The tools involved
I am using LightRoom (LR) as my primary raw converter and library manager. I use the export function in this software as the starting point.
PhotoShop CS3 (PS) is used for framing, output sharpening and jpg conversion.
It is no problem using Photoshop for the entire process, but LR is not sufficient for my needs. The export to jpg function in LR is good, but I have not found any way to add a frame and copyright notice the way I like it. Also, there is no output sharpening function in LR export.
Decide which program does what
When I did this, my goal was to do most of the stuff in LR, so I took up the export dialog box and found out what it could do on its own.
I have found that LR will handle resizing, and converting color space, then export to 16 bit PSD file. PS will add output sharpening, add frame and copyright notice, and convert to 8 bit jpg.
In LightRoom
• Select file name and export location to your liking.
• Choose file format to PSD
• Set color space to sRGB, bit depth to 16, and resolution to 72. The reason I select 16 bit depth here is due to the calculations that will be done in PS when it sharpens the picture. Later it will be converted to 8 bit jpg.
• Set the resize to fit to the image size you want. Remember that the frame added later will add a few pixels to both dimentions.
• In the post processing tab, you cannot select anything yet sice you haven’t created the Photoshop droplet.
In Photoshop
Now you shall create the action that will do the work in PS. Export a picture to PSD and open it in PS. Make sure this is a copy that can be trashed.
Open the Action dialog box and create a new action
Give an appropriate name, Ive called mine “blog_prep”.
You can now assume that the image has the right dimensions and color space. Do the following steps while recording the action.
1. Flatten the layers just in case there is any.
2. Do the output sharpening. You have to find a generic middle of the road approach to this. I use Pixel Genius Photokit Sharpen for this. I use the web-1024, and set the Opacity slider to 60% afterwards. You can also use USM or Smart Sharpen, it’s all up to you. The important thing is to try out the settings on several images to make sure they are working fairly well.
3. Add the frame. This is your personal thing. Do some experimenting before you start this action, and make notes when you find the frame you like. Here is my take.
3a) Select “Image -> Canvas Size”
3b) Tick of relative, select unit to “Pixel” and increase the canvas with 4 pixels in both directions. Also remember to select extension color to white.
3c) Next, add a thin black line by doing the same again, but add 2 pixels in both directions, and select black as extension color.
Now I like to have a white space below my picture to write a copyright notice. I open the Canvas Dialog once again and add white space below the black border. I select Anchor point to the top border, Canvas extension to White, and add 20 pixel to height.
3d) Now I add text. You should have decided before you start what font you plan to add, and what you should write. My text is “(c) 2008 - Kjell H Andersen, all rights reserved. http://www.lentic.net”. Anyway, select the text too, choose your font and size, place the cursor on the white space below the border and start writing.
3e) Framing is finish.
4. Now, flatten the image once again to get rid of any extra layers from sharpening and framing.
5. Select “Save for Web & Devices”
7. Select your preferred jpg quality, making a good compromise between quality and file size. And click save.
Stop the recording of the action.
Now you should make sure you get the last export to web dialog up when you run this script. Do this by clicking the check box next to that Action step.
Select the “blog_prep” action (or whatever you called it), and select “File -> Automate -> Create Droplet…”
Make sure you save it where you can find it later. For this action, I leave the rest as it is.
Next you copy this droplet to the place Lightroom can find it. On Mac it is:
/home//Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Export Actions
Finalize it
Now you can go back to the first dialog I showed in LR and select “blog_prep” from the export action list. Save this export preset and it will show up in the “User preset” list on the left.
Use it
Next time you want to prepare a picture for web, simply select the picture in LR (it can be dng, psd or tiff), and press Export. Then you select your user preset and push the Export button. LR and PS will do their magic, and finally you will have the Save for Web dialog. Select a place to save the image, and click save.
You want more?
If you don’t use LR, you can extend the PS Action by adding resize and change color space at the beginning of the action. Then you open a copy of the original in PS and run the action from there. You don’t have to export the droplet for this.
You may also add custom text that can be different for each export if you want to add image title to the border. Do this the same way as you did the copyright notice only you add a dummy title instead. Then, when you’ve finished the action, you click on the “get a dialog” ticker like you did with the Save for web and devices dialog. Then you will get a dialog that asks you to type in the necessary text when the action gets to this point.
I use the same technique for several different purposes, like churning out small proof prints, and exporting images for inclusion in pdf files. Just use you imagination, and be lazy. If you end up doing the same thing twice, it’s a fair chance it will be a third. Create an automated workflow instead.
PS.
I haven't included any actions for download. The reason is not because I don't want to share, it is rather that I don't think it will work on your setup unless you run the exact same plugins as I do. Also, it is very easy to create them yourself, and then you get them exactly the way you like them to be.