1. Tutorials & Tips
2. Tips & Tricks

Automating tasks and batch-processing images in Corel PHOTO-PAINT

This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.

Did you know that you can automate commonly performed tasks in Corel PHOTO-PAINT® by recording and saving them as scripts in the Recorder docker? For example, if you often convert color photos to black and white and resize them, you can record the operations as you apply them to a photo. You can then play the recording on other opened photos, or you can save the recording as a script for future use. Both scripts and recordings can be easily edited.

The Recorder docker lets you create recordings and scripts.

Using the scripts created in the Recorder docker, you can modify multiple images simultaneously. The Batch Process dialog box makes it easy to play a script on a batch of images. With many scripts, you don't even need to open the images in Corel PHOTO-PAINT.

In addition, the Batch Process dialog box lets you save multiple images to a different file format quickly and easily. You can choose to save your images to a variety of industry-standard file formats, such as JPEG, GIF, TIF, AVI, and EPS.

The Batch Process dialog box lets you convert batches of images to a specific file format and play scripts on multiple images.

To create a recording or a script

1. To display the Recorder docker, click Window > Dockers > Recorder.
   
   
2. Click the New button in the Recorder docker.
   
   
3. Click the Record button .
   
   
4. Perform the actions that you want to record.

The recording in this example includes the Resample and Convert to Grayscale (8-bit) commands from the Image menu.

5. Click the Stop button .
   
   The recording is now complete and can be played in the current session.
   
   
6. To save the recording as a script for future use, click the Save button , choose the drive and folder where you want to save the script, and type a filename in the File name box.
   
   The scripts are saved as Corel scripts with a .csc filename extension.

Note: The following operations and commands cannot be recorded in Corel PHOTO-PAINT: toolbar, keyboard, and menu customization; grid, ruler, and guideline customization; Window and Help menu commands; image calculations and image stitching; and viewing operations, such as zooming.

To play a recording or script on the active image

The playback controls at the bottom of the Recorder docker let you play recordings and scripts on the active image in Corel PHOTO-PAINT.

Left to right: Rewind, Step Forward, Play, and Fast Forward buttons.

1. Click Window > Dockers > Recorder.
   
   
2. Do one of the following:
   
   
   • Create a recording.
     
     
   • Click the Open button , navigate to a script, and double-click the script filename.
   
   
3. Click the Play button.

You can also

Play a single command from the script on the active image.	Double-click the name of the command you want to play. (The position indicator is displayed next to the command you have chosen, and the command's name appears highlighted.) Click the Step forward button.
Temporarily exclude a command from a recording or script.	Click a command, and click the Enable/Disable Selected Command(s) button at the top of the Recorder docker. (The command's name is grayed.)
Go to the first or last command in a recording or script.	Click the Rewind or Fast forward button..

To play a script on multiple images

The Batch Process dialog box lets you play a script on multiple images. All you need to do is select the images you want to modify, add a script, and specify where and how to save the results.

1. Click File > Batch process to display the Batch process dialog box.
   
   
2. Click Add file.
   
   
3. In the Load images for batch playback dialog box, choose the drive and folder where the images are stored.
   
   
4. Holding down Ctrl, click the images that you want to edit, and then click Open.
   
   
5. In the Batch process dialog box, click Add script.
   
   
6. In the Load script dialog box, choose the drive and folder where the scripts are stored, and double-click a script name. You can add two or more scripts.
   
   
7. From the On completion list box, choose one of the following options:
   
   
   • Don't save — lets you preview the effect of a script without permanently modifying the original files. To use this option, you need to disable the Close file after batch process check box.
     
     
   • Save over original — lets you save the changes in the original files
     
     
   • Save to new folder — lets you save the modified files to a new folder, preserving the original files intact
     
     If you want the modified images to be displayed automatically after the script is played, disable the Close file after batch process check box. Please note that disabling this check box is not recommended if you are modifying numerous images.
     
     To save the files to a specific folder, click Browse, and navigate to the folder you want.
   
   
8. Click Play.

To save multiple images to a different file format

Using the Save as new type option in the Batch Process dialog box, you can convert a batch of images to a different file format.

1. To display the Batch process dialog box, click File > Batch Process.
   
   
2. Click Add file.
   
   
3. In the Load images for batch playback dialog box, choose the drive and folder where the images are stored.
   
   
4. Holding down Ctrl, click the images that you want to edit, and then click Open.
   
   
5. From the On completion list box, choose Save as new type.
   
   
6. From the Save as type list box, choose a file format.
   
   
7. Click Play.

To edit a recording or script

The Recorder docker lets you edit a recording or script by inserting new commands, recording over existing commands, and deleting commands.

1. Click Window > Dockers> Recorder.
   
   
2. Create a recording, or open a script.
   
   
3. Do one of the following:
   
   
   • To insert commands into a recording or script, click the Insert new command button . Double-click an existing command to indicate where the new command should be inserted. The existing command that you double-click will precede the command you insert. The position indicator appears beside the selected command. Click the Record button. Perform the operations that you want to insert, and then click the Stop button.
     
     
   • To replace commands in a recording or script, double-click the first command in the sequence of commands that you want to replace. The position indicator appears beside the selected command. Click the Record button. Perform the new operations, and then click the Stop button.
     
     
   • To delete commands from a recording or script, holding down Ctrl, click the commands and click the Delete selected command(s) button .
   
   
4. To save the changes made to a script, click the Save button , specify a filename in the Save Recording dialog box, and click Save.