Often we have to work with a large number of photographs. Processing 300-500 photos at a time is very difficult and time-consuming. Thanks to a small photoshop tutorial on batch photo processing, you will learn how to do several actions on images at a time, which will significantly reduce your work time.
Let's look at the lesson using the example of such a concept as preview. It is extremely important for any photographer. You may now say that only by enlarging the image you can realize its quality and skill in shooting, but as practice shows, even the most nice photos rarely placed in original size. Most likely, they will remain this way as part of the preview. Then it is extremely important that, despite the small size, the user feels the quality of the photo.
The key to editing small-sized photos is sharpness, especially if you've greatly reduced the original image size. In addition to changing the size, when creating a preview, it is necessary to increase the sharpness.
If you have to process several hundred photos (batch processing), then the most appropriate option would be to resort to help. In this case, you only need to record the progress of actions once, and that’s it, then the program will do everything for you.
Our action can be applied to photographs of any size and subject. The main actions we require from the action are to resize the photo, sharpen it and then save it as in the required format. To do this, we first need to study the command , it's in the tab File - Automation.
As opposed to just a team "Resize", which changes the size of the image regardless of whether the photo was originally horizontal or vertical, recognizes the type of photo and accordingly brings it to the desired form.
In order to clearly imagine what the team’s work is, I’ll give an example. Let's imagine that through "Resize" we set the parameters to 400px, as a result, all horizontal photos will be processed correctly, but the vertical ones will become much larger, since their width should not be 400px, but length.
Through we simply put the two required numbers and the program itself recognizes which number concerns the length and which concerns the width.
Now let's move on to the instructions for batch photo processing
Step 1
To begin with, it follows. We will perform a number of operations on it, which we will write into an action.
Step 2
Let's start recording the action. To do this, open Operations palette, create or select the folder in which it will be stored, click the small button at the bottom of the palette Create a new operation, assign a name. You can find out more detailed information About, . Recording has started!
Attention! All the following actions are already recorded in the action.
Step 3
It is necessary to convert the photo to sRGB format (only this standard is correctly displayed by all browsers, on any devices). To record an action, click Edit - Edit Profile. If all the sources are already saved in the required format, then this step can be eliminated.
Step 4
IN parameter Change dimension set the value to 700px. Of course, you can put any number, but as practice shows, this is the ideal size for a preview.
Step 5
Now the main thing is sharpness. To optimally increase sharpness, it is best to use a filter. So, let's go to the section Filters - Sharpness - Smart Sharpening. Set the optimal parameters.
Step 6
The last step remains - saving the image. Next you need to specify the quality of the photo. For Internet sites, the optimal parameter would be 9-10.
Step 7
Finally, close the photo if you don’t want to end up with 300 open tabs.
Step 8
Click Stop. All! Our universal action is ready.
There is one thing that makes processing photos for the Internet even easier and more convenient. This . Thanks to this, you can create a file that will launch the entire action.
How to create
It is created from an already recorded action.
Step 1
Let's go to File - Automation - Create Droplet
Step 2
The following parameters should be configured:
- Select the folder where the photos are stored;
- Select an already recorded action;
- Select the folder where you want to save the received photos.
After clicking OK, a droplet will appear in the folder you specified. in the form of a blue arrow. You just need to move your photos to this arrow, and all the preset settings will be applied to them immediately.
Save your time and use batch photo processing!
If you notice an error in the text, select it and press Ctrl + Enter. Thank you!
Batch file processing is indispensable when working with a large number of images that require the same type of editing. Almost any routine operation related to processing (batch mode) can be completed much faster this way.
For graphic formats, various transformation options are possible: from changing the size and format of the image, adding a watermark and text, to applying effects and filters. It is noteworthy that many image viewing programs already have similar functions built into them. In addition, as an alternative, there are separate programs for processing - converters.
Next, we will consider methods of batch processing of images according to the level of complexity from the simplest to using the functions of such packages as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom. At the end of the review there is a comparison table (Table 1) and a conversion test (Diagram 1).
Image Tuner
A simple program that works on the “one window” principle and is not too complicated with settings. Files for processing are added on the left side of the window, and conversion parameters are indicated on the right. A preview is available by clicking on the image thumbnail.
Conversion options include changing the hue, size, orientation of the image, and adding a watermark. There are filters available, but they are so simple that they don’t even have settings and for some reason are hidden in the “Resize” section. Half of the settings are in English, the rest is translated into Russian.
The number of formats for saving is small - only 5. At the input, Image Tuner supports such popular formats as JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF, TIFF, as well as RAW, NEF and others.
So a very simple converter for very basic image processing.
The IrfanView viewer, while free and small size, supports and includes converter functions accessible through the “Batch Conversion/Rename...” menu. There are three modes to choose from: batch renaming, conversion, and mixed.
About 20 formats are available for saving (the “Output format” menu), although the parameters are not available for each of them.
The selection of other transformations is only possible when activating “Use advanced options...” by clicking the “Advanced” button. Settings allow you to resize, crop the image, flip horizontally or vertically, add a watermark - a standard set for a graphics viewer.
However, in practice it becomes clear that the “advanced” options are not at all intuitive: the thing is that there is no preview window (the preview in the main window refers to the original image). Of course, you can crop a photo or change its size pixel by pixel. How to deal with filters for adjusting brightness, balance and other color parameters when you need to specify numbers? Based on the above, after applying the transformations and exiting “Advanced”, the changes can only be seen after the conversion is complete. But a test mode is available for batch renaming of files.
Thus, IrfanView cannot be called a convenient image converter. It can be used only for basic transformations that do not require advance planning: changing the image orientation, size and saving format.
AVS Image Converter is part of the AVS4You suite of image processing programs. Apparently, that’s why the 27 MB distribution kit (which is not so small for a converter) includes auxiliary utilities Software Navigator and Update Manager.
There are 8 supported image formats for recording and a little more than 20 for reading. For processing, you can import photos from Flickr or Facebook accounts (after prior authorization).
The graphical interface is friendly to the inexperienced user: some functions are simplified or replaced by presets. When resizing images, presets are available for different monitors and standard photo aspect ratios, which is especially useful when publishing online.
There are few conversion settings (the “Correction” tab): changing brightness, contrast, color temperature; blur/sharpen effects, adding texture. The last tab is “Watermark”, which allows you to overlay an image or text on a photo.
FastStone Photo Resizer
Most of all, the batch conversion here is reminiscent of IrfanView. But, unlike the last one, FastStone Photo Resizer is less user-friendly and provides convenient advanced options.
The interface is divided into two parts - which is not very rational, since the area for selecting files takes up most of the workspace.
After adding images to the conversion queue, you can specify the output image format (“Output Format”) and the saving folder (“Output Folder”).
To access transformation tools, the “Use Advanced Options (Resize...)” option is activated. The set of transformations is purely basic: resizing, perspective, adding text, a watermark, a frame. Settings can be saved or loaded from a configuration file, just like in most reviewed programs. There is no viewing window.
A separate “Batch Rename” tab contains a tool for batch renaming files. In addition to the standard name change using a mask, the “Search” function is interesting and Replace", with its help it is easy to correct the names of files without completely changing the name.
XnConvert - a spin-off from a popular viewer XnView images. In fact, all the same actions performed in the XnConvert environment can be performed in XNView (as discussed below), however, the standalone converter has a number of differences. First of all, it is not intended for viewing. On the one hand, nothing distracts from the functionality. On the other hand, if you need to find out the most basic information about the source file, you have to turn to another viewer program.
To begin working with the program, you need to specify the files to be processed (drag and drop is supported, you can also specify using buttons). Please note that at the top there are columns for sorting. When you click on any of them in context menu There are many other options to choose from - the list is huge. However, it would be more convenient if the files were displayed in the form of a table rather than thumbnails - then it would be convenient to view information about the source files, but there is simply none, and the sorting is somewhat “conditional” in nature - it is not clear what it is for.
The main tab where the list of transformations is collected is “Actions”. For a free program, the number of settings is pleasantly surprising. Transformations are divided into 4 groups:
- Image - mostly working with transformation and file properties.
- Correction - working with levels, color.
- Filter—applying blur, sharpening, and focus effects.
- Miscellaneous - for the most part, all the same effects.
The output data tab specifies options for saving processed files: name mask, location and graphic format. For popular formats (JPG, GIF, PNG, etc.) it is possible to specify additional saving options. There is an inconspicuous but very useful export option - you can upload processed photos to a Picasa or Flickr account, package them or send them via FTP or email.
Import/export of scripts (transformation settings) are available at the bottom of the window, the “Load script” button.
A huge number of formats are also available for reading - more than 500 (of those supported by the XNView viewer), with the caveat that specific ones require the installation of GhostScript or a CAD plugin.
Briefly about the capabilities of batch photo processing in XnView. The settings window can be called up through the “Tools - Batch Processing...” menu.
First of all, the interface is different from XNConvert. It consists of only two tabs, the first one specifies the format and saving options. The second tab contains a list of transformations that, to activate and configure, need to be added to the right side of the window. The ability to save scripts is also provided, but the format is not compatible with XnConvert: XBS here, BAT in XNConvert.
Setting up conversions in Photo Converter
Adobe Photoshop
Download pageOf course, in graphics package Adobe Photoshop built-in necessary tools for batch photo conversion. Current on this moment version - CS6, this review covers CS5. Processing can be done using actions, a Batch operation (“File – Automate – Batch…”) or an Image Processor script (“File – Scripts – Image Processor...”).
First way
First, through the Actions palette, an action is recorded that will be applied to each image. It is best to take a “test sample” for this purpose. At this step, the list of possible transformations is limited only by Photoshop tools. Next, the Action is saved to a specific Set. Once finished, the action can be edited anywhere: for example, optimized by removing unnecessary actions.
To mass-apply an action, after recording and editing it, you need to go to the “File - Automate - Batch...” menu. In the “Play” settings group, the desired action is selected, the source and destination folder are determined. Additionally, you can specify a mask for naming files.
Second way
Most often, the second processing method using the Image Processor script will be more acceptable. It is convenient for performing such simple actions, such as changing the format or resizing the image. You can access the settings through the menu “File - Scripts - Image Processor...”. The convenience of the approach is that there is no need to record the action. All other settings are almost the same as the above method. Saving is only possible in JPEG/PSD/TIFF.
| Program | Terms of distribution | Functionality | Formats | ||
| Filters/effects | Preview | Reading | Record | ||
| Image Tuner | Freeware | Yes | Yes | 30+ | 5 |
| IrfanView | Freeware | Yes | No | 80+ | 20+ |
| AVS Image Converter | Shareware | Yes | Yes | 20+ | 8 |
| FastStone Photo Resizer | Freeware | No | Yes | 30+ | 500+ |
| XnConvert | Freeware | Yes | Yes | 500+ | 30+ |
| XnView | Freeware | Yes | No | 500+ | 30+ |
| Photo Converter (Pro) | trial | Yes | Yes | 400+ | 30+ |
| Adobe Photoshop | trial | Yes | No | JPG | |
| Adobe Lightroom | trial | Yes | No | 3 | |
Converting images 4288×2848 → 1024×680, JPG format 100% (all settings are set to default, quality 100%), conversion algorithm and progressive method are disabled.
Diagram 1. Comparison of processing speed in image resizing mode
It was not possible to determine the speed of operation in the Photo Converter program, since the shareware version only allows processing of 5 images.
When a novice photographer is faced with the need to process a large number of photographs, the question inevitably arises: How to reduce the time spent on processing, how to automate routine operations?
For this purpose in the arsenal Adobe programs Photoshop has several tools: operations or actions, scripts or scripts, and droplets.
Operations, otherwise called action, macros or macro commands are recorded and saved actions on an image that can be applied to another image and also used in batch processing. Actions are also the basis for creating droplets.
Droplet is a small application, a kind of program that automatically processes all images dragged onto it. The droplet icon can be placed, for example, on the desktop and folders with images can be dragged onto it for processing.
Scripts or scripts are also programs, but written in one of the scripting programming languages. The use of scripts allows you to automate operations for which it is impossible to write an action, that is, the capabilities of scripts are much wider. The only negative is that to write scripts you need to master certain programming languages, for example, Java Script.
In this article we will record a simple action and look at how to use it in batch processing using the command Image processor
As an example, let's take the method of toning photographs using color fill in blend mode Hard light. Here is the original photo
First, let's create a set into which we will place the operation to be recorded. To create a set, click on the folder icon in the Operations palette. In the dialog box that opens, enter the name of the set.
Now, with active typing, click on the icon for creating a new operation
In the dialog box that opens, enter the name of the operation. If necessary, assign a color and keyboard shortcut so you can quickly launch the operation. Click Write down to start the recording process. Now in the palette Operations The recording icon will be active and turn red.
Before you start recording, it is advisable to plan all the steps and write them down on paper. A well-planned action works without errors and the stability of its operation does not depend on which version of the program is used, Russian or English. A properly recorded action will work in any environment. If this is not the case, it means that methodological errors were made during planning and recording, for example, the names of layers or channels were written down.
Now let's create an adjustment layer Color. To do this, click on the icon for creating an adjustment layer in the palette Layers, then select a layer from the list Color.
In the dialog box that opens, select the desired color. It is necessary in advance, even when preparing for recording, to write down the values of this color along the RGB channels, so that you can then enter it and immediately get the desired color.
Change the layer blend mode to Hard light
We will get something like this
Now you need to weaken the effect of the correction layer on the skin. Skin is known to be lightest in the red channel of the image. Let's make the adjustment layer mask active. To do this, press the key combination CTRL+\. The active layer mask will be surrounded by a frame
Now let's load the red channel of the image onto the mask. To do this, go to the menu Image - External channel. In the dialog box that opens, set the following settings Layer - Background, since it is from the background layer that we will use the red channel. Channel - Red, you need to check the box on the right Invert, since for the mask we need just the inverted red channel, Overlay - Normal, Opacity - 100%. After completing the settings, click OK. The adjustment layer's effect is now rendered through a mask based on the inverted red channel, which looks like this:
We got a slight toning effect on the image
You can now stop recording the action. Then, returning the initial state images using a palette Story, you need to check the operation of the action. Now it can be used for batch processing.
Batch processing is best done using a script Image processor. It can be found in the menu File - Scripts - Image Processor.
Or, which is much more convenient, you can run the image processor from the module Bridge, having previously selected photos for processing in it. In Bridge Image processor is in the menu Tools -Photoshop - Image Processor.
Set Batch Processing Options in the Dialog Box Image processor is not difficult. You need to select the location to save the files, the format and quality of saving, as well as a set of actions and the action itself that needs to be applied to the selected images.
Sometimes there is a need for mass, batch processing graphic images. Paste onto digital images watermark, place text, resize, perform image correction- contrast, histogram equalization, brighten or darken, apply filters to images, add masks to photos, apply mosaic, painting or warp effects, remove and save metadata. The wonderful and free program XnConvert. The utility is easy to use and the result of stream processing of graphic images is achieved in a few mouse clicks. XnConvert supports over 500 graphic formats files including PSD, PS, PPM, IFF, ICO, GIF, EMF, BMP, JPG, JPEG2000, PNG, TIFF, WebP, OpenEXR and Camera RAW.
Change many images
The program supports many languages including Russian. Easily and quickly, the photographer can easily apply an author's watermark to all photographs and drawings before posting them on the Internet. The program will help a web designer massively resize images and convert them to another format, apply a filter and interesting effect(for example, sepia or an old camera) for a harmonious combination with the design of the site. If you need to process a group of images quickly and with maximum functionality, use XnConvert as your assistant.
A new window will open containing two sections with files and several commands:
The right column with files shows all files in the current folder, the left column shows those selected for batch processing. You can add or remove selected files using the buttons "Add", "Add all", "Delete", "Clear"
At the bottom left are tools for mass renaming and changing the creation date of pictures; working with them is intuitive.
In the "Output folder" line you can select or create new folder to save converted photos.
To perform most bulk operations, check the "Change settings (sizes...)" checkbox and click on the "Advanced" button:
Clicking the button opens a new window:
Using this window we can specify one or more types of image editing:
- Change of size
- Turn
- Trimming
- Changing the Canvas Size
- Color Depth Correction
- Changing contrast, brightness, saturation, color range, image blur, convert to negative, black and white and sepia
- Image resolution
- Text overlay
- Watermarking
- Adding a frame to photos
Again, a significant advantage of mass photo editing using FastStone Image Viewer is that we can apply one or several types of editing at once.
For example, I want to change the brightness of selected photos. To do this, I click on the “Image Settings” tab, check the “Change brightness, contrast, gamma, saturation” checkbox and the following parameters appear in the window:
Changing any parameters in such a window is not convenient, because we don't see the image itself. Therefore, we click on the “Design and Preview” button, and a new window opens for us, where there are all these settings, and most importantly, the photo itself is displayed:
The interface of this window is convenient and intuitive.
On the right, in the "Input List" section, you can select a photo for preview.
There are zoom buttons at the top right: With their help, you can view the photo in real size, adjust it to the size of the window, increase or decrease the display scale.
To see the result of the changes, click the "Preview" button.
After you have asked necessary settings, click the "Close" button, the window closes, we get to the previous window and can proceed directly to the conversion by clicking OK or add more settings by selecting the desired tab at the top.
After clicking OK, the window closes and we return to the main dialog box batch conversion. Click the "Start" button The process starts batch conversion, and the process status is displayed:
When finished, click OK. Ready! The processed images are saved under the old names in the specified save folder, or, if the folder was not specified, the images are saved in the original folder under the old names with numbers and/or prefixes and/or suffixes added, depending on your settings.
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