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Chapter 16

Annotating and Automating an Image

Chapter Lessons

• Add annotations to an image

• Create an action

• Modify an action

• Use a default action and create a droplet

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• Communicate with the person viewing an image by:– Creating written notes

• A comment that appears in the image

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Adding Written Notes

• 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

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Using Automation

• Create actions for frequently used tasks to:– Use them in other Photoshop images– Ensure consistency between related images

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Ensuring Consistency

• 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

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Add Annotations

• Each note has an icon displayed on the image– This icon does not print

• Open the note by double-clicking the icon

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Working with Notes

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Note text

Viewing 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)

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Personalizing a Note

• 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

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Create an Action

• 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

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Saving and Storing 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

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Accessing Actions

• List Mode– Default setting– Displays the details within each action

• Button Mode– Displays each action without details

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Modes

• Use media-player buttons to operate an action

• Buttons include:– Play– Record– Stop– Move Forward– Move Backward

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Operating 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

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Creating Actions

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Playback Options Dialog Box

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Action Playback Options

• 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

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Creating an Action

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Create new action button

Actions Panel

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New Action Dialog Box

• Perform the steps required for the action

• Click the Stop playing/recording button on the Actions panel

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Recording 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

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Playing 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

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Modifying an Action

• Toggle between List mode and Button mode:– Click the Actions panel list arrow– Click Button Mode (or List Mode)

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Switching Modes

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Button Mode

List Mode

Actions Panel Modes

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Modifications for Actions

• 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

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Understanding a Stop

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Record Stop Dialog Box

• Add a default action to any action already created

• Default actions are actions included with Photoshop

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Use a Default Action

• 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

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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

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Using Default Actions

• Commands

• Frames

• Image Effects

• Production

• Text Effects

• Textures

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Default Action Sets

• Click the Actions panel options button

• Click the name of the set to load

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Loading a Default Action Set

• 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

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Understanding a Droplet

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Droplet

Droplet on the Desktop

• Click File on the Application 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

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Creating a Droplet