Gwilym:

RE: Is there a way I can 'record' these actions and automatically play them over all these pics as you would a macro?
You sure can.

I'm assuming you're starting with .jpg images. If not, wave the flag. There are a couple other tidbits you'll need to know.

Here's a quick overview on one way to do this.
* Open a test image that represents the group you want to resize and sharpen * If the Actions palette is not visible, Window > Actions * Record the action: From the Actions Palette menu (click black triangle, top/right of palette), choose "New Set". This will create a 'folder' (for organizational purposes) for the action you're about to create.
* Assign a meaningful (to you) name, e.g., "My actions" * From the Actions Palette menu again, choose "New Action." * Assign a name, e.g., "Sharpen and size" and click the "Record" button * Image > Image size (size accordingly)
* Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp mask (apply as needed) * Click the square STOP button at the bottom of the Actions palette. * Keep or delete the test image as needed.

Congrats! You've just created an action!

If you want to apply the same sharpening settings to each image, do nothing. Otherwise, in the action click the embossed square to the immediate left of the Unsharp Mask command. Doing so will case the USM dialog to display with each image processed, allowing you to apply custom sharpen settings if necessary.

For illustration purposes, create a folder named \Destination

Invoke batch processing:
* File > Automate > Batch
* The action you just recorded should be selected
* Source: Folder. Choose (specify source folder)
* Destination: Folder. Choose (navigate to \Destination) * Click OK

PS will read each record from the source folder, apply the two-step action to it, and place the processed image in \Destination. Generally speaking until you get used to how batch processing works, a \Destination different than the source folder is a good idea. That way if things go horribly wrong, the original images are untouched.

Hope this gets you moving.

~Danny~

Gwilym_Owen

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