The Automation Command in Photoshop: (Picture Package)

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By John Sweeney - 16th of January 2007

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Have a look at this command, it can be quite useful, but, be careful, if you select all the pictures in one directory and you have a lot then lots of your memory will be taken up and your computer could grind to a halt.

The Automate Command is found under File, then Automate. There are several commands there, each allowing the user to make selections. The selection I want to deal with is the Picture Package..


It allows the user to select several configurations of pictures, after you have selected your source it then allows the user to configure the document, how large a document, how many pictures per page, what differing sizes and so on. Be very very careful, it initially selects one picture to enable the user to set it up but then when you press Ok it will select all the pictures in the chosen directory and place each and every one on it's own page in exactly the same configuration you have chosen.

You can, of course, avoid this happening but setting up a new directory and putting in there perhaps no more than 15 to 20 pictures you want printed or distributed, that way you will maintain control over the command., so, if you are tempted to try this command just put 3 or 4 pictures into their own directory and use that as the source so you can see how it works. Alternatively you can just open a single picture and choose one of several configurations to suit, so, don't be unduly worried.
Give it a go and see how you get on.