Scripting / Pre-Set Actions?

[Physics_Guru]

I had breifly mentioned in another room that I was wondering if you can 'script' in photoshop. Let me give a detailed example of what I want to do and hopefully someone can either tell me how to do it or ways to do it if it is impossible.

I would like to setup one type of border that I like and use it across many different images. I know this can be done by dragging the layer from one file to another and then using the transform tool to size it to the picture.

I am looking for something much more simple. Basically a way to write a script or something that when I tell it 'go', it will drop the border onto the picture that is open and size itself accordingly.

If this cannot be done in the manner I say, they should make it so it can. :)

[Scott]

It can actually be done with actions provided you aren't looking for something overly complex and you chose the right menu options.

For instance, open an image, create a new action and start recording.

Select all

Choose Select > Modify Selection > Border
In put the number of pixel you want the width of your border to be.

hit d on the keyboard (resets colors to default) Or set the foreground color to your desired border color.

Choose Edit > Fill > Foreground color from the menu (or hit option/alt + delete)

Stop recording.

This will result in an action that will always produce a black border around any image you open and run the action on. One drawback is that it will create the border inside your picture dimensions. So if you use a 4 pixel border you'll be cropping the image by 8 pixels total.

To get around this.....

open an image, create a new action and start recording.

Double click the background layer and then hit okay (to unlock it).

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hit d on the keyboard (resets colors to default) Or set the foreground color to your desired border color.

Choose Image > Canvas size from the menu
Increase width and height by, say 10 pixels

Create a new layer

Choose Select > Modify > Expand from the menu.
Increase the selection by twice your desired border width. If you want a 4 pixel border, then input 8 pixels in the dialog box (4 for each side).

Choose Edit > Fill > Foreground color from the menu (or hit option/alt + delete)

Then hit command/control-[ on the keyboard (this moves the filled box below the image)

From the Layer Palette flyout menu choose "Flatten Image"

Stop recording.

That will give you a border outside your image dimensions and therefore won't crop or cover any image data.