Batch and Scripts using Smart Photo Fix

[jparnold]

I did a search for the following question and not finding anything decided to enter it as a new topic.

I have worked out how to create a script and apply it in a batch.

My script is to use Smart Photo Fix, select Advanced Options and then manually set Saturation to +20.

I notice that once Smart Photo Fix is selected it automatically makes adjustments depending on the photo.
My question is this -
I think that the script will result in Smart Photo Fix automatically adjusting everything and than manually applying +20 to the saturation for each photo as if I am manually applying Smart Photo Fix to each individual photo and then manually apply +20 saturation.

[Ron P.]

Well sorry that there's been no response on this. However I also apologize that I don't have an answer, since I don't use any scripts. My suggestion would be to duplicate a few photos and run the script to see if it does as you think it will..

[jparnold]

Thanks Ron
I too thought of that (try it out) but also took the easy way out by posting the new topic thinking that someone who read it and used scripts via batch would answer immediately like they seem to do on the VideoStudio 'forum'. Maybe not so many people look at this forum.
Nice to 'hear' from you.

Regarding VideoStudio (probably not the right place here but now that I can contact you) you probably will remember a lot of 'posts' 2 years ago about VS10+ crashing. I have recently started a new project and decided to use VS9 (just for fun). I have NOT had it crash once yet using VS10+ the crashes were often. I wonder how stable the lastest versions are (I am reluctant to pay for them in case of instability).

[jparnold]

Ron,

For your and other reader's knowledge.

I have tested assumptions (regarding using Smart Photo Fix on a script via batch) and the foolowing is my finding -

Any manual changes made to the settings automatically calculated by Smart Photo Fix are only applied to the picture being processed at the time (manually). They are NOT recorded when creating a script.
If you need to apply adjustment manually you need to also adjust that outside Smart Photo Fix (eg if you want to increase color saturation by say +10 you then need to also select Adjust>Hue and Saturation>Hue Saturation and Lightness and make the manual adjustment) and then save the script. The script will then contain two adjustments - Smart Photo Fix AND Hue Saturation Lightness.
I guess when you think about it this is obvious.

You may be wondering why I would want to do this. Well I have 1000+ photos (my wife went a little crazy during a 7 week overseas trip) and we were not happy with the results from 3 different photo processors (we had a small sample printed at each) - most photos were printed darker than we preferred even though they look ok on an LCD monitor. Rather than look at every photo and making adjustments I decided to lighten/brighten them all via batch.

[Ron P.]

Thanks for posting your findings on PSP, which will help those with similar questions.

As with any versions of VS, the current has it's weaknesses. I've had problems when trying to render to FLV, however this only happens on Vista, not on WinXP. The only other problem I've encountered was trying to insert an MPEG-4 file, downloaded from YouTube. This is something that I don't do, so really is of no consequence. Running the troublesome file through Super corrected it.

I've not had any problems when sticking to my rock standard, now probably antiquated DV video files. Also what I really like about it is that instead of having to drag-n-drop transitions, just drag the clip so that it overlaps the previous to create a transition. More like other NLEs behave...

[jparnold]

Thanks Ron,
I had been using PSP 9 (started with PSP 6 on a magazine coverdisk many years ago) until recently when I upgraded to X2 simply because I wanted a book and could not get any for versions other than X2 and so upgraded and I'm so very glad that I did as X2 is so much easier (and intuitive) to use.

The book (Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 for Photographers) was money well spent - other readers please note.

On another 'note'

Have you noticed none or far less posts from members stating VS X2 crashes compared with VS10? I would love to purchase the latest version (of VS) but even though many members replied to mine and others posts (in the past) saying that they had no problems with VS10 crashing the fact remained that many (including me) DID/DO have many crashes and I would hate to fork out hard earned cash on the latest if it is no more stable than 10. Remember that since I reverted to VS9 it has not crashed once (I have both 9 and 10 installed). The only thing that VS9 doesn't contain (for me) is multilple overlay tracks and rubber banding for sound volume changing which is a nuisance to me but only occasionally.