Add-O-Matic updated

[graficalicus]

Just a quick note that Add-O-Matic has been updated. It's a free upgrade, as always - all the details are here (http://www.graficalicus.com/wp/?p=282), and there's a set of actions there, too, specifically made for the new version.

[AngelicKim]

Thanks Grafi, off to update it now. I love the Add-o-Matic. Although, I need to redo my file of Added Styles. The new ones I downloaded of yours the other day moved all my thumbnails to the wrong actions.:D:eek: Guess I'll just get rid of the thumb. psd, probably easier in the long run.

Edit, So, do I understand correctly that I can fix what I just described with the update?

[msbrad]

Thank you Graffi,
I just DL too.
Like Kim, I need to clean up my act, and straighten some things out, before shopping again.
m

[dsfisher421]

Love Add-O-Matic; has always worked so well. Will go download the upgrade. Thanks!

[John L Gray]

Graffi,

Thanks for the updated version and very cool actions.

John:)

[AngelicKim]

Grafi, According to your link I should be able to do this
"You can always save the actions you have already in the Added Effects directory to a folder on your desktop - then run them through the new version of Add-O-Matic to reinstall them to their own subdirectory."

I have tried and it isn't working. I have moved all the .atn files from the Special Effects folder to a folder on my desktop. I restarted Elements to make sure they were gone. Then tried to drag them from the folder to Add-o-matic and they didn't go into there own subdirectory like the actions did that you also linked to. Am I missing something. Should I restart my computer before reinstalling them?

Oops never mind, I just discovered that I needed to remove the original version. I was clicking the icon on my desktop and it is the old version. I went to My Documents where I saved it and opened the updated AoM and now the old ations are reinstalled and ready to get new thumbs.

Me again, well the ations have their subdirectories but when I run them I don't get the option to make the thumbnail. Oh well. I give up for now.

[graficalicus]

the "make a thumbnail" option is only for the special actions I made for them (it's actually part of the action itself). I'll probably do that for all my one-off actions in my blog, but don't expect everyone else to do it!

to manually make a thumb for the individual actions (that are now conveniently in their own folders) just create a 64 x 64 file, and name it "thumbs.psd". Inside this thumbs file, create a single layer with whatever you want on it - text, an image, a represenation of the action itself, etc. - and name this single layer exactly the same as the action it represents (so if it represents an action called "Cool Action 1.atn", the only layer in the thumbs.psd file should be named "Cool Action 1")

I'll see if I can come up with a "make a thumbnail" action that will work for other actions you might have -

[Dee Dee Warren]

Graffi, do these work with a Mac or will I have to buy new Mac versions?

[graficalicus]

Hi, Dee Dee -

the actions themselves will work with Mac (they're free, too). You'll just have to install them manually, and manually make thumbs for them (instructions on how to do both of those things is here (http://www.graficalicus.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=164))

Also, be sure to get the "non thumbnail-making version" of the actions here (http://www.graficalicus.com/wp/?p=281)

The Add-O itself is a PSE5 utility, though (so it's a Windows only thing). :(

[Inspeqtor]

Graffi,

I don't know how I missed this post yesterday. I was here several times thru out the day and never saw it. I used both new posts, and the Quick-links. I am so glad i found it this morning.
Thank you for the update! I love the Add-O-Matic. It makes life so much easier installing new add-ons to PSE5 :)

[AngelicKim]

Thanks for the explanation Grafi, I guess I misunderstood. And thanks again for the instructions to make a thumbnail. I couldn't find mine yesterday to fix the ones that got moved by new actions.

BTW, maybe this was just me too but the Split Frame action in the Make an action folder didn't give the option to make the thumbnail. I tried a few times and just tried again before posting this. Is anyone else having trouble with this one. I love the action, all them are great.

[Rusty]

OK, there's gotta be a dumb question. I have downloaded the update to Add-O-Matic.

All of my existing add-on actions work just fine. Why do I want to remove them from the PC and reinstall them? What's wrong with just using the updated Add-O-Matic on installations of new stuff?

Rusty

[skgreer]

I went to your website to purchase the Add-o-Matic but in the process of paying for it with PayPal something got crossed up in the bank info area. I think my PayPal account was originally set up with Bank One who was bought out by Chase. Any way I can pay with my bank card instead? Have no idea where my purchase status is now as the website expired in the middle of my transaction. Help!!
Sharon Greer

[AngelicKim]

OK, there's gotta be a dumb question. I have downloaded the update to Add-O-Matic.

All of my existing add-on actions work just fine. Why do I want to remove them from the PC and reinstall them? What's wrong with just using the updated Add-O-Matic on installations of new stuff?

Rusty
Rusty, that is what I misunderstood. You don't have to delete any of your old actions. I thought the upgrade meant I could delete them and reinstall them in the Add-o-Matic upgrade and get the option to make thumbnails for the ones that don't have them. It was another one of my blonde moments.:D

[graficalicus]

Hi, guys - sorry for the late response....

All of my existing add-on actions work just fine. Why do I want to remove them from the PC and reinstall them? What's wrong with just using the updated Add-O-Matic on installations of new stuff?

Two reasons: they will display better in the palette (i.e., the effects palette will be easier to navigate), and it'll make it easier to create thumbnails for them manually later.

First of all - I'm ONLY referring to actions previously added using Add-O-Matic that go into the special effects\Added Effects folder. You can drag all of the actions out of this directory and keep them temporarily in a folder on your desktop. Delete them from the Added Effects folder.

Now you can rerun them through Add-O-Matic, and they will be put into thir own folder within the Added Effects directory that Add-O creates. It keeps the directory a litle cleaner and easier to find things, IMO.

It'll also make it easier to manually create thumbnails for the actions there, because they're each in their own directory, so there's no issues with naming a file "thumbs.psd" and giving it numerous layers, arranged reverse-alphabetically, and having them correspond to a ton of different actions.

So now, you have a lot of folders in the Added Effects directory - each one can have a .psd named "thumbs.psd" with a single layer which is named the same as the action it represents - so if the action is called "Cool Action 1.atn", it got put into a folder called "Cool Action 1", and if you want to make a thumbnail for it, create a thumbs.psd file, and name the only layer in that .psd file "Cool Action 1". Restart PSE5, and you should see a new thumbnail there.

Check out the screenshots below: now my Added Effects menu shows thumbnails for all the effects I have added -
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/graficalicus/show_all_w_thumbs.png

this second example shows an action in there that doesn't have a thumbnail - it displays without a thumb.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/graficalicus/show_all_no_thumbs.png

If I left all the other actions in the Added Effects menu outside of their own subdirectory, they will display without thumbs even if I'm in another action's subdirectory - am I making sense? I think I'm confusing myself....:confused:

So below, I have an action not in a subdirectory - it's right in the Added Effects folder. Even though I'm in the Color Grade action's folder, the first action still shows up (which is kind of annoying to me...):

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f219/graficalicus/individual_folder1.png

I'll post my actions as both regular (i.e., PSE 4/Mac-friendly, and regular Photoshop users) and I'll also make a separate download for Add-O-Matic users, which will include the option at the end to make a thumb for the action.

I'm also trying to script a way to automatically create thumbs for EVERY action you might add, but so far (almost a year now...) I've not been able to get it working flawlessly. I'll keep trying - I'm stubborn that way...

[graficalicus]

BTW, maybe this was just me too but the Split Frame action in the Make an action folder didn't give the option to make the thumbnail.

whoops! My bad..... I fixed it in the big download here (http://www.graficalicus.com/wp/?p=282), or grab just that action down below

Sharon: I emailed you -

[AngelicKim]

Thanks for the fix and more in depth explanation Grafi.

[nkeevers]

Just a quick note that Add-O-Matic has been updated. It's a free upgrade, as always - all the details are here (http://www.graficalicus.com/wp/?p=282), and there's a set of actions there, too, specifically made for the new version.

Graffi, I'm trying to download but it's charging me (and I was signed on the site). Help!

[AngelicKim]

Norma, after you login, go to the top of the page and click My Account. The go down the list of things you have gotten from Grafi to the Add-o-Matic one I think it was dated around the 26th of October. Click on that record and it will show the download link from there.

[nkeevers]

Norma, after you login, go to the top of the page and click My Account. The go down the list of things you have gotten from Grafi to the Add-o-Matic one I think it was dated around the 26th of October. Click on that record and it will show the download link from there.

Thanks...I didn't quite get that far. I got my list and then I wasn't sure what to do! Better do it now before I forget.

[Aussie Nan]

Is there any other way to purchase at Graffi's beside PayPal? I have been trying for over 3 weeks to purchase add-o-matic but have a problem with PayPal. (They won't let me open another account because I already have one, but I can't get any successful help to re-open the existing one. password recovery is the problem) Effectively I just can't use it, despite the email ping pong I have played over the last three weeks trying to reset the password. :mad::mad:

Toni

[Inspeqtor]

Toni,

I am sorry for the problems you have been having with PayPal. I do hope you can somehow get that fixed. I am sure if you send Graffi a Private Message I know he will help you with the problem. He has help me in the past when I have had problems with his site :)