Photoshop copy/past question

[PatrickBranch]

I want to put my logo on a photo. Copying/pasting doesn't work, because when pasted, it's just a grey rectangle (this always worked before) . I tried dragging, which worked, but not so well in the action for a batch.

On the logo file, I put a 600x400 tranasparent layer (maybe I should merge them?) ontop of the logo, thinking that maybe once I get it on the photo, it can somehow just align the edges of the of the image around the logo with the photo w/o me having to position the logo manually.

Someone said the apply image thing might help, but I can't figure out what it does.

Basicly, I need to get a logo onto a photo. I need it to work for an action for a batch.

[Photo-John]

Good question. I have a Web version of my logo saved in a layered TIFF file. The background layer is empty and the actual logo is in a layer by itself. Sometimes I drag and drop it into an image and I also have a few actions that use it. I think the key is having it in a format that supports layers (PSD and TIFF) so that the background doesn't come with it.

Let me know if that makes sense. And if I haven't explained it well or it doesn't work, let me know. We'll get it figured out.

[PatrickBranch]

The logo is a transparent PSD. It's about 140px wide. I put a photo size transparet layer on it and merged them. The photos it will go on will all be jpegs.

How do I transfer it onto the photo in an action. Dragging doesn't seem to work in an action.

[Photo-John]

The logo is a transparent PSD. It's about 140px wide. I put a photo size transparet layer on it and merged them. The photos it will go on will all be jpegs.

How do I transfer it onto the photo in an action. Dragging doesn't seem to work in an action.

So, basically, you've made the logo layer the exact same size as the photos you're setting up? I don't do that for my actions because my photos end up all different sizes. If your's are all going to be the same, that should work. Copy and paste should work for an action. That's what I do. Are you selecting the logo layer when you copy it? If you don't select it, it won't work. That might be the problem. I just use the key commands - Ctrl + A, Ctrl + C, and Ctrl + V - to copy and paste.

I hear you guys have some good riding up there at Los Olivos. That's about ten miles up the coast from SB, right?

[PatrickBranch]

I'll try that. They are the same size. I still have original copies of the logo, so I can make a vertical logo template to paste.

It's like 30mi inland over the mountain. It's like road biking world here. It's a tiny town. Mostly all there is are winerys, wine tasting, restaurants, a hotel, more wine tasting, lots of ranches. For mtb, there is a few stairs, no real drops, not much..

I'm not a roadie and I don't like wine.

There are world famous DH trails in SB like Tunnel and Coldsprings. Much more mtb in coldsprings. In los olivos, there is a downhill race once a year on the Firestone ranch which is really fun. You can only ride there for the race though.

edit: isn't it wierd that each of our posts times were at about :40-60 min. and we posted at that time at the next hour, except the first.

[MarcusK]

Well...all that seems fine, i have a question though!

This seems to be a common problem with everyone....and i mean everyone, we just seem to forget it, what is the color mode of your logo? of they are different it will not work, it will apply it wrong, basically both images have to be of the same color mode!

Once the first one works, it should be applicable to batch actions. Also, do you have the logo file in the same folder, if i remember correctly it needs to be in the same folder so that PS knows what to open and copy, the help file offers good procedure for preparing the batch-action.

I can prepare a longer answer, or description of the process for you if you want, just let me know! I have the resources ready at hand (am a bit lazy right now )

Cheers,
Marc

[PatrickBranch]

That would be nice. Thanks for the help so far.

[MarcusK]

Ok then....here goes:

I tried various approaches, and saw a couple of problems you might have run into. The biggest mainly was when it worked for the first image, it would stop afterwards saying something like previous document unavailable or something like that! so:

1- Make sure the color scheme of you logo is color (CMYK or RGB) same as your images, most probably its RGB.

2- Place the logo in a seperate folder than your images (as opposed to what i said earlier )

3- Creat a new action and name it, for the example i will call it action "logo".

It should start recording automatically, if not, now would be a good time to hit record...

4- Open the logo file - Ctrl+A (select all) - Ctrl+C (copy) - Ctrl+W (close)

5- Stop the Action recording, this is very crucial.

6- Open an image - doesn't really matter which one

7- Resume recording the action

8- Ctrl+V (paste) - move the logo do the desired position

9- Stop recording the action.

This should do it for the action you want to batch, now on to the tricky part...You basically have several options, namely, either you want to save them over the originals, or save them in a new folder. Since most probably your imags are .jpg or other format, saving them will cause a pop up window for each. for this you could add a step to the action which is before step 9:

8b- Flatten image - save

Now when you open the Automate>Batch... option from "File" menu, you get the several options we talked about. So first you need to choose whic action you want, then you will want to choose "Source" folder, i think you know those so i'll just skimm through them, then choose your destination folder...according to the steps we did, there is no need to override anything, unless you want to save using different names, the you can override the "Save" commands.

This basically should work for you, if you find any hitches when doing it, just describe the problem, and i'll try to fix it for you!!

Hope this helps!

Marc

[PatrickBranch]

Thanks for all the help. I'll try it after I change my bike tire in a few min.