464 c h a p t e r 11: T I ME-SAVER S ■ For Photoshop Elements Users: Batch Processing (Continued) Similar to the CS4 Batch tool, the Elements Process Multiple Files tool gives you a variety of choices for file sources (e.g., Folder or Bridge), you can set a specific destination, and there is a convenient way to rename multiple files. In addition, Process Multiple Files provides a quick interface for resizing, converting file type, watermarking, and auto-correcting. Resizing a Group of Images When you have a group of images that need to be resized, gather the horizontals together in one batch and the verticals in another, then follow these steps: 1. Select File > Process Multiple Files. 2. Follow the instructions for Photoshop CS4’s Batch tool to select source and destination locations. 3. Check the Resize Images check box under the Image Size box. 4. Type in the desired destination size. By leaving Constrain Proportions checked, you need to type in only a width or height, and Elements will figure out the other dimension for you. 5. Pick a resolution. 6. Click OK. We do not recommend using the Quick Fix tools, as you will usually want more manual control over your adjustments than those tools allow. In addition, Process Multiple Files doesn’t let you set any options for these adjustments. While it’s tempting to run Resize Images and Sharpen at the same time, we recommend against it because you don’t want to accidentally oversharpen your images. Setting a Watermark Elements users are fortunate in that the Process Multiple Files tool provides an easy way to add copyright text to multiple images. To do so, follow these steps: 1. Select File > Process Multiple Files. 2. Follow the instructions for Photoshop CS4’s Batch tool to select source and destination locations. 3. In the Labels section of the dialog box, choose Watermark from the pop-up menu. 4. Type in the copyright text. 5. Select a position, font type and size, and color and opacity. 6. Click OK. Creating a Droplet A droplet provides a way to run an action on a single image, a group of images, or a folder of images, directly from your desktop (or elsewhere). You create a droplet icon 607343c11.indd 464 4/13/10 12:04:12 AM 465 ■ ACTIONS AND BATCH PROCESSING for the action and then drag the images (or folder) onto it to run the action. Using a droplet can save you time since you don’t have to bother with the Batch dialog box in order to run the action. You must create the action first. Then, follow these steps to create a droplet: 1. Choose File > Automate > Create Droplet. This launches a dialog box similar to the Batch dialog box except that it begins with a Save Droplet In drop-down menu (Figure 11.9). Figure 11.9 The Create Droplet dialog box is quite similar to the Batch dialog box. 2. Specify where to save the droplet. Usually if you want the convenience of a droplet, you’ll want it to be on your desktop, but you could create a special folder just for droplets or you could choose to store them elsewhere, such as in Documents. You’ll also need to name the droplet. We recommend using a name that readily identifies what the action does. 3. Choose the set and the action. 4. Complete the rest of the options, which are identical to those we described in detail in the section on batch processing. 5. Click OK, and the droplet will be saved wherever you specified. To use the droplet, drag any image or folder containing images onto it. Photo- shop will automatically launch if it’s not already running, and you can be off taking more photos! 607343c11.indd 465 4/13/10 12:04:12 AM 466 c h a p t e r 11: TIME-SAVERS ■ Using the Image Processor The Image Processor is a major time-saver. It allows you to convert images into differ- ent sizes and formats that you specify and it stores them wherever you choose. That’s a huge time-saver as you prepare images for the Web, emails, a slide show, and so on. It’s similar to a batch command except that you don’t have to create an action to make it work. In addition, it takes advantage of a Fit Within command so you don’t have to separate your horizontal and vertical images. The Image Processor can convert files to JPEG, TIFF, or PSD formats, or to two or more different formats simultaneously (see Figure 11.10). In addition, it can resize images to fit within specific dimensions for each format. It can also embed a color profile or convert the JPEGs to sRGB, run an action, and/or include copyright metadata in the converted images. That’s a lot of convenience in one dialog box! Figure 11.10 The Image Processor makes it easy to resize images for dierent outputs. To use the Image Processor, follow these steps: 1. To access the Image Processor from Bridge, choose Tools > Photoshop > Image Processor. To access it from within Photoshop, choose File > Scripts > Image Processor. 2. Specify the images you want to process. You can use open files or select a folder of images. 607343c11.indd 466 4/13/10 12:04:12 AM 467 ■ CREATING A COPYRIGHT BRUSH 3. If you are using raw files, you may want to check the option Select Open First Image to Apply Settings. That way, you can customize the raw settings to apply to the first image, and the Image Processor will apply those same settings to the remaining raw files. That can be very helpful if the images were shot under similar lighting conditions. If you don’t check this option, the Image Processor will use the existing settings for each image. If you have customized the settings for each image in ACR, you should not check this option. 4. Select a location to store the processed images. If you choose Save in Same Location, the Image Processor will automatically create a separate folder within that folder for the processed images. Each file format will have its own folder. 5. Select the file types and options. The Resize to Fit option is particularly conve- nient. You can specify the maximum height and width in pixels for the image. The Image Processor will retain the aspect ratio of the original file but resize the image to fit within the dimensions you specify. For example, if you are processing images to use in a slide show and your projector has a resolution of 1024 × 768, you would set those dimensions. 6. Select an action to run if you choose. Some people create a sharpening action for their web-sized or slide show images and have the Image Processor run it. 7. Fill in the copyright information, but remember that this is metadata. It will not appear as a copyright symbol and text on the image itself. (To do that, you can use the copyright brush that we’ll cover next in this chapter or use a watermark action as Al Ward described in the sidebar “Creating Watermark Actions,” ear- lir in this chapter.) 8. Keep the Include ICC Profile option checked. 9. Click Run. If the settings you have established are ones that you will use fre- quently, you can opt to save them for even more time efficiency. That way, when you open the Image Processor you’ll just need to click Load, select the settings, and select the Source folder. Creating a Copyright Brush Another way of automating adding a copyright to an image is to create a copyright brush. The effect is just slightly different from what happens with the embossed watermark action. To create a customized brush that contains your copyright, follow these steps: 1. Choose File > New File, and create a new document. The exact size is not impor- tant, but it is helpful to make it with a transparent background, as shown in Fig- ure 11.11. Set the resolution to 96 since the main use for the copyright is likely to be for email and web images. 2. Select the Text tool and the font you want to use. We often use an 18-point font size. 607343c11.indd 467 4/13/10 12:04:13 AM 468 c h a p t e r 11: TIME-SAVERS ■ Figure 11.11 Be certain to set the background to Transparent when creating the new le to use for the copyright brush. 3. Select the color for the text in the Text tool Options bar at the top of the moni- tor (see Figure 11.12). This will become the default color for the brush. We sug- gest using either white or black. You’ll adjust the opacity of the brush when you use it, so don’t worry about it being too obvious and distracting. Figure 11.12 Select the font, size, and color for your copyright brush in the Text tool Options bar. 4. Click on the image and type © and your name. Include the year if you choose. To access the © symbol on a Mac, type Option+G. In Windows, it’s a little more difficult; hold the Alt key while pressing 0169 on the number pad. You must use the number pad, not the numbers immediately above the keyboard. On a laptop you may have to use the function key as well to access the number- pad numbers. 5. Ctrl+click/F+click the text layer icon in the Layers panel to select the text (see Figure 11.13). Figure 11.13 You must turn the text into a selection before converting it into a brush. 6. Select the Brush tool. Make sure that Hardness is set to 100%. 7. Choose Edit > Define > Brush Preset. Name the brush Copyright and include the name of the font (see Figure 11.14). (In Elements, this menu command is 607343c11.indd 468 4/13/10 12:04:13 AM 469 ■ CREATING A COPYRIGHT BRUSH Edit > Define Brush from Selection. If you are using white as your brush color and receive a message that says “Could not complete the Define Brush from Selection command because no pixels are selected,” change your text color to something other than white and try again.) Figure 11.14 Be sure to name your copyright brush in a way that makes it easy to nd. 8. Click OK. 9. You don’t need to save the document; you can simply close it. You now have a brush that is your copyright. To use your copyright brush on an image, follow these steps: 1. Select the Brush tool, and then go to the Brush presets in the tool Options bar (see Figure 11.15). Choose the copyright tool you just made. Figure 11.15 Choose your copyright brush from the Brush presets. 2. Create a new layer on your document (optional). By placing the copyright on a new layer, you can adjust the opacity of the copyright symbol after you make it by adjusting the opacity of the layer in the Layers panel. Alternatively, you can set the opacity of the brush to 60%, although at times you may want it more or less opaque. 3. To change the color of the text, click the foreground Color Picker, and select the desired color. 4. To change the size of the copyright, use the bracket keys just as you do with any other brush tool. 5. Position the cursor, and with a single click, apply the copyright! 6. Click the Layer Style icon to emboss the watermark if you wish. Then reduce the Fill slider in the Layers panel to near zero percent to make the watermark appear virtually transparent, as shown in Figure 11.16. Figure 11.11 Be certain to set the background to Transparent when creating the new le to use for the copyright brush. 3. Select the color for the text in the Text tool Options bar at the top of the moni- tor (see Figure 11.12). This will become the default color for the brush. We sug- gest using either white or black. You’ll adjust the opacity of the brush when you use it, so don’t worry about it being too obvious and distracting. Figure 11.12 Select the font, size, and color for your copyright brush in the Text tool Options bar. 4. Click on the image and type © and your name. Include the year if you choose. To access the © symbol on a Mac, type Option+G. In Windows, it’s a little more difficult; hold the Alt key while pressing 0169 on the number pad. You must use the number pad, not the numbers immediately above the keyboard. On a laptop you may have to use the function key as well to access the number- pad numbers. 5. Ctrl+click/F+click the text layer icon in the Layers panel to select the text (see Figure 11.13). Figure 11.13 You must turn the text into a selection before converting it into a brush. 6. Select the Brush tool. Make sure that Hardness is set to 100%. 7. Choose Edit > Define > Brush Preset. Name the brush Copyright and include the name of the font (see Figure 11.14). (In Elements, this menu command is 607343c11.indd 469 4/13/10 12:04:13 AM 470 c h a p t e r 11: TIME-SAVERS ■ Figure 11.16 After clicking with the copyright brush, we used the emboss feature in Layer Styles to make the watermark appear transparent. Ph o to by Jo sh Anon Note: Placing a copyright on an image gives some protection against illegal use of the image, although for full protection you must register your images with the U.S. Copyright Office. For more information about how to register your images, see Carolyn Wright’s excellent website and free blog, www.photoattorney.com. Individualizing Keyboard Shortcuts As you’ve noticed, there are a lot of shortcuts in Photoshop. Some of them become second nature to almost everyone who uses Photoshop regularly and are major time- savers, while others are quite esoteric. People vary greatly in their feelings about using shortcuts. We find that they are often useful to help us work more efficiently, and throughout the book we recommend our favorites to you. Amazingly, even with the abundance of shortcuts in Photoshop, there isn’t a shortcut for everything! You may decide that there’s a step you perform repeatedly that you’d like to create a shortcut for. For example, perhaps you’d like a shortcut to quickly oat all open images in windows. 1. In the menu, choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts. This will bring up the dialog box shown in Figure 11.17. 2. Within the Application menus, scroll down until you see Window > Float All in Windows. Click on it. 607343c11.indd 470 4/13/10 12:04:14 AM . steps: 1. To access the Image Processor from Bridge, choose Tools > Photoshop > Image Processor. To access it from within Photoshop, choose File > Scripts > Image Processor. 2 Files. 2. Follow the instructions for Photoshop CS4’s Batch tool to select source and destination locations. 3. In the Labels section of the dialog box, choose Watermark from the pop-up menu. 4 or you could choose to store them elsewhere, such as in Documents. You’ll also need to name the droplet. We recommend using a name that readily identifies what the action does. 3. Choose the