How to Load Droplets in Photoshop

Processing multiple images is simplified with droplets.

Droplets are small icons on your desktop that you can use to automate regularly used functions in Photoshop. If you want to take a folder of your vacation photos and reduce them in size for uploading to a website, then a droplet will simplify and automate what would have been a boring task. Photoshop CS and above have the ability to create droplets from actions that you have saved.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Photoshop CS
• Digital image

Instructions

Create an Action for a Frequent Task

1. Click "Window > Actions." Click the "New Action" icon at the bottom of the panel. Name the action with a name such as "Reduce to 600px" and click "Record." Open an image.

2. Click "Image > Image Size..." and set the width to 600px. Make sure "Constrain Proportions" and "Resample Image" are checked and choose "Bicubic Sharper" as the method. Click "OK."

3. Click "File > Save As..." and check "As a Copy." This adds the word "copy" to the file name to avoid overwriting the original photo. Click "Save" and choose 10 as the Quality in the pop-up window. Click "OK." Choose "File > Close" and click the "stop" icon in the Actions panel to stop the recording of the action.

Creating and Loading the Droplet

1. Select "File > Automate > Create Droplet." Click the "Choose" button and select "Desktop" in the pop-up window. Type a name for the droplet and select "Save." Select your new action in the drop-down list. Leave the other settings at their defaults. The droplet icon, a blue arrow, is now visible on the desktop.

2. Create a temporary folder using Windows Explorer and copy your test images into that folder. Close other windows so only Explorer is visible with the Desktop.

3. Drag the folder containing the images from Windows Explorer onto the Droplet Icon. Each file in turn is opened, reduced to 600px and then saved with "copy" in the file name.

Tips & Warnings

• Create other actions and droplets as needed to automate routine tasks.

• If you get an error message that the droplet cannot communicate with Photoshop in Windows 7, close Photoshop and open as an administrator.

References

• Developer Tutorials: Creating your own Action and Droplets