Topic: how do I save multiple images?

Hi this is probably a dumb question from a newbie. I've only just started using programs such as CS2 and Flash and I've created a banner in CS2 and I want to save all of the layers back as .png's so I can import them into flash. Can I do them in bulk or have I got to select each layer individually and 'save for web'.

Any help would be appreciated, Thanks.

Hi and welcome to the Asylum

There are two answers I can think of:

1) If you need to animate each one of your layers separately and need them to have a transparent background (as it seems to be the case in your question), you can use Actions to help you save some time. Go to Window >> Action, click on the "New Page" icon (same than New Layer), you can give it a name and a function key (F3 for example), then click record, and all the actions you take from that point on will be recorded and reusable.

To give you an example:

a. Show one layer only (make the other ones invisible)

b. Start your new Action as mentioned above, click record (don't forget to choose a function key)

c. Save for web and edit all your preferences (compression formation and so on), save it in a new folder called "PNG" for example (I tend to create new folders for automatied tasks, just in case I've missed something and have to start again...)

d. In your "Actions" window, click on the square to stop recording

e. Show another layer only and hit your function key, which will repeat the process without your having to take any action

f. repeat point e. for each of your layer

2) If you don't need to have transparent backgrounds for you images, you can just slice up the whole banner with the Slices tool, then save for web and it will break down your banner in as many images than you have slices; but I don't think it applies to your question.

Hope this helps, I struggle to explain things sometimes...

Brilliant, thank you very much. I can't slice this, but the 'Actions' tip will save me a lot of time.

When I re-run the action I can't rename the files, so i can only replace the previos one as the action is replicating the original file name. Any way around this?

Well, I think the only way around it is to create a new action and specify a new folder into which your images will be saved, so you images don't override each other. Or if you want to keep the same action, you can rename all your previous images with, say "_1" in the end, it doesn't take much time and allows you to keep track of what you're doing.

Does this answer your question?

(Edited by kimson on 06-09-2006 12:32)

No I wish it did, the problem is when I replay the action on the new layers it only gives me the option to 'replace' the existing file as the action is replicating the filename. so i can't go back in and rename the files as there will only ever be one file in the folder.

*slaps forehead* Ah yes, darn, I new I was missing something... I'm afraid I've never found an answer to that one myself...
Hopefully someone else will have an answer?

Save your file from photoshop first, just to be on the safe side.

Then edit it or Send it directly from Photoshop to ImageReady using File-->Edit In Imageready, it will move it to ImagesReady. Then use file-->Export layers to files. or Export--> Macromedia SWF directly in ImageReady.

One could also use Photoshop -->File-->Scripts-Export Layers To Files but it doen't allow for PNG. But you could them batch process them into PNG.

J. Stuart J.



(Edited by jstuartj on 06-09-2006 17:31)