Batch Image Resizing in Adobe Photoshop CS3

by Christian Hollingsworth on February 5, 2009

Over the many years I’ve processed photos, I’ve tried and tested many Batch Image Resizing techniques.

First, I painstakingly resized each individual photo in Photoshop. After doing hundreds of these tedious resizings, you can imagine how tiresome one can become. Later, I learned of the Image Resizing tool for Windows XP. I used this tool for quite some time, but wanted something even simpler, yet more powerful.

It wasn’t until I found the Image Processor in Photoshop CS3 that I finally fell in love.

If you have a folder of images you’d like resized for any reason use the following method. Using Photoshop CS3′s built in Image Processor, you have the ability on hand to resize hundreds and thousands of photos.

Open Photoshop CS3
Travel to FILE –> SCRIPTS –> IMAGE PROCESSOR. (screenshot thumbnail posted below)
The IMAGE PROCESSOR dialog box will appear. (screenshot thumbnail posted below)
Select the folder containing the images you’d like processed, and a location folder for the finished images. You can choose the same folder for both options.
Select your processor properties. Here you can choose to process the image as a JPEG, PSD, or even a TIFF file. In most cases, I use the JPEG option.
Once your file type is selected, choose your Quality and Resizing options. If you’re using JPEG, your Quality may range from 0 to 12. In the Resizing area choose your maximum pixels for height and width.
Once all options have been selected – click Run. Photoshop CS3 will get to work like a little busy bee. Shooting out new, resized images every few seconds.

Although simple, this powerful application in Photoshop CS3 makes for an excellent batch resizing companion.

Whether you’re resizing images for Flickr, emails, or other site uploads – remember to use Photoshop’s batch image resizing capabilities. You’ll be saved from a world of hurt.

Screenshot Thumbnails

Share your methods for batch image resizing!

Tagged as: adobe photoshop, batch, batch image resize photoshop cs3, cs3, image resizing

Buffer Pin It

{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }

The Astral Cowboy February 5, 2009 at 10:29 pm

Thanks. Good post.

Krisditya February 7, 2009 at 12:11 am

Tips of interest. I thank you. Success always

Regard

eddie February 10, 2009 at 8:00 am

Great tip , thankyou so much

Smart Boy Twitter: smartboydesigns February 13, 2009 at 1:45 pm

Thank you Cowboy, Krisditya, and eddie for reading. Hopefully this simple tip helps you in your imaging adventures!

Llevon Oliagat February 19, 2009 at 11:09 pm

This is a great tip. I never thought CS3 has this feature. When I do batch resizing, i usually use the ACTIONS.

i never thought there’s such a thing.

i also downloaded a program called VSO image resizer. it works pretty well, it allows you to batch resize images and you can even put a watermark.

– Llevon
Philippines,

Great site though!

Smart Boy Twitter: smartboydesigns February 21, 2009 at 5:49 pm

I’ll check out VSO. Sounds interesting.

Thanks Llevon, for reading and posting. I say this often – but I really do appreciate when readers take the time to post comments.

Christian

Bart Ros March 10, 2009 at 2:53 am

the batch resizing has been in photoshop since CS1. I think.

Powerful tool…saves allot of time….combine it with actions…it becomes even more powerful.

Good post.

Sameer April 4, 2009 at 2:05 pm

Instead of resizing in pixel is there a way to resize in % coz I always don’t have squares. What should I do If I have 2735px X 6804px, actually I have alot of with similar sizes and dont know how to make them smaller with out distorting them. I want all 500px in Hight I dont care what the width changes to. Please let me know.

Thanks

Smart Boy Twitter: smartboydesigns April 7, 2009 at 6:37 pm

Unfortunately this script on Photoshop can only process maximum pixels. It will automatically change the height AND width to proportion – so your images won’t get distorted using this feature. Another reason why it’s so powerful!

mtnavaholic April 21, 2009 at 10:11 am

Sameer- IF all your images are the same size: Open one image in PS, choose Image-> Image Size to determine actual pixel dimensions. Enter 500 into the Height field. The width will automatically change proportionately. Take note of these values and plug them into the Image Processor Script. Crack a cold one and let PS do the work for you. Now THAT’S MULTI-TASKING…!

Bob June 4, 2009 at 5:24 am

what if you need 500×500 images this is not efficient to do those if needed to do them twice.

Jim broderick June 5, 2009 at 6:40 pm

Thank you. I was having so much trouble trying to make an action in CS3. When I used your method it worked the first time. I needed it, I resized 80 photos and posted them . Thank You. Jim

Elbie June 24, 2009 at 4:29 pm

Thank you for explaining this.
An incredible time saver!

Smart Boy Twitter: smartboydesigns June 27, 2009 at 3:24 pm

Glad to have helped. Thanks!

Yamik Mateo July 4, 2009 at 1:54 am

Kudos to you!

Yamik
Philippines

Dan Poole July 9, 2009 at 4:57 am

My eyes are swollen and bloodshot after scouring the internet for hours looking for a way to batch resize 960 x 720 images to a 16:9 aspect ratio. I’ve found several options for simple rescaling, but none yet for true resizing. Pardon me for saying, Smart Boy, but I don’t consider CS3′s Image Processor powerful for this same feat. I would consider quite the opposite. I don’t understand why it even offers both height and width as options when it doesn’t have the capability to affect both without constraining proportions.

Any chance you know of a way to accomplish my batch task?

Thanks,
DP

Alice July 14, 2009 at 2:43 am

Thank you. n_n

Dan Poole July 15, 2009 at 5:22 pm

In case anyone may be interested, I thought I’d let you know what I found that worked just like a magic show. It’s for a Mac, so I’m not sure how many folks on here might be able to use it, but it’s called, “iResizer”. It did the job for me in no time.

Krisditya November 9, 2009 at 12:27 am

Tips of interest. I thank you. Success always

Regard

Mandee December 4, 2009 at 2:21 pm

I installed a couple of plug ins, and now the image processor resize doesn't work. I think I'm missing a script. Do you know what the problem might be?

Mandee December 4, 2009 at 8:21 pm

I installed a couple of plug ins, and now the image processor resize doesn't work. I think I'm missing a script. Do you know what the problem might be?

Chris December 29, 2009 at 3:56 pm

Can’t thank you enough for posting this. Saved me loads of time…~!!

Jaime January 28, 2010 at 1:15 am

You just saved my day… 150 photos with their respective 75x75px thumbnails for a website, thank you very much!

Kevin May 8, 2010 at 9:51 pm

I too have now fallen in love with this script. As a photographer, its a beautiful time-saver and makes processing thousands of images down to workable sizes for other media. Thank you for this post.

PhotoAmato May 16, 2010 at 10:37 pm

So glad I found this! You just save me a bunch of time!!

Steve November 17, 2010 at 7:30 pm

Thanks for the lesson! What a help!

Dshadow January 14, 2011 at 10:37 pm

You are… AMAZING!!! Much thanks!

Alvaro February 27, 2011 at 2:46 am

Thanks for the tips, I tried and it will save me lots of time.
Thanks

Magnus March 2, 2011 at 6:50 am

Thanks!!

ken March 30, 2011 at 6:31 pm

thanks! saved me a ton of time!

Christian Twitter: smartboydesigns April 1, 2011 at 12:44 am: You’re very welcome Ken. Glad to be of service.

Reply

john April 2, 2011 at 2:53 pm

great job thank you

Anh April 27, 2011 at 8:45 pm

many thanks

Christian Twitter: smartboydesigns April 28, 2011 at 8:14 am: You’re welcome Anh. Happy to be of help.

Reply

Bill August 21, 2011 at 12:44 pm

Great post, saved me hours of sitting around resizing for upload!!

Thanks

Christian Hollingsworth Twitter: smartboydesigns August 22, 2011 at 11:06 am: I’m so happy to hear that it helped Bill. Thank you for dropping by. Appreciate your thoughts.

Reply