Merge Group Script

[Lesley Maple]

I'm looking for a script that will merge each group on a pspimage automatically.   I'm working on a project that uses pocket templates with photos in them and I want to merge each group so  I can apply shadows to the photo.  There are 9 to 10 groups on each page and I was hoping to find a script that will merge each one of them automatically.

[Cassel]

There is a command to do that directly. Do you have many groups to want a script?

[Lesley Maple]

There are about 25 pages with 8 - 10 groups per page.  I can certainly do it manually but I was hoping to speed things up a bit.  I could do them as I go along, but I don't want to merge until I know everything is all set and I don't want to move things around or change photos.

 

Edited November 10, 2024 by Lesley Maple

[Cassel]

A script is possible, but you have to know that it would merge ALL the groups, not just a few.

[Lesley Maple]

Yes, I want to merge them all.    I have various pages like this.  Each photo is in a different group and I need to merge all the groups before I can do shadows on the pictures.  So  after I have all the pictures placed and I'm happy with it, I will want to have a script that will merge each one of these groups.

Edited November 11, 2024 by Lesley Maple

[Cassel]

I can probably do something like that. I wonder if anyone else, reading this thread might use this script?

[Rene Marker]

  On 11/11/2024 at 3:55 AM, Cassel said:

I can probably do something like that. I wonder if anyone else, reading this thread might use this script?

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I merge groups all the time using the Merge-Group-Rename script after using the Raster To Mask script for my photos. Merge-Group-Rename gives me total control over each group which is my preferred method. I certainly wouldn't want all groups to be merged into one layer but each group should still have their own layer. If the script could do that, it might be something I would consider. I've been known to move a photo placement after the group merge so having them all on one layer would defeat that purpose.

[Lesley Maple]

Yes, absolutely each photo group on their own layer.

[Cassel]

  On 11/11/2024 at 6:41 PM, Lesley Maple said:

Yes, absolutely each photo group on their own layer.

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I think you might want to try the script Rene mentioned: https://creationcassel.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_10&products_id=311

This has the advantage of merging only the ones you want, in case there might be one group you DON'T want merged. It is coded to work with one click. And you can bind that script and put it on the Layers palette so it will require minimal cursor movement.

[Lesley Maple]

I'll give it a try.  I looked at that one in the shop but for some reason I thought it wouldn't work for me.  But I'll give it a try and will be super happy if it does.  I'll report back.  *fingers crossed*

 

Edited to add:  It is a little faster but it appears I have to run the script for each group.  Is that correct or is there a way to select more than one group at a time?

Edited November 11, 2024 by Lesley Maple

[Rene Marker]

  On 11/11/2024 at 8:51 PM, Lesley Maple said:

I'll give it a try.  I looked at that one in the shop but for some reason I thought it wouldn't work for me.  But I'll give it a try and will be super happy if it does.  I'll report back.  *fingers crossed*

 

Edited to add:  It is a little faster but it appears I have to run the script for each group.  Is that correct or is there a way to select more than one group at a time?

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Yes, you do have to run the script for each group. But that is what I like about it since it gives me the control. I also like that as long as the highlighted layer is the layer with the photo when you run the script, it renames the merged layer to the name of the photo. In my case, the image number from my camera. If I ever want to see what photo I actually used in the layout when I have multiple images taken at the same time, the image number is right there in the layers palette.

[Susan Ewart]

  On 11/11/2024 at 7:16 PM, Cassel said:

I think you might want to try the script Rene mentioned: https://creationcassel.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_10&products_id=311

This has the advantage of merging only the ones you want, in case there might be one group you DON'T want merged. It is coded to work with one click. And you can bind that script and put it on the Layers palette so it will require minimal cursor movement.

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Could you make it so you only merged "visible" groups.  so that if you don't want one group merged, you could hide it, merge the other groups, then unhide it.  At this time I don't think I'd be merging lots of groups.  I will often use groups of the layers that are used to make something (element, background paper. etc), then I'd duplicate it, hide the original, and then merge the group.  That way if I need to go back and change the background I'd still have the layers intact to make changes to.  If you know you will never need to make changes, merging all the groups would be a time saver for sure.

Edited November 12, 2024 by Susan Ewart

[Lesley Maple]

  On 11/11/2024 at 11:16 PM, Rene Marker said:

Yes, you do have to run the script for each group. But that is what I like about it since it gives me the control. I also like that as long as the highlighted layer is the layer with the photo when you run the script, it renames the merged layer to the name of the photo. In my case, the image number from my camera. If I ever want to see what photo I actually used in the layout when I have multiple images taken at the same time, the image number is right there in the layers palette.

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But that's what I want to get away from, the one by one.  I'm looking for a script that will "finish up" all my groups at one time.

[Rene Marker]

  On 11/12/2024 at 2:12 AM, Lesley Maple said:

But that's what I want to get away from, the one by one.  I'm looking for a script that will "finish up" all my groups at one time.

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We do all have our own preferences. Mine is to have total control over the merge of each group.

[Corrie Kinkel]

I'm with Rene in this discussion but I have never so many groups that I want merged at the same time. However I can understand that in some occasions it would be a fantastic timesaver. 

[Susan Ewart]

  On 11/12/2024 at 1:30 PM, Rene Marker said:

We do all have our own preferences. Mine is to have total control over the merge of each group.

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  On 11/12/2024 at 8:13 PM, Corrie Kinkel said:

I'm with Rene in this discussion but I have never so many groups that I want merged at the same time. However I can understand that in some occasions it would be a fantastic timesaver. 

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Same here, I group and ungroup and regroup as needed  I will often duplicate and keep the original group hidden and convert the duplicate to raster if I am  testing ideas but don't want to lose where I started from. And especially any vectors if there are a lot of separate ones I will throw them all into a big group.  I subscribe to  CYA  (cover your %#&).  You all know how good I am at spell-checking.😅 

Edited November 13, 2024 by Susan Ewart