Need to add a feathered border to .tiffs in a Batch?

[Keebler]

Hi Folks,

This could fall into a few categories, but I'm hoping this one helps the most.

Issue: I have 180'ish tiff files (digital pics and scans) for a slideshow.

I'd like to put a slightly feathered border (8 px) around each photo, with a black background (or maybe transparent - but can I have that in a tiff b/c it's not a gif?). The reason for the black background is my slideshow canvas is black.

Now, I know how to do a feathered border, but with that many photos, I need some sort of a batch feature. From what I've read, I need to apply a selection for each photo before choosing the feather option, then create a new file etc..etc..

I tried to create a layer via copy then changed the background to black, but that involves choosing the selection first.

I'd like this feathered border on each photograph b/c for whatever reason, the edges on some photographs 'vibrate' or are 'wavy' when I apply the Ken Burns effect. The feedback I've received is to either blur the photos, which i'd rather not do, or to add a feathered border.

Any ideas?

Cheers,
Keebler

 

[jackerin]

Have you tried recording an action sequence in Photoshop?

 

[Edge100]

Record an action in Photoshop, then select File > Automate > Batch...

Choose the folder containing the TIFFs, fine tune your settings (renaming, destination for output, etc), and walk away.

 

[Keebler]

Record an action in Photoshop, then select File > Automate > Batch...

Choose the folder containing the TIFFs, fine tune your settings (renaming, destination for output, etc), and walk away.

thanks folks.

I must be doing something wrong b/c there's a major issue which I neglected to mention: the photos don't have the same dimensions - most are scanned photos so we're talking 4x6s, 3x5s etc.. I didn't scan in the smaller photos to be the same size. I also have vertical and horizontal photos.

So, in running an action I created, some photos are cut in half etc..

Cheers,
Keebler

 

[jackerin]

Without knowing what specific actions you're doing the only thing I can say is find out why they are being cut in half and use another approach.

 

[Designer Dale]

I thought PS would adjust for file dimensions, but I haven't used Actions in a long time. I would seperate your files into folders based on dimension, run your Action on one folder and then edit the dimensions to repeat in the next. Better that one-by-one.

Dale

 

[Keebler]

I thought PS would adjust for file dimensions, but I haven't used Actions in a long time. I would seperate your files into folders based on dimension, run your Action on one folder and then edit the dimensions to repeat in the next. Better that one-by-one.

Dale

@ jackerin - it's because the file dimensions vary and I set the action to a 4x6 scanned image so anything vertical is getting cut off

But thanks Dale, you're right - I created an action for all steps after my selection which is helping. Due to how I have these photos already in my slideshow program, I'm doing them one by one. It's going to take a bit longer, but it doesn't hurt going over these photos a 3rd time editing wise as I go along.

Thanks everyone!
keebler

 

[Stratification]

If you go to file > Automate > Fit Image there's an option to specify a maximum size for each dimension. You could run that first, then set the canvas size with a black background and see how that goes. It's a fairly hidden command but very handy for actions.

 

[Keebler]

If you go to file > Automate > Fit Image there's an option to specify a maximum size for each dimension. You could run that first, then set the canvas size with a black background and see how that goes. It's a fairly hidden command but very handy for actions.

thanks stratification! I'll check that out.

I ended up making 2 actions: 1 for doing the feathered border. It involved making a new document which I didn't want b/c of the tie-ins to my slideshow program. I didn't want to relink anything and if I had all the original filenames, the program would automatically update the new file.

But I figured, hey, relinking is minor if it still saved me time creating the feathered border.

Then, I was so tired, i created an action of choosing file - automate - batch and my feathered border batch.

So, for each photo, I chose the selection, then ran the 2nd automated batch.

The result: I got my feathered file and it saved the original, with the changes. lol I didn't quite plan it like that and I know it's not perfect in the sense I have to choose the selection each time, but it's ok for this time.

Next time, I'll set up the images BEFORE doing the slideshow.

Thanks again everyone!

Cheers,
Keebler