Photoshop Undressed! How to create custom graph paper
We all know Photoshop is one hell of a powerful beast and, sometimes, infuriatingly secretive.
At first sight, there doesn’t seem to be an easy way to create a graph paper, so people turn to other means. As it happens, it is possible – once you know the secret password: Define Pattern. This is how it works:
Let’s assume you want to create 1 cm squares on an A4 size paper.
- Create a new document 1 cm by 1 cm
- Press Ctrl/Cmd+A or choose Select » All
- Choose Edit » Stroke. For Stroke, enter a value of 1 or 2 px (the thickness of the stroke will depend on how fine your printer can print a hairline). Click the Color box and choose a color (cyan, blue, black, etc). Select Location: Inside. Click OK when done
- Choose Edit » Define Pattern and name it Graph (or whatEver) and click OK
- Create your A4 document (obviously, can be another size if you wish) at a printing resolution suitable for your printer (240 ppi for an inkjet and 300 ppi for an offset is a safe bet)
- Alt/Opt-double-click the Background layer to make layer (holding down the key will hide the New Layer properties dialog box)
- Double-click the layer to launch the Layer Style dialog box and then click Pattern Overlay in the styles column
- Choose Graph (or whatEver you named the pattern) from the Pattern picker pop-up. When you do, you should see a graph superimposed over your document in your document window
- Reposition the graph as needed by dragging in the document – When you move the pointer into the document window, it should turn into the Move tool, enabling you to drag the pattern without affecting the background. Click OK to exit the Layer Style dialog when happy
- Choose File » Print
Of course, depending on how you stroke, you can create almost any type of graph paper: dotted lines, dashed lines, thick-thin lines, etc.
Photoshop Undressed! On open file, rename background layer to file name
The Script Events Manager (SEM) in Photoshop doesn’t get nearly as much use as it should. Here’s one example of how it can be used.
Script Events Manager dialog.
Say you want to automatically rename the background layer to the file name every time you open a file. All you need is a script and then set an event in the SEM.
First of all, download this Open, Make and Rename Layer JavaScript by Thomas Ruark from Adobe. I found it on Julianne Kost’s site. Next, setup an event in the SEM:
- Choose File » Scripts » Script Events Manager.
- Check the box Enable Events to Run Scripts/Actions at the top of the dialog.
- Choose Open Document from the Photoshop Event pop-up menu.
- Click the Script pop-up menu and choose Browse then locate the Open As Layers script that you downloaded earlier.
- Click the Add button.
- Click Done.
Now, whenever you open a document, Photoshop will automatically rename its background layer to the file name.
You can easily turn off events by opening the SEM and then deselecting Enable Events to Run Scripts/Actions.
Of course, once you are familiar with the SEM, you can make it do all kinds of menial work by either using scripts, creating custom events or using actions.
US Supreme Court to consider copyright registration requirements
If you don’t register your photos with the US Copyright Office and need to sue someone in the US for infringing your copyright and expect damages, there may be light at the end of the tunnel at last. Read the full story on the Photo Attorney blog.