Expert: Candice Anderson - 5/9/2006

Question
I have been looking all day for this answer.  Okay I have Photoshop CS2 on windows.  I want to open all my images and then edit all of them at once with the same tool, I just want to set them to auto level.  Like select all images then appply the auto level then save them as their indivdiual picture. Then I want them save them as each individual image.  I just am tired of opening each one then apply the auto level then saving it. Can you give me a step by step? I am going to save them in a different folder though.  Thank you so much!

Answer
hey there,

here's what you do

1. open a file that you want to edit
2. go to window, actions
3. you're going to make an action. Press the new action button (the little postit looking icon on the bottom, 5th one)
4. name it something and press record.
5. Do what you need to do to that picture, INCLUDING SAVING IT TO THE SPECFIC FOLDER YOU WANT AND CLOSING IT (i capitalize cause this always got me in trouble ;) )
5. press stop.

I'm assuming you are leaving the name the same, just moving it to another folder yes?

6. go to file, automate, batch
7. set: this is where your action is
 action: this is your action, select it :)
source: choose the folder that your files are in
desination: this is the folder you want them to go into
I think everything else you can leave the same, if the override action save as commands box is clicked, unclick it.

press ok, sit back and watch photoshop do the work :) keep an eye on it to make sure it does all the steps. sometimes it likes to miss one.

if you want to change the names:

follow steps 1 through 5
you'll have to open each file and play your action (press the play button on the action bar).  its more time consuming but still much quicker than manually doing it.

and no, this does not exist in a book, or at least in the front of it :) I learned this from my boss who has to fix 100 pieces of jewerly a day, it's a WONDERFUL TOOL!

have fun:)