Chapter 16

1. Chapter 16 Annotating and Automating an Image

2. Chapter Lessons • Add annotations to an image • Create an action • Modify an action • Use a default action and create a droplet

3. Communicate with the person viewing an image by: Creating written notes A comment that appears in the image Communicating

4. Using Automation • 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

5. Ensuring Consistency • Create actions for frequently used tasks to: • Use them in other Photoshop images • Ensure consistency between related images

6. Add Annotations to an Image Creating Written Notes • Use the Notes tool to create notes • Similar to yellow sticky notes • Click the Notes tool on the Tools panel • Click where the note should appear in the image • Type the contents of the note

7. Working with Notes • Each note has an icon displayed on the image • This icon does not print • Open the note by double-clicking the icon

8. Viewing a Note Note text

9. Personalizing a Note • Change the color of the note’s title bar • Click the Notes 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)

10. Create an Action • 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

11. Saving and Storing Actions • Actions 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

12. Accessing Actions • Access actions from the Actions panel • Grouped with the History panel • View actions in List mode or in Button mode on the Actions panel

13. Modes • List Mode • Default setting • Displays the details within each action • Button Mode • Displays each action without details

14. Operating Actions • Use media-player buttons to operate an action • Buttons include: • Play • Record • Stop • Move Forward • Move Backward

15. Creating Actions • When recording takes place, the red Recording button appears on the Actions panel • Use the Playback Options dialog box to modify how actions are played back

16. Playback Options Dialog Box

17. Action Playback Options

18. Creating an Action • Take a snapshot of the image • Click the Actions panel tab • Click the Create new action button on the Actions panel • 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

19. Actions panel Create new action button

20. New Action Dialog box

21. Recording an Action • Perform the steps required for the action • Click the Stop playing/recording button on the Actions panel

22. Playing an Action • Click the action on the Actions panel • Click the History panel tab and click the snapshot taken of the image before performing the action • The image is restored to its original state • Click the Actions panel tab • Click the Play selection button on the Actions panel

23. Modifying an Action • Click the step that will come after or before the new steps to add • Click the Begin recording button on the Actions panel • Record the steps • Click the Stop playing/recording button on the Actions panel

24. Switching Modes • Toggle between List mode and Button mode: • Click the Actions panel list arrow • Click Button Mode (or List Mode)

25. Actions Panel Modes List Mode Button Mode

26. Modifications for Actions

27. Understanding a Stop • Command that interrupts playback to allow performance of another operation • To insert a stop: • Click the step just above where the pause should take place • Click the Actions panel list arrow, then click Insert Stop • Enter a text message in the Record Stop dialog box • Select the Allow Continue check box

28. Record Stop Dialog box

29. Use a Default Action and Create a Droplet • Add a default action to any action already created • Default actions are actions included with Photoshop

30. Default Actions • Vignette • 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 Mixer Brush Cloning Paint Setup

31. Using Default Actions • Select the step in a new action that is above where the default action should occur • Click the Begin recording button • Scroll through the Actions panel to find the required default action • Click the action, then click the Play selection button • All the steps in the default action are performed when the new action is played

32. Default Action Sets • Commands • Frames • Image Effects • LAB – Black & White Technique • Production • Stars Trails • Text Effects • Textures • Video Actions

33. Loading a Default Action Set • Click the Actions panel list arrow • Click the name of the set to load

34. Understanding a Droplet • Stand-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

35. Droplet on the Desktop Droplet

36. Creating a Droplet • Click 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