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Setting Up Photoshop Automation in PicPic Social
Setting Up Photoshop Automation in PicPic Social

Learn how to set up Adobe Photoshop actions with PicPic Social so your photos will automatically be edited as they enter the watch folder.

Mathieu Gordon avatar
Written by Mathieu Gordon
Updated over 4 months ago

Enhance your event photography workflow by automating photo editing with Adobe Photoshop actions via PicPic Social. This guide explains how to configure Photoshop automation to ensure photos are edited as they enter the watch folder, saving you time and maintaining a high standard of image quality.
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Step 1: Enable Photoshop Automation

  1. Access the Event Dashboard:
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    • Log in to the Event Dashboard and choose to create a new event or edit an existing one.
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  2. Enable the Photoshop Automation Add-On:
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    • Enable the Photoshop Automation via the Add-On step and enable the Add-On status.


  1. Prepare Photoshop Actions:

    • Open Adobe Photoshop and set up the actions you want to apply to your photos. These might include color corrections, cropping, applying filters, or any other repetitive tasks you need to be automated.
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  2. Configure Action Settings:
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    • Ensure that your actions are correctly set to handle the types of images you expect to process. Check compatibility with the image formats used in your event photography.
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Step 2: Setting Up Photoshop

Let's begin by loading a sample image in Photoshop. Please follow these steps:

  1. Click on "File" located at the top left corner of the application window.
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  2. From the drop-down menu, select "Open" to prompt a new window to appear.
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  3. Within the new window, click on "On your computer" to navigate to the location where your desired file is stored.
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  4. Finally, select the file and click "Open" to load the sample image into Photoshop. Ensure that you choose an image you are comfortable with saving changes to.

To unlock the image layer, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Click on "Window" in the top menu.
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  2. Choose "Layers" from the dropdown menu, or simply press F7 on your keyboard.
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  3. Double-click on the "Background" layer and then click "OK" in the dialog box that appears.

When you see that the padlock symbol has disappeared, it means that the layer has been successfully unlocked.


To run the Action Script, click "Window," then select "Actions," or press ALT + F9 on your keyboard and select an action.


After you've selected your Action Script, you need to enable Action Script recording. To do so, please click on the circle/record button in the Action Script panel.
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Please remember to select the "Layer" option and then choose the "Flatten Image" option when recording the action script.
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Save the photo and stop the recording by following these steps:

  1. Click "File" and select "Save" (or press CTRL + S on your keyboard).
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  2. Then click on the square/stop button in the Action Script panel.


​IMPORTANT NOTE: Please avoid clicking or doing anything else during this step, as any action will be recorded in the Action Script."


To save the droplet, please follow these steps:

  1. Click on "File" in the menu.
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  2. Then, click on "Automate."
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  3. After that, select "Create Droplet."
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  4. A window will pop up, prompting you to select a location on your computer to save the droplet. Click on "Choose," and navigate to the desired location.
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  5. Once you have chosen the location, click "OK" to save the droplet.


Step 3: Configure Photoshop in the Device Server

After saving the droplet from Photoshop, it's time to configure the Device Server. 

  1. Click on Photoshop, then enable Photoshop Automation.
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  2. Select Start Droplet and load the saved droplet.
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  3. Go to the EC Server/General Settings tab and Start PicPic Social.
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Step 4: Test and Optimize

  1. Run a Test Batch:
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    • Before the event, conduct a test run by adding a few sample images to the watch folder. Observe how the system processes these images to apply Photoshop actions correctly.
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  2. Make Adjustments if Necessary:
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    • Adjust your Photoshop actions or PicPic Social settings based on the test results. This step ensures that all images are automatically processed as intended once the event starts without manual intervention.

Conclusion

Setting up Photoshop automation in PicPic Social streamlines the workflow for event photographers by automating the editing process.
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This ensures consistency across all images and significantly reduces the time spent on post-event editing.
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By following these steps, you can set up a robust, automated system that enhances the quality and efficiency of your event photography services.

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