Copying multiple images from PS to Illustrator.

[Oh for Chrissake!]

Hi,

I have a guitar chord chart. A collection of chords (5 x 5 grid) that I've copied and pasted into PS.

I would like to make multiple selections, selecting each chord individually and simultaneously. I do know that this is possible using the Marquee tool plus holding Shift. So I would have 25 individual selections on the same layer. From this point I COPY.

Problem begins here...

I want to be able to PASTE, all at once, into separate layers. My preference is paste into Illustrator, but pasting into PS is also fine.

The result will be 25 different individual layers, each layer will be its own guitar chord.


Thanks in advance!!

 

[Paul MR]

You could try this script, run the script after you have made all your selections.
Photoshop only.

#target photoshop
app.bringToFront();

main();
function main(){
if(!documents.length) return;
selectTransparency();
try{
    var SB=activeDocument.selection.bounds;
    }catch(e){
        alert("No selection has been made!");
        return;
        }
app.activeDocument.selection.makeWorkPath(0.5);
try{
activeDocument.pathItems.getByName('Work Path').name='WP';
}catch(e){
    alert("Work Path does not exist!");
    return;
    }
var currentRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;
var res = app.activeDocument.resolution;
if( res != 72 ) app.activeDocument.resizeImage (undefined, undefined, 72, ResampleMethod.NONE);
var pathLayer = activeDocument.activeLayer;   
var pathInfo = activeDocument.pathItems.getByName('WP');
var sp = pathInfo.subPathItems.length;
for(var a = 0;a<sp;a++){
      var tempPath = app.activeDocument.pathItems.add("Temp Path", extractSubPathInfo('WP',a));
      tempPath.makeSelection();
      executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "CpTL" ), undefined, DialogModes.NO );
      tempPath.remove();
      activeDocument.activeLayer = pathLayer;
}
 if( res != 72 ) app.activeDocument.resizeImage (undefined, undefined, res, ResampleMethod.NONE);
 pathInfo.remove();
 app.preferences.rulerUnits = currentRulerUnits;
 }
  
function extractSubPathInfo(pathName,subPathNo){
var pathObj = activeDocument.pathItems.getByName(pathName)
    var pathArray = new Array();
        var pArray = new Array();
          for(var i=0;i<pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].pathPoints.length;i++){
             pArray[i] = new PathPointInfo;
             pArray[i].kind = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].pathPoints[i].kind;
             pArray[i].anchor = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].pathPoints[i].anchor;
             pArray[i].leftDirection = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].pathPoints[i].leftDirection;
             pArray[i].rightDirection = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].pathPoints[i].rightDirection;
          };
        pathArray[pathArray.length] = new Array();
        pathArray[pathArray.length - 1] = new SubPathInfo();
        pathArray[pathArray.length - 1].operation = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].operation;
        pathArray[pathArray.length - 1].closed = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].closed;
        pathArray[pathArray.length - 1].entireSubPath = pArray;
    return pathArray;
};
function selectTransparency() {
    var desc113 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var ref83 = new ActionReference();
        ref83.putProperty( charIDToTypeID('Chnl'), charIDToTypeID('fsel') );
    desc113.putReference( charIDToTypeID('null'), ref83 );
        var ref84 = new ActionReference();
        ref84.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Chnl'), charIDToTypeID('Chnl'), charIDToTypeID('Trsp') );
    desc113.putReference( charIDToTypeID('T   '), ref84 );
    try{
    executeAction( charIDToTypeID('setd'), desc113, DialogModes.NO );
    }catch(e){}
};

 

[Oh for Chrissake!]

Wow! Did you write all that for me? Thanks!

 

[Paul MR]

I wrote it six years ago as part of a small project, but thought it would meet your needs.

 

[Oh for Chrissake!]

Hi Paul,

I copied all of your script and pasted it into a .txt file with no edits.

I saved the .txt file as a .jsx file to my hard drive.

I opened PS and brought up a file with an image to test the script.

I copied multiple locations with the marquee tool...



I copied the selections with CTRL - C...

I selected the script with File / Scripts / Browse...



But got this error...




Do I try a different order of steps? Have I overlooked something? I even tried it without copying first, still the same error message.

 

[Paul MR]

Could you try copying the script once again as the error message is cmplaining of a curly bracket missing. I have copyed the above script and tested it so I know it is ok.

 

[Oh for Chrissake!]

Will do! : )

 

[Oh for Chrissake!]

**APPLAUSE**

You're the MAN! It created different layers in PS. Then I saved the file as .PSD, opened it in Illustrator and it offered to open the file in multiple layers as well. DYNAMITE!

 

[Oh for Chrissake!]

Hi Paul,

What would be the reason why it worked a couple of times and then doesn't anymore? : (

 

[Paul MR]

I don't know as Ican't get it to fail here?
The code can be shortened as it doesn't need to select trancparency.

#target photoshop
app.bringToFront();

main();
function main(){
if(!documents.length) return;
try{
    var SB=activeDocument.selection.bounds;
    }catch(e){
        alert("No selection has been made!");
        return;
        }
app.activeDocument.selection.makeWorkPath(0.5);
try{
activeDocument.pathItems.getByName('Work Path').name='WP';
}catch(e){
    alert("Work Path does not exist!");
    return;
    }
var currentRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;
var res = app.activeDocument.resolution;
if( res != 72 ) app.activeDocument.resizeImage (undefined, undefined, 72, ResampleMethod.NONE);
var pathLayer = activeDocument.activeLayer;   
var pathInfo = activeDocument.pathItems.getByName('WP');
var sp = pathInfo.subPathItems.length;
for(var a = 0;a<sp;a++){
      var tempPath = app.activeDocument.pathItems.add("Temp Path", extractSubPathInfo('WP',a));
      tempPath.makeSelection();
      executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "CpTL" ), undefined, DialogModes.NO );
      tempPath.remove();
      activeDocument.activeLayer = pathLayer;
}
 if( res != 72 ) app.activeDocument.resizeImage (undefined, undefined, res, ResampleMethod.NONE);
 pathInfo.remove();
 app.preferences.rulerUnits = currentRulerUnits;
 }
function extractSubPathInfo(pathName,subPathNo){
var pathObj = activeDocument.pathItems.getByName(pathName)
    var pathArray = new Array();
        var pArray = new Array();
          for(var i=0;i<pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].pathPoints.length;i++){
             pArray[i] = new PathPointInfo;
             pArray[i].kind = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].pathPoints[i].kind;
             pArray[i].anchor = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].pathPoints[i].anchor;
             pArray[i].leftDirection = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].pathPoints[i].leftDirection;
             pArray[i].rightDirection = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].pathPoints[i].rightDirection;
          };
        pathArray[pathArray.length] = new Array();
        pathArray[pathArray.length - 1] = new SubPathInfo();
        pathArray[pathArray.length - 1].operation = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].operation;
        pathArray[pathArray.length - 1].closed = pathObj.subPathItems[subPathNo].closed;
        pathArray[pathArray.length - 1].entireSubPath = pArray;
    return pathArray;
};

 

[Oh for Chrissake!]

That seemed to work. Thanks! I don't know why it doesn't work then it does. One day I'll crack the mysteries of code.