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Batch processing in Photoshop

Photoshop can be used to do cropping, lens correction, color correction, among other tasks. You can record these actions on a single photo, and then repeat the actions on all photos in a folder automatically (batch processing).

Preparation

Ensure all the relevant photos are in the same folder.

Start recording

  1. Open one of the photos in Photoshop.
  2. Go to the menu Window, Actions top open the Actions window.
  3. Click the New set button and create a new set (e.g., CAMBioMed Actions).

  4. Click the New action button and enter the information for a new action in this set (e.g., Crop photoquadrats).

    New action window

  5. Click the Record button to save the action and start recording.

You can stop and resume recording the action at any time using the buttons at the bottom of the Actions window.

Actions window

Perform actions

Now perform the actions to this photo that you want to repeat on other photos. See these pages for more information:

Save action

Perform and record a final Save As action.

Stop recording

  1. Press the Stop button in the Actions window to stop recording.

Apply to batch of photos

  1. Go to the menu File, Automate, Batch....
  2. Under Play pick the set and action you created.
  3. Under Source, choose Folder and click the Choose... button. Select the folder with the photos to process.

  4. At Destination, also choose Folder and click the Choose... button. Select an (empty) folder where you want to save the photos to process.

    Leave the other settings as their default. See the screenshot.

    Batch window

  5. Click OK to start processing. This may take a while, and you may not see progress until it is done.