Photoshop CS2 Droplets

[Aussie Dave]

Hi everyone,
Just wondering how many people out there use (or have used) the "droplets" feature of PSCS2 and what they think of it ?

I stumbled across it last weekend and played around with it for a while and thought it was great.

For those that don't know what it is, the droplet is a small photoshop application that automatically runs a Photoshop action you create. Basically, you drag a heap of selected NEFS (or any other file format) onto the icon, which I saved onto the "desktop" and it runs photoshop and the associated action. Depending on how automated you make the action determines how automated the workflow is.

I'd be interested to hear how others have used this feature.....

[makario]

Droplets. How do you create one?

[Aussie Dave]

Droplets. How do you create one?

You start by creating an action in which to use with the droplet, then go to File, Automation, create Droplet.

Choose the action you wish to use and save the droplet where you want (I chose the desktop for ease of use).

My action runs in this order (which is a conversion from NEF to websized pic - though you can use it any way you like):

- NEF opens in Camera RAW (you adjust WB as you wish then select open)
- Selection tool (fixed size 3000x2000px - obviously for a landscape image)
- crop image (to obtain ratio of 3:2)
- fit image to 700px
- opens Levels (and pauses - waiting for me to adjust as required)
- opens Curves (and pauses - waiting for adjustments)
- opens shadow/highlights (and pauses - waiting for adjustments)
- opens brightness/contrast (and pauses, etc..)
- changes mode to LAB & selects lightness channel
- opens up USM (and pauses - awaiting my adjustments)
- changes mode back to RGB
- adds my border to the image
- opens Save as (waits for me to choose location then saves image)
- closes image, ready for the next one

You can have the entire thing run without pausing, but of course you can only preset all your adjustments which will be the same for every image (which might not be ideal). This way gives you the opportunity to adjsut levels etc, or to bypass it and continue to the next step. Certainly a time saver (from what I've discovered). The only downside is that I had to create a Landscape droplet and a portrait droplet, and split my NEFS accordingly, before processing (which isn't a big problem). In time, I hope to perhaps alleviate this and be able to use the one droplet....but I've only just started dabbling and the above process is likely to be refined in the near future

I also started using the batch renaming tool in Adobe Bridge, which is also very handy (changing DSC0123.xxx into 0123_web.xxx or 0123_6x4.xxx - which is how I like to name images.

[Matt. K]

Droplets have been a feature of PS for awhile. Version 7 has them. Their use is only limited by your imagination. I don't have a use for them but can see that they would suit some workflows.

[phillipb]

Their use is only limited by your imagination. I don't have a use for them.

Matt, are you saying you don't have any imagination?

[makario]

Ta, will give it a go this evening.

[Alpha_7]

Would you mind making you action available to download? I have a few, but they are much more straight forward, I'd love to give yours a try and see if something a little more refined suits my workflow.
I'm cool too if you'd rather not sure.

thanks!

[Aussie Dave]

Would you mind making you action available to download? I have a few, but they are much more straight forward, I'd love to give yours a try and see if something a little more refined suits my workflow.
I'm cool too if you'd rather not sure.

thanks!

Hi Alpha
I'm happy to share my action, though it involves opening and copying a specific border, which I use along with a signature...so you'd have to refine the action to suit you.

I don't have access to the action here at work, but tonight I can make a slightly stripped down version and can email it to you tomorrow, if you're happy with that ?? If you have space to house it for others to download from, I would be happy for you to do that as well.

If you can PM me your email address, I'll send it onto you tomorrow

[Matt. K]

phillipb
I imagine you're right.

[makario]

I would be interested in this action. I havent used actions/droplets too much in CS2... great to have a base action to start from.

[CraigVTR]

Dave & Craig
Would love to give your droplet a try if you are cool with that. I have been wondering how to make it a bit eaisier to pp some of the 4000 shots I took on my recent holiday.
Thanks
Craig

[Aussie Dave]

Dave & Craig
Would love to give your droplet a try if you are cool with that. I have been wondering how to make it a bit eaisier to pp some of the 4000 shots I took on my recent holiday.
Thanks
Craig

no probs Craig. If I get time on the weekend, I might even try throwing together a tutorial on creating your own actions (& droplets)....to put on the WIKI for all to use.

[CraigVTR]

Thanks Dave
Craig