Using Photoshop Variables

Published on September 7, 2016

Using Photoshop Variables

There will be times when you have to create the same document for many different people- for example- a teacher badge, or student stickers, graduation certificates, etc.  Photoshop Variables is a powerful tool that can help with what could be a tedious task.  In this example, we’ll go through how to make a teacher badge.

In the shared drive you will find 2 files (csv file and sample badge template) under Photoshop Templates  – Photoshop Variables Example – Teacher Badges

Watch Video:  https://vimeo.com/181857683

To make photoshop variables work, you must have in one folder:

  1. A spreadsheet saved as a csv with the data you want to put in your photoshop template
    • You can get a list of all images in a gallery by going to ezgo events, click photo report.
    • Each column should have a header that is named exactly (is case sensitive) the same as the photoshop layer you want to replace.
  2. Photoshop template
    • each layer you want to replace should be named exactly as the column name in your csv file
  3. Images you want to put into the template

Process

  1. Open Photoshop template
  2.  Link file with the photoshop document
    • Go to image – variables- define
    • For text layers: Choose Layer to replace- then check box next to Text Replacement, then type name to be replaced (must match you csv column header)
    • For image layers: Choose Layer to replace- then check box next to Pixel Replacement, then type name to be replaced (must match you csv column header); choose Method: Fit
  3. Link data set
    • in same window, change the drop down from define, to “data sets” (or you can go back to the main menu- Image – Variables – Data Sets
    • Click “Import” button and choose your CSV file
    • When you browse for the file- change the file type you are looking for from txt to csv (at the bottom of the browse window.)
  4. Export Data
    • Go to Menu – File – Export – Data Sets As Files
    • Select a folder to export to
    • Name file dataset name
    • Click ok
  5. Batch convert PSD files to jpgs
    • In Photoshop go to File – Scripts – Image processor
    • 1 – Select folder where PDS are
    • 2 – Select save in Same Location
    • 3- Save as jpg
    • 4- Click “Run action” if desired and choose action to run
  6. Click “Run” Button
    • Jpgs will populate the folder that you designated