Affinity Photo batch resize macro doesn't respect proportions.

[cleay]

So, I think found a bug that I can't (yet) work around.

I created a macro to batch process a few hundred product images of varying heights and widths (but all portrait).

To record the macro, I first resized the document (with proportion locked) to 3200px high and centred, then resized the canvas (with proportion unlocked) to 3500px high by 2800px wide, again centred — with the aim of making all images 4/5 aspect ratio with a consistent 150px space above and below.

But the macro does not respect the proportion lock. I've tested half a dozen times, and with separate macros for each step. A macro created using a tall skinny image, will cause all batch processed images using that macro to distort to the pixel width of the original macro image, even though the proportion lock was unchecked when creating the macro.

The image after creating the macro looks as correct (unsurprising, as the pixel dimensions are correct for that initial image), but it seems that the macro only records this initial pixel width, applying it to all subsequent images regardless of the proportion setting. (resulting distorted image attached).

Oddly, a similar macro — 1. resize doc to 2400 wide, 2. resize canvas to 2800x3500 — when applied to landscape images worked fine.

Bug fix required I think.

[cleay]

FWIW, after a LOT of trial and error I managed to work around this by splitting the macro and exporting twice. The first export with a height (but no width) entered in the 'New Batch Job' window (no resizing in the macro itself), then running the second canvas size macro on the resulting images.

[Jose P]

I'm with a similar issue months ago. I want to make a Batch Job to watermark a lot of images whatever the sizes or orientation  with the same size of watermark in relation to the image to have a consistency. All I can archive is a macro as follows:

1 - Resize document to 3000px (for example) at 72ppp with the proportion lock on

2- Place the watermark (I already  have a png 3000x3000px waiting for this purpose)

3 and 4 - Allign center and middle the new layer 

4 - Holding Command, transform manually to the size I need

5 - Set opacity to 50%

As a Batch job it works but only on horizontal images, if they're vertical Affinity make a distortion. I think the issue is because Affinity ignore the proportion lock and only uses the the absoute numbers introduced at the first slot. 

 

[walt.farrell]

On 8/16/2022 at 3:14 PM, cleay said:

To record the macro, I first resized the document (with proportion locked) to 3200px high and centred

It's not a bug, as far as I know, just the way that macros work. They record the final dimension, not just the action and the inputs.

To resize without this issue you need to use Filters > Distort > Equations. There are several macros that use that approach available in the Resources section of the forums. 

This search should provide some good hints and the macros themselves: https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/search/&q=Macro resize equations&search_and_or=and

[cleay]

Appreciate the workaround. I think that simply adhering to the proportion checkbox might be a bit more intuitive though!

[Darner]

Hi

Happen to come across this issue as well.
Wanted to create a batch making all documents with same height and maintain proportions in each document with their differences in lenghts. Would require a Macro batch setting only in height value, and let lenght value automatically adjust.

So far this has not been working.
And from what I read here, a Macro batch with Resize Document can not do this.

Looked at similar posts here, as well as this one with Walts suggestion using Distort - Equations. This did unfortunately not make much sense as a replacement for Resize Document. But appreciate if you are able to elaborate on this Walt.

Cleay, you mentioned something about a workaround, you able to elaborate?

As it's 100s of images, manual workaround is not an option.

Affinity, if you read this, please look into this. As I understood from this post, this behaviour is "by design", and if so, Macro with Resize Document batch could be in need of an upgrade.

Thank you.

[cleay]

So the work around is to run a batch job twice:
1. first batch job to resize only using a width or height value in the W or H column next to 'Save as JPG' (or ''Save as PNG' etc...)
2. second batch job, this time run on your resized images using whatever macros you need.

[Darner]

Thanks for getting back to me Cleay.

Would this work if several documents have different heights and lengths / proportions?

Trying to make every image 800px height, and length automatically adjust to each document proportion. And there are 100s of files, including watermark.

[cleay]

Yes it should — just enter 800 in the H field and leave the W field blank.

[Darner]

Thanks again.

So instead of a batch with "resizing document", can create a batch with "export as", and set only height value?

Then length will automatically adapt within each documents proportions.

Then run a seperate batch with watermark etc.

If I understood correct. Sorry if misunderstood. Long day. Will have a look tomorrow.

[Darner]

Misunderstanding earlier since mixed up the "export as" command with size setting in the actual batch window. Sorry. Makes more sense now. Thanks.