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Post by Sepiana on Oct 6, 2018 14:19:02 GMT
NOTE: Click on image for larger size
 
Hi everyone,
I created an action (.atn file) to automate the tutorial posted by Joe (drjoerogers) in Detail extraction, sharpening with Surface Blur filter. Feel free to download it and give it a try. I tested this action in PSE 7, 10, 11 and above. It worked just fine. I believe the same will hold true for PSE 8 and 9.
If you have PSE 11 and above, load the .atn file via either the Actions panel or the Effects panel.
 
If you have PSE 7 through 10, you need to install this action so that it can be accessed via the Action Player (Guided Edit>Automated Actions>Action Player).
Windows: C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\x.x\Locale\en_us (or your locale)\Workflow Panels\actions
Mac: Hard Drive>Library>Application Support>Adobe>Photoshop Elements>x.x>Locale>en_us (or your locale)>Workflow Panels>actions
NOTE:
If you are working with a layered file, flatten it before running this action.
When I created this action, I made provision for you to reduce the opacity of the composite layer (Layer 2) if you wish to do so. Once you have finished running this action, the layer stack should display two layers – the composite layer and the original background layer.
Sepianas Surface Blur Sharpening.zip (608 B)
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Post by Bailey on Oct 7, 2018 0:34:37 GMT
Hi Sepiana,
TFS 
However, I have 2 comments/queries -
1. If I open an image with layers above the background layer (Adjustment layers) your action throws up an error saying "Layer 2" is not available and the action doesn't produce what it's supposed to.
2. If I, or anyone else really, would like to fiddle with the radius and threshold settings in the surface blur dialog box while the action is running to see what effect they might have, how can I do that?
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Post by Sepiana on Oct 7, 2018 4:03:53 GMT
As I said in my OP, I created this action to automate the tutorial posted by Joe. I followed his steps except for the step at the end, the one to flatten the image. For anyone working with layered files, here are the options.
- I can record another action in which the first step will consist of instructions to duplicate/flatten the image before running the action.
- I can include a ReadMe First text file with these instructions in the zip folder.
- I can add a Note with these instructions to my OP (something like I did for my Orbs action, a Note about cropping the image before running the action).
Getting into the Action -- Orbs
NOTE: I will pursue the last option and add a note to my OP.
An action can be recorded which will insert a Stop step before applying the Surface Blur filter. This step will instruct the user to adjust the radius and threshold settings to suit his/her image and, then, continue the action by clicking on the Play button.
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Post by Bailey on Oct 7, 2018 4:46:36 GMT
2. If I, or anyone else really, would like to fiddle with the radius and threshold settings in the surface blur dialog box while the action is running to see what effect they might have, how can I do that? An action can be recorded which will insert a Stop step before applying the Surface Blur filter. This step will instruct the user to adjust the radius and threshold settings to suit his/her image and, then, continue the action by clicking on the Play button.
Thank you for your reply Sepiana, My interpretation of your answer to my question is that we can't.
It appears to me that when we download an action from anywhere, we are basically stuck with the original recorded instructions....hmmmmmm  ........not very helpful to me if the action doesn't work on every image or has errors (missing/extra steps or whatever) in it or if we want to tweak some settings. |
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Post by Major Major on Oct 7, 2018 21:22:48 GMT
It appears to me that when we download an action from anywhere, we are basically stuck with the original recorded instructions....hmmmmmm ........not very helpful to me if the action doesn't work on every image or has errors (missing/extra steps or whatever) in it or if we want to tweak some settings. Yes, well, that's the very nature of actions, isn't it? |
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Post by Bailey on Oct 7, 2018 23:16:47 GMT
Yes, well, that's the very nature of actions, isn't it? I have never used actions before, but alas yes, it unfortunately appears so  I thought Elements+ unlocks Photoshop features "hidden" in PSE. When I record a Macro using Elements+, it outputs an ASCII/text file which is editable by anyone I share it with. I don't understand why actions created in Photoshop (.atn) are some sort of binary file. Another concern I have with downloading binary files from anywhere is that malicious programmers could embed malware in them, so I always scan downloaded files before using them. You can't embed malware into ASCII/text files. Actions have their pros and cons as do scripts. Actions are quick and easy to create and you do not need any programming skills. But actions are severely limited in their ability to be made "smart" - checking for different potential scenarios, interacting with users etc. Scripts are much better and much more powerful for interacting with users and checking for things and conditions but do have a learning curve for users with little or no programming skills. |
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Post by hmca on Oct 8, 2018 0:20:47 GMT
My experience has been that actions can be a great way to condense a number of steps needed for a particular outcome to one easy "click". Many of us appreciate this type of action when wanting to create a particular look for an image. Sepiana ha generously created and shared a number of these for our members. Her sketch effect was one that I particularly like: 
It is also possible to create more sophisticated actions which allow the user to tweak each step along the way. I have purchased a few of these action that are fully editable at each step. Here is a screenshot of one such action that I have purchased:  |
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Post by Bailey on Oct 8, 2018 0:34:55 GMT
My experience has been that actions can be a great way to condense a number of steps needed for a particular outcome to one easy "click". ... ... It is also possible to create more sophisticated actions which allow the user to tweak each step along the way. I have purchased a few of these action that are fully editable at each step. ... Hi hmca, Yes both actions and scripts can be a great way to condense a number of steps needed for a particular outcome to one easy click and both have their pros and cons. You mention that scripts can allow the user to tweak each step along the way. Is that only in Photoshop or PSE as well? (because I can't edit the action in the OP) |
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Post by hmca on Oct 8, 2018 0:38:55 GMT
This may just be possible in PS but if I'm incorrect someone will probably point that out.
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Post by Bailey on Oct 8, 2018 0:50:23 GMT
This may just be possible in PS but if I'm incorrect someone will probably point that out.
From the reply to my initial query in this thread, I suspect you are correct .
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Post by Sepiana on Oct 8, 2018 1:12:51 GMT
You mention that scripts can allow the user to tweak each step along the way. Is that only in Photoshop or PSE as well? (because I can't edit the action in the OP)
Helen didn't say "scripts"; she said "actions".
It is also possible to create more sophisticated actions which allow the user to tweak each step along the way.
As I explained earlier in this thread, this action was created to automate the tutorial posted by Joe. I followed his steps except for the step at the end, the one to flatten the image. No frills, no extra steps. There were no instructions in that tutorial to adjust the Surface Blur filter settings.
1. 0pen image. 2. Duplicate background. 3. Layer 1 blend mode:Vivid Light Invert image: command I Filter surface blur
radius:30
threshold: 304. Merge visible: Shift, alt/option, command/control -E 5. Layer 2 blend mode: Overlay 6. Delete Layer 1 7. Change opacity as desired. 8. Flatten
If there had been instructions to adjust the Surface Blur filter settings, I would have recorded a Stop step followed by a Continue step. This would allow the user to tweak the settings to his/her heart's contents and, then, proceed to run the rest of the action.
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Post by Bailey on Oct 8, 2018 1:26:09 GMT
Thank you for correcting my typo Sepiana
Regarding the original instructions, drjoerogers simply states "Open image". It doesn't specify any number of layers the image can or cannot have.
So when I followed his instructions to "Open image" and ran your action, the action failed with the resulting error message because my image was multi layered.
It seems your action will only work on single layer images, and that is fine as long as it is made clear to users who may not be very familiar with PSE and/or actions.
I would have a thought, and this is just my opinion based on my experience in web site development/programming, a more user-friendly way to create the action could be to either:
1. generate a pop-up message at the start of the action to alert users that this action works only for single layer images.
2. the action flattens the image first.
3. the action first checks how many layers there are in the image and then proceed accordingly.
All 3 of the above user-friendly options are very easily done if using a script rather than an action. But as I posted earlier, both scripts and actions have their pros and cons and users will have their preference of each.
hth
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Post by Sepiana on Oct 8, 2018 1:45:52 GMT
. . . a more user-friendly way to create the action could be to either: 1. generate a pop-up message at the start of the action to alert users that this action works only for single layer images. 2. the action flattens the image first. 3. the action first checks how many layers there are in the image and then proceed accordingly.
I am afraid this thread is beginning to go around in circles, with this issue being dragged on. I had already said:
- I can record another action in which the first step will consist of instructions to duplicate/flatten the image before running the action.
- I can include a ReadMe First text file with these instructions in the zip folder.
- I can add a Note with these instructions to my OP (something like I did for my Orbs action, a Note about cropping the image before running the action).
Getting into the Action -- Orbs
NOTE: I will pursue the last option and add a note to my OP.
And that was what I did.
NOTE:
If you are working with a layered file, flatten it before running this action.
When I created this action, I made provision for you to reduce the opacity of the composite layer (Layer 2) if you wish to do so. Once you have finished running this action, the layer stack should display two layers – the composite layer and the original background layer. |
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Post by Bailey on Oct 8, 2018 1:54:37 GMT
No problem Sepiana
At least I now know you knew how to make your action more user-friendly.
Had you actually then gone and made your action more user-friendly initially, it would have worked when I ran it and not fallen over with an error message. Error messages like the one I got from your action are never a good look imho  , especially when they are so easy to avoid with a bit of planning/design in the creation of the action/script.
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Post by Sepiana on Oct 8, 2018 1:57:05 GMT
My experience has been that actions can be a great way to condense a number of steps needed for a particular outcome to one easy "click". Many of us appreciate this type of action when wanting to create a particular look for an image. Sepiana ha generously created and shared a number of these for our members. Her sketch effect was one that I particularly like:
Helen,
Thanks for your support! I really appreciate it (as I don't consider myself an Action Master like Panos). I have a long way to go!
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........not very helpful to me if the action doesn't work on every image or has errors (missing/extra steps or whatever) in it or if we want to tweak some settings.
, especially when they are so easy to avoid with a bit of planning/design in the creation of the action/script.