Favorite Photoshop Hacks/Scripts/Tips

[Boyd Baumgartner]

Do you have a favorite Photoshop Script you've written? Some super secret squirrel advanced enhancement technique? A tip you think isn't widely known?

Share it here.

[josher89]

While you are deciding what to add to the secret list, another question associated with digital imaging:

Is it better to say you "clarify" an image or "enhance" an image?

[LPE123]

We say "processed."

[anwilson]

we say enhancement/adjustments as we're just enhancing the contrast of the image. I worked previously at an agency that said "processed" but I personally didn't like it because image processing includes aspects of digital imaging that I'm not trained in and would never use when examining a latent. Not saying it's bad to use that wording, my preference was just to be very specific when testifying on what I do when working with a latent in Photoshop.

I've never heard "clarify" before. Would you mind talking through how you use that term?

[josher89]

I'm pretty sure clarify comes from the video enhancement world. SWGDE discusses "clarify" in some of their documents (including this one SWGDE Best Practices for Digital Forensic Video Analysis) and have gone back and forth between those two.

I do like "processed".

Those that use clarify over enhance say that the word enhance somehow implies the "addition or subtraction of something" within the image with is an alteration and thus, a no-no.

Sorry, Steve, I wasn't trying to hijack your thread - I promise!!!

[josher89]

And, to get back on point of the thread, I have a small Action that takes an image, once calibrated and by pressing Play, duplicates and displays it in the individual RGB and CMYK channels so I can look at them all at once. It also tiles them on my screen so they aren't on top of each other.

[Steve Everist]

Sorry, Steve, I wasn't trying to hijack your thread - I promise!!!

You misspelled "Boyd."

Enhanced is a pretty common term, and I think the one that was used around 15 years ago when I'd taken some Digital Imaging and Advanced Digital Imaging courses From Ski and Bob May.

However, after having some 35mm film photography classes, where we "processed" the B&W film using different chemicals, temperatures, etc... and then printed them using different techniques, filters, dodging, burning, etc..., I tend to think of it as processing. I think clarify is a response to the never-asked question regarding changes made by enhancing. Basically it's trying to answer a question by using a specific word - because words mean things...

Either way, the key is being able to comfortable explain what it means if asked. Just like most other things we have multiple terms/definitions for.

[Steve Everist]

And, to get back on point of the thread, I have a small Action that takes an image, once calibrated and by pressing Play, duplicates and displays it in the individual RGB and CMYK channels so I can look at them all at once. It also tiles them on my screen so they aren't on top of each other.

There used to be a similar one that split out all of the different color channels, including Lab. I think Casey Caudle may have created it. I used to have it, but don't anymore, and he passed over 10 years ago.

[josher89]

You misspelled "Boyd."

I shot coffee all over my monitor!!! Thanks for that and yea, sorry Boyd.

I'm pretty sure you can export an action, right? I'll look and see where it's saved so I can post it here maybe.

[josher89]

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iKKdE ... bgRR0tPg8w

Here it is...I think. I actually just re-created it as I figured out how to add the "Window...Arrange...Tile" menu option. If anyone is interested in trying it, let me know if it's working.

Click on the link and select Download. Save it to a location you can navigate to.

Open up PS and in the Actions palate, click the flyout and choose Load Actions... Navigate to where you saved it and select. It should be labeled Color Channels and is an .atn file type.

Disclaimer, this is the process for CS5 - unsure about newer CC versions.

[Boyd Baumgartner]

Here's a script I have that once you measure a cm on a ruler in a photo using the ruler tool, you run the script and it calibrates your image automatically.

You can load the script by using File - Scripts - Browse, or by loading it in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2020\Presets\Scripts then assigning an action to run it.
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Calibrate-cm.zip

[josher89]

For those with CS5 (and maybe CS6 or older), Boyd's script does not work.

2020-05-20 08_54_12-000047.jpg

I don't know much about Scripts, but I will play around with Boyd's command and see if I can't re-write it for older versions - with his permission first!

[Boyd Baumgartner]

Those that use clarify over enhance say..

Clarify is what you do to butter, not photos. Right Steve?

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Clarify.jpg

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You make adjustments to photos. Adobe made it simple, it's right there in the program menu: Image - Adjustments

[Boyd Baumgartner]

For those with CS5 (and maybe CS6 or older), Boyd's script does not work.

It works in CS6. I just tried it. Just so you have the workflow correct, make sure you have the layer with latent selected; select the ruler tool; Measure one cm in your ruler and keep the ruler tool active, then run the script. If you go to Image - Image Size, the L1 value from the ruler will be the value in the pixels/cm value.

I will play around with Boyd's command and see if I can't re-write it for older versions - with his permission first!

You don't need my permission, taking other people's code and modifying it for your needs is how the internet was built!

[g.]

On which term to use, SWGDE is pretty clear.

6.2 Image Processing
Photographic comparisons commonly involve an examination and evaluation of features
observed in a submitted image compared to features of a known subject. This process may
require image processing to enhance features to make them more visible for comparison. Image
processing should be conducted in accordance with SWGDE Image Processing Guidelines.
(July 2019)

Image processing includes both simple and complex functions.

g.