I often create a collection of images in Illustrator or Photoshop which require a specific sequence of manual steps in order to maintain a similar appearance across a series.Actions or scripts generally don't work well because each step requires some manual interaction to ensure the final appearance is correct.For example, in Illustrator I start with a different base path each time then:- Apply **Graphic Style A**- Expand- Ungroup- Apply **Graphic Style B** (a 3D effect)- Duplicate- Apply **Graphic Style C** (a 3D effect)- Duplicate- Apply **Graphic Style D** (a 3D effect)- (total of 3 - 3D objects now)- Expand Appearance for all 3 objects- Ungroup- Apply **Graphic Style B1** to original shape in B (direct select)- Apply **Graphic Style C1** to original shape in C (direct select)- Apply **Graphic Style D1** to original shape in D (direct select)- Apply **Graphic Style E** to all 3 objects independently- Duplicate one object twice- Pathfinder Unite on each duplicate- Pathfinder Intersect (to get the common area)- Apply **Graphic Style F**- Move into proper position- Select all - GroupThese are all simple steps on their own and really only take a few moment. With the exception of the last few steps, it *could* be possibly automated. However, due to the nature of Illustrator's 3D effect, it often takes a minor adjustment to get all faces of an object to appear properly, and the manual positioning needed of any duplicates (it varies) actions and scripts tend to fail. Or would just require a stop after every step, which seems ludicrous to me.The real important aspect is that the same timeline or *order of steps* is followed correctly as any variation in them can, and often will, result in a slightly different final image. So, it's not enough to remember the steps, I need to remember the order in which the steps are taken.So.... Thus far I've simply added a typed note of the basic steps within the file itself. Basically what I've listed above would be included within the file. Often set as a non-printing object. This has allowed me to keep a record of the steps needed if I return to the file months or *years* later and need to remember the correct procedure.All the styles and colors remain as part of the file so there's no need to document those specifically.**Is there a better method to keeping track of specific procedural steps needed to gain a formatted appearance?**
The Batch feature in Photoshop CS6 enables you to apply an action to a group of files. Suppose you want to make changes to a series of files. That might take a while if you do it individually. If you want to keep your original file, too, you have to remember to save each file in a new folder. Batch processing can automate tedious chores for you.
