Adobe Photoshop CS Design Professional

AUTOMATING AN IMAGEANNOTATING AND

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Add annotations to an image

Create an action

Modify an action

Use a default action and create a droplet

Chapter Lessons

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CommunicatingCommunicate with the person viewing an image by:– Creating written notes

• A comment that appears in the imageA comment that appears in the image

– Creating audio annotations:• A sound file saved within the imageA sound file saved within the image

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Use the Actions feature to automate commonly performed tasks:– Record all the steps required for an

action– Play the action

An action is a series of tasks that are recorded and saved for future use

Using Automation

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Ensuring ConsistencyCreate actions for frequently used tasks to:– Use them in other Photoshop images– Ensure consistency between related

images

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Add Annotations to an Image Creating Written Annotations

Use the Notes Tool to create written annotations– Similar to yellow sticky notes

Click the Notes Tool on the toolbox

Click where the note should appear in the image

Type the contents of the note

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Working with NotesEach note has an icon displayed on the image– This icon is not printed

Open the note by double-clicking the icon

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Viewing a Note

Note text

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Personalizing a NoteChange the color of the note’s title bar– Click the Annotation color color box on

the options bar

Change the author of the note– Select the contents of the Name of

author for annotations text box, then enter a new name and press [Enter] (Win) or [return] (Mac)

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Creating Audio AnnotationsClick the Audio Annotation Tool on the toolboxClick where the annotation should appearClick the Start buttonRecord the messageDouble-click the audio icon to play the message

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Create an Action Understanding Actions

Most Photoshop actions that can be performed using a button or menu command can be recorded as an action

Each action can contain:– One or more steps– A stop that allows completion of a

command that can’t be recorded

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Saving and Storing ActionsActions are stored in sets

Each set is saved as an .atn file typically named by the category or actions they contain– Example: A multiple type-related action

could be stored in a set named Type Actions

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Accessing ActionsAccess actions from the Actions palette– Grouped with the History palette

View actions in List mode or in Button mode on the Actions palette

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ModesList Mode– Default setting– Displays the details within each action

Button Mode– Displays each action without details

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Operating ActionsUse VCR-like buttons to operate an action

Buttons include:– Play– Record– Stop– Move Forward– Move Backward

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Creating ActionsWhen recording takes place, the red Recording button appears on the Actions palette

Use the Playback Options dialog box to modify how actions are played back

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Playback Options Dialog Box

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Action Playback Options

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Creating an ActionTake a snapshot of the image

Click the Actions palette tab

Click the Create a new action button on the Actions palette

Type the name of the action in the Name text box

Assign a color to the action– The action is displayed in this color in Button

mode

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Actions Palette

Create new action button

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New Action Dialog box

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Recording an ActionPerform the steps required for the action

Click the Stop playing/recording button on the Actions palette

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Playing an ActionClick the action in the Actions palette

Click the History palette tab and click the snapshot taken of the image before performing the action

– The image is restored to its original state

Click the Actions palette tab

Click the Play selection button on the Actions palette

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Modifying an ActionClick the step that will come after or before the new steps to add

Click the Begin recording button on the Actions palette

Record the steps

Click the Stop playing/recording button

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Switching ModesToggle between List mode and Button mode:– Click the Actions palette list arrow– Click Button Mode (or List Mode)

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Actions Palette Modes

Button Mode

List Mode

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Modifications for Actions

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Understanding a StopCommand that interrupts playback to allow performance of another operationTo insert a stop:

– Click the step just above where the pause should take place

– Click the Actions palette list arrow, then click Insert Stop

– Enter a text message in the Record Stop dialog box

– Select the Allow Continue check box

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Record Stop Dialog box

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Use a Default Action and Create a Droplet

Using Default Actions

Add a default action to any action already created

Default actions are actions included with Photoshop

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Default ActionsVignette

Frame Channel

Wood Frame

Cast Shadow

Water Reflection

Custom RGB to Grayscale

Molten Lead

Make Clip Path (selection)

Sepia Toning (layer)

Quadrant Colors

Save as Photoshop PDF

Gradient Map

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Using Default ActionsSelect the step in a new action that is above where the default action should occurClick the Begin recording buttonScroll through the actions palette to find the required default actionClick the action, then click the Play selection button

– All the steps in the default action are performed when the new action is played

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Default Action SetsCommands

Frames

Image Effects

Production

Text Effects

Textures

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Loading a Default Action Set

Click the Actions palette list arrow

Click the name of the set to load

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Understanding a DropletStand-alone action in the form of an icon

Drag one or more Photoshop files onto the droplet icon to perform the action on the file

Accessing droplets:– Store on the hard drive – Place on the desktop– Distribute to other users

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Droplet on the Desktop

Droplet

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Creating a DropletClick File on the menu bar

Point to Automate, then click Create Droplet

Click Choose

Enter the name of the droplet

Identify the location in which to save the droplet, then click Save

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Chapter O TasksAdd written and audio annotations to an image

Understand actions

Record and play an action

Modify an action

Use default actions and action sets

Create and use a droplet