How to Use Photoshop Actions

Education
1

Here is a simplified example of how algorithms are created. The difference is that with algos, everything is done in text.

2

Pseudocode: Batch Photo Resizing

`
BEGIN BatchResizePhotos

// Step 1: Define the resize action
DEFINE Action ResizePhoto(photo, targetWidth, targetHeight):
    LOAD photo
    CALCULATE aspectRatio = photo.width / photo.height
    IF maintainAspectRatio == TRUE:
        SCALE photo proportionally to fit targetWidth x targetHeight
    ELSE:
        RESIZE photo directly to targetWidth x targetHeight
    RETURN resizedPhoto

// Step 2: Create a batch process
DEFINE Procedure BatchProcessResize(photoCollection, targetWidth, targetHeight, maintainAspectRatio):
    FOR EACH photo IN photoCollection:
        resizedPhoto = ResizePhoto(photo, targetWidth, targetHeight)
        SAVE resizedPhoto TO outputFolder
    END FOR

// Step 3: User interaction (like Instagram’s workflow)
DEFINE Procedure UserBatchResize():
    photoCollection = USER_SELECT multiple photos
    targetWidth, targetHeight = USER_INPUT desired dimensions
    maintainAspectRatio = USER_CHOICE (Yes/No)
    CALL BatchProcessResize(photoCollection, targetWidth, targetHeight, maintainAspectRatio)
    DISPLAY "Batch resize complete. Photos saved."

END BatchResizePhotos
`

Key Notes

  • Photoshop parallel: “Action” = ResizePhoto, “Script” = BatchProcessResize.
  • Instagram adaptation: Instead of saving to disk, resized photos could be cached and uploaded directly to the app’s servers.
  • Flexibility: Add optional filters, compression, or watermark steps as additional actions in the pipeline.
  • Scalability: Could extend to cloud-based batch jobs for large sets of images.