Batch rename in PS?

[momoffduty]

Is there a way to batch rename a folder of photos similar to the Process Multiple files in PSE?

[Chuck Engels]

Hi Cheryl,
File / Automate / Batch

[momoffduty]

Thanks, will give that a try!

[Jayell]

I'm just learning, so can't provide much detail on the fly, but I know you can do a variety of batch re-naming thru Bridge.

[Bob]

Right! Automate Batch isn't what you want. Use Bridge, select the photos to be batch renamed and from the menu select Tools>Batch Rename... (Ctrl+shift+r).

[momoffduty]

Thanks Jayell & Bob. This is what I am trying to accomplish and maybe you have a better work flow.

The goal is to place portrait & landscape photos on a transparent 600x400 files. The landscape would not have transparency. They need to be numbered in the original number order to bring into AE as a Photoshop Sequence.

This is how I am currently working:
In PS create my 600x400 transparent file.
From Bridge select the photo and Place in PS.
Transform the photo to position to crop out and adjust visible.
The layers are in stacking order with smallest number on top.
In PS Script to export layers as files.

This is where the problem occurs:
My original photo names are LM_F2_020 thru LM_F2_055

When I Place in PS the layers have the correct photo names, but when I export layers as new files I end up with: 00001_LM_F2_020 thru 00035_LM_F2_055.

This totally confuses AE and when I try to import as an image sequence the only option I have is Multiple Sequences which is not what I need.

It is important that I keep the original numbers as file names and could add an additional letter to distinguish from the originals. When working with 300 photos it is helpful to keep track of all of the photos to reedit or to make sure that I am using all the photos in the correct order.

Is there a better work flow? Thanks.

The names of the photos = person's initials_folder#_photo#

[Jayell]

You can also do string re-names. I like to keep the last 4 numbers from the camera (so I can go back and find the original), but rename the rest of the file.

[Bob]

What are you trying to do with the image sequence in AE? It's not clear to me.

An image sequence is a movie which has been saved as a sequence of still images, one file for each video frame. The naming convention is moviename.frame#. When you import an image sequence, you get a movie -- the same as if you had imported an avi or some other native movie file. I'm guessing that isn't what you want to do. But, maybe it is. I don't know. If you are trying to get an actual image sequence, the way you would do it would be to display the animation frame, create frames from layers, reverse the frame order (it goes from bottom to top, yours are top to bottom), and Export>Render Video (either as a movie format or as an image sequence). Photoshop Extended has complete video functionality, Standard edition can do some of this and I've done some similar things using standard edition. But, I'm not sure how much of that is supported in your version of Photoshop. I only have Extended edition installed, so I can't verify how much of that can be done in standard.

Exporting layers as files doesn't give you an image sequence. The naming convention is completely different and not at all in a naming pattern that can be interpreted as a sequence.

If you just want to align them end to end, you can open the PSD as a composition which preserves the layer structure and use Animation > Keyframe Assistant > Sequence Layers.

[momoffduty]

If you just want to align them end to end, you can open the PSD as a composition which preserves the layer structure and use Animation > Keyframe Assistant > Sequence Layers.

I did think of that, but that seems like more work and too many layers to keep up with.

If the files have two numbers like I got from the Script export layers as files, then AE wants to import as Multiple Sequences.

The image sequence is created by importing from AE and selecting the photos in the order I want them to appear. But, to keep track of things I want the photos exported from PS to have the original name & # and an additional letter to differentiate it from the original. If working with 300 photos, then I want to keep track that #30 through #55 are in an image sequence.

The goal in AE is to bring in 30 or 40 photos as an image sequence at 1 frame per photo. I then Time remap Freeze Frame. By bringing all the photos in as a sequence I can then PreComp that sequence and add a reflection to all of the photos at once. If I didn't use the image sequence then I would have 30 or 40 PreComps - one for each photo. This would also be handy if you wanted to add the stroke effect for a frame and other effects to a group all at once.

Bob, I will read over again what you last wrote and check out PS. I do not have PS Extended.

[Bob]

If you have Photoshop CS3 or later, it should work. I looked up the CS3 help file and it does have the ability to export render to video as a video or image sequence.

Display the animation palette by clicking on animation from the Window menu item.
Make frames from layers is in the animation palette menu as is reverse frames.
File>export>Render to Video...

You can export to video file or to image sequence. If you go with image sequence, remember that AE can only import sequences with the moviename.frame# naming convention -- which is what this will give you. You won't be able to use a naming convention that contains the individual layer name in the image sequence file name. Keep your intermediate PSD file and you should be able to go back if necessary.

[momoffduty]

Thanks Bob! I have CS5 and if this works will save me the 2 steps of exporting as files & renaming.

[Jayell]

I'm beginning to think we should start a thread called Stump Bob .. to see if we can find something he doesn't have an answer for.

[Chuck Engels]

I'm beginning to think we should start a thread called Stump Bob .. to see if we can find something he doesn't have an answer for.

Maybe we could give away on of Steve's books to the first person that stumps Bob

[Bob]

I'm relatively easy to stump. You've just been asking about things I know something about.

My daughter has been urging me for years to try out for Jeopardy!. If I somehow did make it on, I'd probably end up with a whole show full of categories that I know little about.

[Dave McElderry]

I'm beginning to think we should start a thread called Stump Bob .. to see if we can find something he doesn't have an answer for.

Hilarious, and oh so true.