 pm
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Mathieu PLUMET - Studio SEBERT on
Fri, 30th Jul 2010 2:54 am
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Christian on
Fri, 30th Jul 2010 9:19 am
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Ben Long on
Fri, 30th Jul 2010 9:23 am
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Jann Lipka on
Sat, 31st Jul 2010 12:18 am
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Roundup: Mac Utilities for Designers – Graphic design tutorials, freebies, & advice by working artists and designers. | GoMediaZine on
Tue, 3rd Aug 2010 12:31 pm
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Maureen on
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Jann Lipka on
Sat, 7th Aug 2010 4:59 am
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Jann Lipka on
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Montie Wren on
Fri, 20th Aug 2010 11:05 pm
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Shawn Wright on
Wed, 25th Aug 2010 8:12 pm
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Shawn Wright on
Wed, 25th Aug 2010 9:53 pm
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Vince on
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Ken on
Sun, 5th Sep 2010 5:15 am
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Ben Long on
Sun, 5th Sep 2010 9:10 am
[...] Author, photographer, and scripter Ben Long has revised his popular set of Automator Actions for Photoshop: [...]
[...] Download Photoshop for Automator [...]
Can these be adapted for PC ?
Thank you
Sorry, they’re dependent on Apple’s Automator technology, so there’s no easy port to Windows.
I’m French and I do not control your language, desolate. it works in 64 bit? The handbook and sample flows are there available for free? it does not work very well for me, is there a problem of language (French)
[...] Automator Actions v5.0′ seti içinde yer alan scriptlerin listesine buradan ula?abilir, ürünü yine ayn? sayfadaki linkten [...]
Hi Ben! I want to tell you that I appreciate your Action Pack very much and have been a user of this great tool, since Action Pack 3.5 came out on 5/21/2007.
I stopped using the tool because my Apple was eaten and I recently built a really nice super PC and purchased CS5.
From my past experience with your software and seeing it on a old backup drive – I decided to check your site out for updates. I was at the ADD TO CART button and then scrolled down to read the impressive list of features. Then I noticed this comment area and specifically, this statement:
Sorry, they’re dependent on Apple’s Automator technology, so there’s no easy port to Windows.
Ouch…that hurts…but I completely understand and do wish you the best – as you deserve more than $20. It really is a no-brainer, for those with Apples.
Thanks for all you do, Ken from Tennessee.
[...] von Photoshop erledigen können. Nutzt man hingegen die definierten Arbeitsabläufe aus dem Photoshop Automator Actions-Paket kann man zusätzlich unter anderem Bilder nach EXIF- und IPTC-Tags sortieren. Auch nach [...]
Hello,
Your Action Pack seems very useful. I wanted to test it out. However, I always get an error at Render stage – “The action “Render” encountered an error. Check the action?s properties and try running the workflow again.”
I read the manual and I seem to be doing everything correctly:
1. Get selected Finder item.
2. Open
3. Invert
4. Render (Save original)
[...] Download Photoshop for Automator [...]
Hello Ben,
I am trying to install the free package for CS4 (v5.0) but got this message: Couldn’t open “Photoshop CS4 Automator Actions v5.pkg”. This package type requires Mac OS X 10.5.
At the top of description page said: Built-in to Mac OS X 10.4 and later.
I have Mac PPC OS X 10.4 and CS4.
Thank you for your answer.
Thanks for the notice, John, I’ll look into it. It may be that the latest version of XCode, the development tools, don’t compile usable code for 10.4. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to test anything until the weekend.
Hello Ben,
No more news about the usefull action “Rename from IPTC” ?
Last version was 3.5 for CS3 and 10.4 and don’t work any more withe CS4 and 10.6.
Thank you for your answer… and your work.
Hi, Ben. Was wondering if you might be able to assist. I have been anxiously awaiting the PS5 versions of the automator actions and just purchased the pro pack. One of the things I need to use a lot is the Resize to File Size in order to get large JPGs under the target file size required by my publisher, but I seem to be having trouble getting Resize to File Size to work correctly. I have tried setting a workflow up both as a Service and as a drop Application with the following actions:
1. Get Selected Finder Items
2. Copy Finder Items (to Desktop)
3. Add Text to Finder Item Names (add “_blurb” to end)
4. Resize to File Size (Target file size (in MB): 15)
The first 3 steps work — the image is copied to the desktop and the text is added, but the file size does not change. I’ve tested it on 3-4 different JPG files with the same lack of success. I have PS5 with the 12.0.1 update installed, and have tried this with PS5 set up in both 32 and 64 bit modes (just in case). Any thoughts?
Hi, It looks like the problem is you’re not using Open/Render. Check out this video: http://www.completedigitalphotography.com/?p=1466
Or look at the Open/Render section at the beginning of the manual.
After short try -
Looks promising and I would buy the larger package but …
Is there some way to ask automator to disregard colorspace missmatch opening dialog ( that happens In PS ) ?
I want this warning ( I know I can turn it off in PS ) while working manually, but it is a pain to click OK for every file for Automator work ….
[...] Photoshop Automator Actions 5.0 (free/$19.95) [...]
Hey Ben, I’m trying out your free version before deciding if I want to get the pro version, but I’m getting this error when rendering:
“Adobe Photoshop CS5 got an error: Can’t set <> to <> (-10006)”
I can’t figure out why because my workflow is so simple:
1) Get specified finder items
2) Open
3) Scale image to longest 940 pixels (not 440 in the error message)
4) Render/Save for web
I bought pro – pack and I like it -
it will make my life a little easier . Thanks Ben .
OTOH –
1. Smart Sharpen action is buggy on my CS5 / Leopard .
It stalls workflow . I lost several hours because of it 
Also missing ” lens blur ” option in this action is a serious miss for me .
2. I miss ability to convert to other color spaces then ” Workspace ”
I will often deliver tiff in Adobe RGB and for web sRGB .
Kudos to Ben – Convert to profile is extended perfectly now and shows sRGB plus other options.
I have been trying Automator before I came across this site but found it too difficult
– first now thanks to Pro Actions I was able to
make a perfect action that is resaving my delivery files ( including proper renaming )
in a way that I like
( I have been using 5 different PS droplets before – and now I need just one Automator .app )
Can the action pack read the EXIF date and rename the file based on information found in the comments field?
I just have to say I think Ben Long is the smartest guy I do not know. I really appreciate these actions. Even though I was a beta tester who never did much testing, been very busy at my studio, I went ahead and purchased the set. I feel as though I owe it to him and think it is well worth $20. I also wanted the new updated manual plus any tweaks since the beta.
I do have question for Ben though… When using the search field in Automator I find a action called Create PDF Presentation. I has many options but it is not covered in the manual. Am I missing something?
Thanks for doing an above and beyond job on this.
Shawn
Well after all those kind words, — I have a problem.
Contact sheets and Diptych do not work… It simply saves the file in the destination.
I have re-installed PS, restarted the machine, I have the 12.1 CS5 version.
I simply used Get specified finder items, then Open, then Contact or Dyptch then render. I have tried Jpg, PSD and it never creates any several up like files.
I watched the videos, several times and read the manual. I had loaded the beta testing files. Maybe that was it, but I reloaded the new ones.
Any help?
When will version 6 come out? or is it out already? quite a few bugs I found in the current version, I want to forward it to the developers but don’t know how.
Hi Ben,
Photoshop Automator Actions is an absolute gem except for the fact that I’m consistently getting the following error when hitting the Render step: “Adobe Photoshop CS5 got an error: Can’t set <> to <>.(-10006)
I see that others have had problems with the Render action, and like theirs, I’m testing this out on a really simple Open-Resize-Render script on a 2-week-old iMac running CS5. I’d like to see the actions actually work before buying the Pro version.
Any help? [waiting anxiously]
Hi Ken,
Are you absolutely sure you’re running Photoshop 12.0.1? In Photoshop, go to Help > Updates.
Thanks,
–Ben
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