Randomizer - Pshop automation - use random variation

So, my wishlist item is to have some way that when FF is used from Photoshop, allow it to use a random Variant, not just the last setting. (ie, instead of being variation 1, it would start at a 12245, or something)

It would be very useful for me if I could better use FF in photoshop batches. Often I'll need to make a series of images which are variations - say 200 different rocks images. It would be great if I could just set up a FF preset I like, and then have Pshop chug through a new variant of my FF filter every time I hit ctl-F (do last filter) in pshop.

Unfortunately, as it is now, there is no way to get a random variant without going all the way into FF. You have to bring up FF, hit the variant button, and then apply. It's a lot slower, just because you're loading it again and again. This makes it less practical for large batch generation.

However, with just the addition of a 'random start variation', it would enable people like me to use FF as part of our Pshop production pipeline in a much bigger way.

Presumably, this would be in with the Randomization Settings, and would be default turned off. It would be great if there was also a way to get it to hit the randomizer using the default randomization you have set up.

Is that possible?

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Kraellin wrote: you mean you want to use FF without loading the GUI? interesting idea, but how would you choose which filter to use?

The normal way. In photoshop, there is a command to 'use last filter'. You would just run FF once, from photoshop, pick the filter and preset you want. Then apply it. Then you could go back and re-run your selected filter and preset; my clever idea is to allow subsequent uses of the 'last' filter to have a random variation. Not the same variation again and again.

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Kraellin wrote: batching was added in the last version update. it's command line only, though, iirc. there is a thread on it in the general discussion forum, i think.

Nope: Don't want to use command line FF batching. Since it works via presets, it's not a big timesaver for me.
Photoshop has very robust 'actions' which are like little scripts. I use them to do all sorts of complicated and tedious things I don't want to do manually. You can run filters, or even other actions from it. However, FF will always render the 'base' variation, (variant 1, unless you've picked something else) or the last variant. It won't increment the variants. I'm asking for a way to increment or randomize the variant, which would make FF to be accessible to pshop scripting, would make FF a stronger product for a lot of people.

Again, I'd use the example of creating 200 different rocks. Yes, I could hit 'create variant' then 'save image' 200 times in FF. But honestly, I'd much prefer to just write a script to do it from Pshop.

(Does that make sense? I feel like maybe I'm not explaining this well enough.)

corvus,

yes, i think i understand. you want 'hooks' into the FF GUI from photoshop and its actions, such that photoshop could then essentially control FF and do its scripting and batch processing from there. i think that would take a joint effort between FF and Adobe. FF would have to provide the hooks and adobe would have to provide appropriate calls into those hooks. i'm not sure PS actions would be enough the way it currently is.

the problem i see with that is, there are over 5000 filters in FF now. each one has different controls. you can run FF with batch processing from FF and handle the code for that all within FF, but i'm not sure you could do it from within PS. you'd almost have to have code within PS for every control and component within FF, essentially making FF a sub-product of PS.

and as for the incrementing of a filter in batching, you'd again have to know WHAT to increment. when you hit the randomizer in FF, it doesnt just randomize one control, it randomizes all controls. so, again, you'd need some sort of control thing in PS to tell it what to randomize and how much and that again means PS would have to know FF pretty damn well and be able to control it.

so, it's theoretically possible, but not very probable as far as i can tell.

let me ask you this, is there any other plugin for PS that does what you're talking about? i'm not talking about native filters and stuff, but add-on/plugin filters.

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Kraellin wrote: yes, i think i understand. you want 'hooks' into the FF GUI from photoshop and its actions, such that photoshop could then essentially control FF and do its scripting and batch processing from there. i think that would take a joint effort between FF and Adobe. FF

Actually, it's not that complicated. I just want FF to have a setting that allows it to pick a random variation number each time the filter would be run. That's it, nothing else. No other coordination w/ Adobe people. FF side only. All other FF control settings stay the same. Only the variation changes.

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Kraellin wrote: and as for the incrementing of a filter in batching, you'd again have to know WHAT to increment. when you hit the randomizer in FF, it doesnt just randomize one control, it randomizes all controls.

well, there seem to be a number of improvements to the randomizer which people have asked for. But yes, presumably, with a more sophisticated FF side batching there would need to be some way to input what gets incremented. (Maybe something likeTHIS)

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Kraellin wrote: let me ask you this, is there any other plugin for PS that does what you're talking about? i'm not talking about native filters and stuff, but add-on/plugin filters.

Sure, there are filters which have a 'random start' point, and don't always return the same result. It's worth pointing out, though, most are nowhere near as complicated as your average FF filter.

So, nobody else thinks this would be a handy thing? Start from a random variation straight out of PShop?

Bueller... Bueller....?