Batch Process Images with a Script

Batch processing takes on a new meaning with Paint Shop Pro 8's scripting capabilities. In this tutorial we are going to create a short script to resize a folder full of images. All the images in the folder need to be reduced in physical size.

You'll need a folder with images in it that you can resize and you need an empty folder to put the newly resized images in.

Below is a screenshot of the Scripting toolbar. We will focus on the Circle and the Box on the right side of the toolbar for this tutorial.

To create this script:

1. Open an image in Paint Shop Pro 8.
2. Click on the circle on the Scripting Toolbar to start recording.
3. Go to Image>Resize
4. Set the Pixel Dimensions to 73 and choose Percent from the drop down
5. Set Resample using to Smart Size (since we're going down in size you could also use Bilinear)
6. Click ok
7. Click on the Box on the far right side of the Scripting Toolbar to end recording.
8. Save the script as resize.PSPScript in the PSP Scripts-Trusted folder.

Close your image.

Go to File>Batch>Process

Select all the files you want to resize.

Browse to the folder that you saved your new script to.

Check the Stop on Error checkbox.

Choose New Type as the Save Mode.

You can also change the file type while you're doing this and that is what we'll do in this tutorial. I chose to save the new files as Type:JPEG.

Browse to the folder you want the new images to be saved in.

Click the start button.

Below is a screenshot of the open dialog to select a trusted script. (You should have saved the script we just created to this folder.

When you click the Start button a Batch Progress dialog opens and keeps track of what's happening. When the Batch Process is done running you can save a log of what just happened.

If you check the folder where you chose to save your newly altered images, you'll see they have been altered just as we wanted them to be.

What a great way to create thumbnails quickly and easily. There are many things you can do with scripting and batch processing that take the drudgery out of repetitive tasks when it comes to image editing.

Have fun!

Copyright Vikki Olds, All Rights Reserved