How Do I Put the Same Settings on Multiple Images in Photoshop?

You can apply the same settings to multiple images in Photoshop using the Batch Processing feature, which utilizes Actions. Here's how:

1. Create an Action:

Before you can batch process, you need to create an Action that contains the settings and steps you want to apply.

1. Open one of your images in Photoshop.
2. Open the Actions panel (Window > Actions).
3. Click the "Create New Action" icon (looks like a plus sign in a folder icon).
4. Give your action a name (e.g., "ImageEnhancement") and choose a set to save it in (or create a new set).
5. Click "Record." Photoshop will now record every step you take.
6. Perform the adjustments you want to apply to all images (e.g., adjust levels, apply a filter, resize).
7. When you're finished, click the "Stop Recording" icon (a square).

2. Use the Batch Processing Feature:

Now that you have your Action, you can use Batch Processing.

1. Go to File > Automate > Batch.
2. Set: In the "Play" section, choose the Set that contains your Action.
3. Action: Select the specific Action you want to use (e.g., "ImageEnhancement").
4. Source: Under "Source," choose the folder containing the original images you want to edit. You can also select "Import" to process images from a digital camera or scanner.
5. Destination: Specify where you want the processed images to be saved. You can save them in a new folder, overwrite the original files (not recommended unless you have backups!), or choose "None" to leave the images open in Photoshop.
6. File Naming (Destination Options): Customize how your processed files are named. This is crucial to avoid overwriting your original files if you choose to save to the same folder.
7. Errors: Decide how you want Photoshop to handle errors. "Stop for Errors" will pause the batch process if an error occurs. "Log Errors to File" will continue processing and record any errors in a text file.
8. Click "OK" to start the batch process.

3. Important Considerations:

• Close the Original Image: Photoshop will automatically open and close each image in the source folder. Ensure you've closed the sample image you used to create the Action without saving it, to avoid accidentally saving the settings to the original.
• Save For Web: If you're preparing images for the web, include "Save for Web (Legacy)" as part of your action. This will optimize the images for online use.
• Action Compatibility: Make sure your Action is compatible with all the images in your source folder. For example, if your Action includes cropping to a specific aspect ratio, ensure all images can be cropped in that way.
• Image Size: Batch processing is most effective when images have similar dimensions and orientations. If there's a significant variance, you might need to create different Actions.
• Backup: Always back up your original images before batch processing, especially if you plan to overwrite them.

By using Actions and Batch Processing, you can significantly speed up your workflow and maintain consistency across multiple images in Photoshop.