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Exporting multiple layers to multiple sizes at once
Hello!
I have a workflow problem.
I’m making Twitch subscriber badges for Affiliates, which means, it’s 4 icons, in 3 sizes each.
72×72
36×36
18×18So in total, we’re talking about 12 files.
Now the way I know of exporting stuff is, I make each icon into a group, select them all and right click, pick “Export As…” and do the size in that next dialog (I made them high res of course, so the original files are like 800×800).
This speeds it up a LITTLE, since it exports all the icons, but only in one size.
Is there a way to automate exporting all the layers, but also to all the sizes at once?
And with a file structure, say, a subfolder for each size, also with the suffix “_XXpx” for each file, for example?One click and BOOM. 12 files.
I fiddled with the image processor, but it’s limited. For instance it only offers PSD, JPG and TIFF. I want to use PNG for transparency and lossless icons.
It also doesn’t allow for exporting more than one size of each layer at once…Help?
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9 Replies
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For a deeper access such as creating folders you need scripting. Photoshop can be controlled with ExtendScript / Javascript which is platform independent. I haven’t used it to this degree with Photoshop, but to my understanding you could achieve the described result with scripting.
Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer -
I guessed that much…
But, the folders are just icing on the cake.
If I can at least get PS to export all the layers in all the sizes, with the right names for each, I’ll be happy already.Any idea how to do it?
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I believe the closest you would get is with three Photoshop droplets, which means dragging the original file to three different droplets, one for each size. They can be set to save the output in the same or three different file folders. It’s been a while since I’ve made a droplet, so I don’t recall how flexible their file naming is, i.e. can you only save with the same file name as original or whether you can append things to the file name. If you can’t modify the file name, you’ll definitely need three output folders for the three sizes, otherwise you’ll just override the previous files with the new ones.
Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer -
If you have a representative file (doesn’t have to have any proper content, but the same size and same type of layer structure you use currently) I can test out action/droplet creation. The more I think about this the more it seems it might even be possible to do this with a single action. But I’d have to test it before I can say so with certainty.
Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer -
Hey, thanks for chiming in man!!
This sounds like it could work.
But, droplets are a mac thing aren’t they?So here’s a file as per your request.
Thanks again, offering to actually test it is so nice of you!
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Hi Rod,
Droplets are available on Photoshop Windows as well.
I did some testing. It seems you can only do one of two things this way (without scripting). Either:
A) Save all three in one go with a predefined name like “icon_72px.png”, “icon_36px.png” and “icon_8px.png” meaning the same exact filenames each time or
B) Save one file per droplet using droplet naming overrides so that you get “[originalfilename]_72px.png”, but just one file per droplet
I think B is more useful. I’ve attached an example action with the 72 pixel size.
Here’s how the create droplet dialogue was set up.
Here’s the action
So you would drag your original file onto the droplet and it will output the 72pixel version with appropriate file naming the output folder of your choosing. I usually have it set up to output to a folder “batch output” on the desktop. Easiest to find that way.
Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer -
Note: You can drag any number of files onto the droplet, so you batch as many icons as you want to 72 px in one go with the 72px droplet with original file name plus “_72px” file naming. I noticed the previous post seemed to imply that you can only do one file at a time. What I meant to say is you can only do one size with custom file naming modification this way, number of files is not limited. Three droplets like this with different resize action and different file naming should cover all described resizing needs.
Edit: Also, the file name of the droplet in the droplet creation dialogue is misleading. Should have changed it to “Resize to 72px PNG”.
Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer -
Dude, I think this will do it.
Not perfect but a BIG improvement!!!
Thank you very much my man! -
Good to hear. You’re most welcome. It’s a bit different from what you wanted, but without getting into scripting probably the most automated option available.
Kalleheikki Kannisto
Senior Graphic Designer
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