Using pixels instead of inches when recording an action?

I have recorded an action that will automatically place a logo in the upper left corner of every image. There are 4 steps after pasting the logo onto the image (and before saving it):

1. Align current layer (using: top edges)
2. Align current layer (using: left edges)
3. Set selection (to: none)
4. Move current layer (to: 0.139 inches, 0.139 inches)

There are no errors when I use File > Automate > Batch on a large number of pictures. However, the problem I'm encountering is that it has recorded the "move current layer" measurements in inches. Since each picture is a different size, it's moving the logo much farther on some pictures than on others. Is there a way to edit the actions dialog to use pixels when I'm recording an action? Or another alternative way to get it to record the location of the logo so that it's consistent no matter what the size of the picture?

Not sure why you would need to give the script an align function if you want the end result to be in the upper left corner.

Anyway, from your action after the paste you can use this script to move the layer. It finds the top left corner of the layer's bounding box and moves the layer to 10 pixels from the left and 10 pixels from the top. You can change the placement by changing myPosition.

var defaultRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;
var bnds = activeDocument.activeLayer.bounds
var currentLeft = parseInt(bnds[0]);
var currentTop = parseInt(bnds[1]);
[COLOR="Red"]var myPosition = [10,10];//left,top[/COLOR]
activeDocument.activeLayer.translate(myPosition[0]-currentLeft,myPosition[1]-currentTop)
app.preferences.rulerUnits = defaultRulerUnits

However it works using pixels so placement might be an issue if all your images are not the same resolution. If they are all 300 dpi or all 72 dpi or whatever it will work nicely.

Is there a tutorial that can tell me how to input that in the actions dialog? I'm used to just pressing "record" and going about it that way.

And I want to move it ten pixels from the top and ten pixels from the right because I don't want the top left edges of the logo to be flush with the top left edges of the picture.

JMusic said:

Is there a tutorial that can tell me how to input that in the actions dialog? I'm used to just pressing "record" and going about it that way.

copy/paste the above script into notepad

save and name it whatever.js

You drop that script file in the folder... photoshop / presets / scripts

then add calling that script to your action by re-recording and going FILE>SCRIPTS>whateveryounamedthescript.js in the appropriate place in the sequence.

JMusic said:

And I want to move it ten pixels from the top and ten pixels from the right because I don't want the top left edges of the logo to be flush with the top left edges of the picture.

I thought you wanted the logo in the top left corner. If it is to close to the edges you can make it 20,20 or 100,100 instead of 10,10. That just depends on the resolution of the image. 10 pixels in a 150 or 300 dpi image is nothing. In a 72 dpi image however it is a pretty good amount of space.

Hope this helps.