Fit to size batching

[Schmidty414]

Hi,

I am new to batching in photoshop and have CS3. I was wondering how you batch multiple images to fit to size

For example if I have 1000 images and some are wider then taller and some are taller then wide.

I want them all to constrain to 800x800.

Thank you!

[tkgd2007]

Are they all square images? Or are they like photographs (Ie 4x3, 5x7, etc)?

Typically what I do is divide the portrait photos into one folder, and the landsape images into another. Then I record two commands, one to resize the width to 800px (and the height is set automatically), and one to resize the height to 800px. Then I run both folders through the batch commands separately. I'm not sure if there is a faster way to do this though.

[rachjm]

^^ That's how I handle it as well.

Schmidty414, if you have to resize AND crop your images I'd recommend resizing automatically (keep the aspect ratio) and then crop manually. Your pictures are unlikely to always have the best framing dead center, so framing manually will produce a much nicer result. (You can set your marquee to a fixed size, so reframing doesn't have to take very long...)

[zipykido]

^^ That's how I handle it as well.

Schmidty414, if you have to resize AND crop your images I'd recommend resizing automatically (keep the aspect ratio) and then crop manually. Your pictures are unlikely to always have the best framing dead center, so framing manually will produce a much nicer result. (You can set your marquee to a fixed size, so reframing doesn't have to take very long...)

Wouldn't it be better to crop first then resize? That way all the images will be the same square size in the end. Anyway, I used to work for a guy who needed a lot of images converted and cropped. I used advanced batch converter (ABC) I think it's free. It's slightly bugged but very useful for cropping a lot of images without much effort. All you need to do is set it up and let it run.

[rachjm]

Wouldn't it be better to crop first then resize? That way all the images will be the same square size in the end.

Huh? It's not like I'm advising him to crop them to a rectangle after resizing... Perhaps I wasn't being clear - my advice was to resize all images to 800H OR 800W, (depending on portrait or landscape), then crop using an 800x800 FIXED SIZE marquee.

The reason I suggested to resize first is because then you've got smaller files to work with manually + less zooming and panning to see what you're working with...

But ultimately it doesn't make much difference which way round you do it - I'm only pressing the point because you started it and I'm feeling quarrelsome.

And I'm working late so it's BORING beyond description...

[tkgd2007]

Well, if you're going to manually crop each image yourself, you might as well just use the Crop tool set to 800px in either the width or height box, and 800px or something less like 600px in the other (depending on if you want the image square or not). This kills two birds with one stone, but removes the automation part because now you will have to go through each photo manually

[Schmidty414]

I don't need to crop. I can't believe Fireworks batch process has a "fit to size" and Photoshop does not. I would just use Fireworks, but I have about 100 sub folders and Fireworks does not have an option to include sub folders.

[rachjm]

I don't need to crop. I can't believe Fireworks batch process has a "fit to size" and Photoshop does not. I would just use Fireworks, but I have about 100 sub folders and Fireworks does not have an option to include sub folders.

What's the problem, then?

All you need to do is create a new action (Window > Actions > New Action > Record) with a resize (Image > Image Size) and then batch that action. (Technically you could crop, resize, recolour, optimise - do anything you like with this).

I can write instructions if you like.

[Schmidty414]

I still don't see how that has the wider and taller images both constrain to 800 x 800.

[rachjm]

I don't need to crop.

I still don't see how that has the wider and taller images both constrain to 800 x 800.

No wonder there's so much confusion - you used the word 'constrain', which will make people think that you want to keep the aspect ratio... But you're saying you want to stretch your images? Poor images!
I feel like I'm aiding and abetting, but ok, I'll tell you how to do it

1 - Open one of your images
2 - Open the Actions panel and create a new Action. Click 'Record'
3 - Right click on the background layer of your image and choose 'Layer From Background > OK'
4 - Press CTRL+T, and then type 800px and 800px in the W and H boxes at the top of the screen (make sure that 'constrain proportions' is turned OFF) Press 'Enter' to apply changes.
5 - Choose 'Image > Canvas Size' and set your width and height to 800px
(make sure that 'relative' is UNchecked). Then click 'OK'
6 - Choose 'File > Save For Web & Devices' and run through your saving/optimising process. (File > Save As or File > Save will work as well)
7 - Close your image
8 - Hit 'Stop' on the Actions panel
9 - Choose 'File > Automate > Batch'
10 - In the 'Action' box, select the action that you just created. Specify your source and destination folders as required and then click OK.

All done. Hope this helps.