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1. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
Terri_F Sep 12, 2011 11:49 AM (in response to DavidW7)Photoshop Elements has a action player not a recorder. You can play actions written in Photoshop as long as they only include things that are native in Elements but you can not create your own actions as Elements lacks the ability to record.
If you know someone with Photoshop, they can write an action that you can use in Elements as long as they only use commands that are native to Elements. I believe, the action must also be a set with just one action...the action itself can have multiple steps just not a series of individual actions enclosed in a set.
There are a few free Photoshop Elements that you can find around the net.Link below includes instructions on how to install actions on various OS:
http://www.texaschicksblogsandpics.com/photography-page/installing-actions-in-photoshop-el ements/
Note: You can set up a folder and do some minor adjustments using batch processing...
Links that you might find useful concerning batch processing are listed below:
http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/photoshopelements/articles/correct_images.html
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/batch-processing-in-photoshop-elements
http://www.easyelements.com/photoshop-batch-processing.html
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/771530?decorator=print&displayFullThread=true
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2. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
DavidW7 Sep 13, 2011 12:23 PM (in response to Terri_F)Many thanks.
David
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3. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
DavidW7 Sep 20, 2011 5:57 AM (in response to Terri_F)My PSE9 runs on a Win7(64) machine. I have installed a trial PS_CS5.1 on a Vista (32) machine and successfully created and used few new actions, under the Action panel that holds the Default Actions. One of then, just for example, called My_Save_JPG_12. In order to move it to PSE, looked for a My_Save_JPG_12.atn file but could not find one. On the other hand, it does not make sense that it was added to the Default Actions.atn file because its time stamp is still the original.
Also, the description found in the link you provided for how to install in PSE is cumbersome and not much relevant. For example, it claims that for each actionX.atn I should find also a companion actionX.zzz where zzz is typically equal to png or other picture type and I could not find any Default Actions.zzz file in the computer that has the PS_CD5.1.
Few hours ago, I had a chance to read the new PSE10_help.pdf file and the relevant Installating Actions remains useless as before.
Any idea where to find a good relevant explanation on how to install, which must of course include a good relevant explanation what to expect and extract from from the system that created the actions?
Thanks,
David
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4. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
juergen_d Sep 20, 2011 11:09 AM (in response to DavidW7)Since I had never done this, I got interested and here is what I found out using CS4 and PSE9.
Individual actions cannot be exported from CS4, it has to be a set like Default Actions. So I created a new set, Set 1, and dragged the previously created Test Action into it. Now I can highlight Set 1 and "Save" it (to anywhere, Desktop in my case). That will be a file called Set 1.atn.
When using the Action Player in PSE9, all that is needed is one .atn file, the .png file would be required as a thumbnail or icon in the Effects Panel, which will not be used here. The Set 1.atn file needs to copied to this location: C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\9.0\Locale\en_us\Workflow Panels\actions.
Now, when going to Guided Edit in PSE9 >Action Player, Set 1 will appear in the drop down menu and Test Action in the submenu.
Juergen
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5. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
DavidW7 Sep 21, 2011 1:41 PM (in response to juergen_d)Many thanks.
It seems that in PS_CS5.1 it became even simpler so I manage to create My_Actions set with several actions, which I could to create directly (w/o going through the Default Actions set). They all played in PS_CS5.1 as designed, including the ease of use by using asigned function keys Fi. I did saved My_Actions.atn and that copied it to the PSE9's path you specified, which already had 4 .atn files.
When started PSE9, it didn't show up in the Edit->Guided panel with those that were already there. But, I could invoke it through the built-in Automated Actions -> Action Player action and use it as expected. But, this made it useless because it required me to use many key strokes and needless to say that that the functions keys where not applicable under PSE9.
Any idea why didn't My_Actions set show up at the top level of PSE9: Edit->Guided or how can I make it happen so it become useful as in PS_CS5.1?
David
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6. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
photodrawken Sep 21, 2011 2:38 PM (in response to DavidW7)Try rebuilding the Media database as described here (beginning with step #11):
Ken
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7. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
juergen_d Sep 21, 2011 3:21 PM (in response to photodrawken)Ken,
That article describes the procedure of installing an action into the Effects Panel, which I was trying to avoid. My method installs into the Guided Action Player. I don't know if some F key can be assigned or a short cut can be created...
Juergen
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8. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
photodrawken Sep 21, 2011 3:36 PM (in response to juergen_d)Understood. I don't know the relation between the Media database and what appears in the various Editing panels, but rebuilding the database is worth a try....
Ken
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9. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
Barbara B. Sep 21, 2011 4:56 PM (in response to photodrawken)Mediadatabase has no effect on what appears or not in guided edit.
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10. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
photodrawken Sep 21, 2011 7:31 PM (in response to Barbara B.)That's good to know.
Ken
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11. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
DavidW7 Sep 21, 2011 10:25 PM (in response to juergen_d)Juergen,
My understanding from your original response was that My_Actions.atn (created by PS_CS5.1) set would appear at the top level of PSE9: Edit->Guided (after placing it in the path you mentioned) and invoke it directly there.
In reality I could invoke it only indirectly through PSE9: Edit->Guided->Automated Actions -> Action Player.
Was my understanding wrong or am I missing something?
David
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12. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
Barbara B. Sep 21, 2011 10:40 PM (in response to DavidW7)The only way to play actions in Guided Edit is via the actions player.
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13. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
MTSTUNER Sep 22, 2011 2:16 AM (in response to DavidW7)If you want to use the actions in the full edit mode, then you need to install them in the effects panel as described in the texaschicks link.
It's fine to use the guided edit for actions, but some functions may not work in the actions player that will work when installed in the effects panel.
If you install in the effects panel, then avoid the hassle of switching to guided edit everytime you want to run an action.
MTSTUNER
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14. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
DavidW7 Sep 22, 2011 6:38 AM (in response to MTSTUNER)Many thanks.
It seems I can automate\save some repetitive activities using my own created (single command only) action files under PSE’s Effects but not maximize it, which means minimize the number of mouse clicks\KB keystrokes, to same level as possible with PS.
But then, maybe it is part of what the price gap between the two products is about.
It is pity though because one simple general purpose automation procedure code could save a lot.
After all, what distinguishes a computer from any other tool in the world is primarily AUTOMATION. Isn't it?
David
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15. Re: How to record my own Automated Actions file (.atn)?
juergen_d Sep 22, 2011 7:47 AM (in response to DavidW7)In reality I could invoke it only indirectly through PSE9: Edit->Guided->Automated Actions -> Action Player.
David,
Yes, that is what I meant. Sorry that I did not make that clearer.
Juergen





