How do I manage batches of image files?
After taking some captures, it's nearly time to save them as files. First, order, sort, and delete them with the Thumbnail View window. When the collection of images is ready, each image can be saved. The file names are recorded against the images in the list and displayed in the information window.
When all have been saved to files, they have all been named. Now a text file containing the file path names of those selected, can be created from the Thumbnail View window. A text file can be used to quickly load all the files again later.
Notepad viewing the text file of image file names
File path names can also be pasted to a text file from the information window. Any other text is ignored, so go ahead and add any comments with your favourite text editor.
An alternative to saving each individually, would be to save all at once with the Save Image List function. In this case, unnamed images are named numerically in list order.
The text file containing the file names of the images is easily made from the Thumbnail View window. First, select those images whose file names are to be included in the text file.
Here we are, creating a text file of the selected images.
About to save the list of file names in a text file
An example to manage conversion from library image originals, to web site versions:
Maintain a text file containing the file names of the original pictures for the web site. Say, the originals are all Bitmaps but the web site uses JPGs. Using the Save List function, they can all be converted to JPGs at once.
The images are all loaded, by loading the text file created for them. The text file contains the image file path names, from the original images directory.
Drop the file name list text file onto Screen Imp, and all the original images are loaded.
Dropping the text file onto Screen Imp
Next the JPG settings can be checked, and the image quality adjusted.
Setting JPG image quality to 50% from the settings window
The images in the list can then be saved to the web site working image directory. The same names as the originals are used, but the file format has changed.
Choosing to save the entire image list from the file menu
When saving a list, numerical names are created for each image. If the images belong to loaded files, then those names can be used for the new files. Screen Imp saves the files with their original names, but with a new directory and image type if required.
After selecting Save List, we elect to use the original file names. The current save dialog directory will be set to the directory that was last used. Make sure to choose the production directory in the file browser window before saving the list.
Electing to save files with the names of the loaded files
Now, after saving the list to the test web site image directory, the result can be checked with a web browser. It won't take long to try some other quality settings.
The Adjust JPG Quality setting can be used to automatically keep the JPGs down to a particular size. Set a Maximum File Size, before quality is reduced from 100%. Set a Minimum Quality to be reduced down to, for files larger than the Maximum Size setting.
All the JPG files smaller than the Maximum Size setting will be saved at 100% quality. Larger files will have the quality reduced just enough to reduce the size down to the Maximum Size setting. Larger files will not be reduced in quality further than the set Minimum Quality.