Apple.com Article > Creating an iWeb Photo Preview Page

2006.12.03 By

The integration among iLife applications can make sharing data between them a breeze. Take iPhoto and iWeb, for example. In iPhoto, you can create a new iWeb photo album with the click of a button. Automator can make this process even simpler by eliminating the need to even launch iPhoto.

The following steps will walk you through the process of creating an iWeb photo album of iPhoto images. The workflow will be saved as a plug-in for the system-wide script menu, allowing you to trigger it at any time, from within any application. When run, the workflow will display a list of images in your iPhoto library. Simply select the ones to include, choose an iWeb template, and the workflow will handle the rest. [Read more...] (pdf)

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Apple.com Article > Creating a Photo Slideshow DVD

2006.12.03 By

Creating a photo slideshow DVD is easy enough with iDVD. But Automator can make it even easier. The following steps will walk you through the process of creating an Automator workflow that will scan through a folder structure of files, extracting any JPEG images, and creating an iDVD slideshow containing those images. [Read more...] (pdf)

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Apple.com Article > Uploading Aperture Image Previews to an FTP Server

2006.12.03 By

Export presets in Aperture make it easy to quickly export preview versions of selected images in your photo library. But wouldn’t it be great to automatically rename those images and send them to your FTP server at the same time? With Automator, you can.

The following steps will walk you through the process of creating an Automator workflow that will export selected aperture images as previews, rename them sequentially with the current date, and upload them to your FTP server. [Read more...] (pdf)

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Apple.com Article > Individually Processing Files Through an Automator Workflow

2006.12.03 By

Automator makes it easy to create drag-and-drop workflow applications to process batches of files all at once. Simply save any Automator workflow as an application, and it will automatically become a drag-and- drop application.

This method of processing may work fine for workflows that process only a handful of files. But what if you need to process hundreds or thousands of files? It may not be practical to process an entire set of files as a single batch. Instead, it may make more sense to process the files through the workflow individually, one after another. The Automator Multi-Item Processing Utility, available for free from Automated Workflows, LLC, makes this type of processing possible.

The following steps will walk you through the process of individually processing files through an Automator workflow using the Automator Multi-Item Processing Utility. This particular workflow will open InDesign documents and export them to an output folder in PDF format. [Read more...] (pdf)

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Apple.com Article > Creating a Scheduled Automator Workflow

2006.12.03 By

Automator workflows are a great way to speed up those time-consuming and repetitive manual processes on your Mac. But perhaps it would be even more efficient if you could perform some of those tasks outside of the normal workday. Do you know that you can schedule Automator workflows to run when you are away from your desk?

The following steps will walk you through the process of creating an Automator workflow, which will be saved as an iCal alarm that will be triggered in the middle of the night, allowing you to accomplish tasks even when your office is closed. This particular workflow will be scheduled to run at midnight, and it will generate a summary of the new day’s iCal events in TextEdit, ready for your review first thing in the morning. [Read more...] (pdf)

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Apple.com Article > Creating a Folder Watching Workflow

2006.12.03 By

A very powerful automation feature that is often overlooked in Mac OS X is folder watching. Prior to Mac OS X Tiger, folder watching was possible by writing custom AppleScripts and attaching them to folders to process incoming items. Now, with Automator in Mac OS X, it is easier than ever to turn any folder into a watched folder, with no scripting necessary.

The following steps will walk you through the process of using Automator to create a folder watching workflow in Mac OS X. This particular workflow will automatically create padded thumbnail versions of full size image files as they are placed into a watched folder. [Read more...] (pdf)

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Apple.com Article > Email PDF Contact Sheet from Aperture

2006.10.03 By

Automator can be used to extend Aperture’s reach throughout the operating system. Use Automator to integrate Aperture with external applications in new ways that benefit your own unique workflow. Need to email previews of your project images for review? Streamline the process with Automator.

The following steps will walk you through the process of creating an Automator workflow that will generate a PDF contact sheet of a specified Aperture project’s images, and attach it to a new outgoing email message in Mail. [Read more...] (pdf)

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Apple.com Article > Rename, Convert, and Caption Images

2006.10.03 By

For photographers, organizing and maintaining thousands of images can be quite a task. However, Automator can provide some relief. Use Automator to batch rename your digital images, convert them from one format to another, add copyright information, and more! Create a customized image workflow that’s right for you.

The following steps will walk you through the process of creating an Automator workflow that will run when image files are added into an input folder. This workflow will rename the images sequentially, along with the current date, convert them to TIFF format, and add copyright information using Photoshop. [Read more...] (pdf)

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Apple.com Article > Backup Current Week’s Files

2006.10.03 By

Backup should be a part of every Mac users’ workflow. However, a lot of the time, regular backups are not being performed. Automator is here to help. Using Automator actions that are built right into Mac OS X, anyone can now create a workflow to back up their modified files on a regular basis.

The following steps will walk you through the process of creating an Automator workflow that will run every week, and will back up to CD or DVD any items in your Documents folder that have been modified during the current week. [Read more...] (pdf)

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Apple.com Article > Workflow Automation in Mac OS X

2006.10.02 By

Efficiency is something that many people strive for in their daily routines. Yet, in the digital world, workflows are not always as efficient as they could or should be. Often, workflows involve countless time consuming and repetitive tasks that take time away from other important things.
Digital photography is one realm in which lengthy processes and repetition are becoming increasingly clear. With thousands of images to manage, convert, color correct, and more, efficiency has become a valuable commodity. [Read more...] (pdf)

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