Home

Site Map

About Hidden Power Tools

About the Free Tools

Free Hidden Power Batch Actions

Batch processing allows you to process a whole folder of images using a specific function. This free set of batch tools is one that I originally developed for Elements 1 and 2 and named after Chuck, who helped define a few tools that he thought might be useful for batch processing. These batch tools allow you to apply Auto Level, Auto Level and Auto-contrast, Unsharp mask, and Channel Mixer to an entire folder of images in Elements 1 and 2 only. The list of actions included, description of what they do, download links and installation information can be found below.

Actions Included

Below is a list of the names of the batch actions included in the batch action download. The name also attempts to be a description, as included in the name will be the function, followed by specifications (if any) followed by the format the images will save in. JPG stands for JPEG, TIFF for TIFF, and m, h stand for JPEG compression quality: Medium and High.

Chuck's Auto LevelJPGm
Chuck's Auto LevelJPGh
Chuck's Auto LevelTIFF
Chuck's AutoLevel-Contrast JPGm
Chuck's AutoLevel-Contrast JPGh
Chuck's AutoLevel-Contrast TIFF
Sharpen .5 Radius 50% TIFF
Sharpen 1 Radius 50% TIFF
Sharpen 1.5 Radius 50% TIFF
Sharpen 2 Radius 50% TIFF
Channel Mixer TIFF
Sharpen .5 Radius 50% JPGm
Sharpen 1 Radius 50% JPGm
Sharpen 1.5 Radius 50% JPGm
Sharpen 2 Radius 50% JPGm
Channel Mixer JPGm

Function Descriptions

AutoLevel — applies Auto Level to every image in a folder. Auto Levels will make an automated levels adjustment to each image based on the current defaults. Useful for quick batch color correction.

AutoLevel-Contrast — applies Auto Level and Auto Contrast to every file in a folder. Auto Levels will make an automated levels adjustment, then Auto Contrast will make an automated contrast adjustment. This should apply a slightly more intense correction than Auto Levels alone. Useful for quick batch color and tone correction.

Sharpen — applies the Unsharp Mask filter to a folder of images with the set radius and % as described in the name of the tool. useful for sharpening a folder full of (like sized) images.

Channel Mixer — lets you apply Channel Mixer to every image in a folder by opening the Channel Mixer dialogue for each image separately (no preset results). Useful if you want to convert a folder full of images to black-and-white.

Download

The batch tools can be downloaded for free or with a donation made through PayPal. Your donations help support the site and addition of future tools. If you do not choose to donate, a valid email address will be required, and a link will be forwarded immediately. Please complete either process using a browser that can navigate to FTP sites (e.g., Internet Explorer or FireFox/Mozilla, not Safari).

Donate $5 and Download:
Download Only:

Installation

Installation for Hidden Power Batch Actions is manual, but simple. The instructions are in a readme.html in the the download as well as below. These actions will appear on the Batch Processing screen (choose File>Batch Processing) and will replace the actions there currently. You can change back to the original set of batch actions by just switching back the name of the files as described in the installation.

1. Locate the current batch file.

Details: This will be either BatchWin.atn on your PC, or BatchMac.atn on your Mac. The file can be found in the Elements program folder inside the Presets folder (the PC path is C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 2\Presets\Photoshop Actions by default; Mac users should find the Photoshop Elements 2 program folder and then open the Presets and then Photoshop Actions folder.

2. Rename the current batch file.

Details: You can rename it to anything, however you may want to keep it something you will recognize so you can switch it back in if you want. For example, you can rename the file by putting an X in front (i.e., XBatchWin.atn, XBatchMac.atn)

3. Copy the unzipped action file into the Photoshop Actions folder.

Details: If you are on a PC, copy the BatchWin.atn into the Elements/Previews/Photoshop Actions folder; if you are on a Mac, copy the Batchmac.atn into the Elements:Previews:Photoshop Actions folder.

4. Restart Elements.

Details: Restarting Elements at this point will force Elements to recognize the new file.

These actions will appear when you open the Batch Processing screen by choosing File>Batch Processing. Look for the changes in the Convert File Type drop list in the Conversion Options panel on the Batch dialog. You can change back to the original batch actions by just switching back the names of the batch files and restarting Elements.

Let me know if you have any trouble: rl@ps6.com