Richard;
Would it be possible for you to convert the "decrack" action, which is available on this site, so that it will work in Elements. I would greatly appreciate it as it looks very promising in restoring old photos. Thanks, CaseyJ

http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/decrack/index.html

Don't know how I missed this request. I made the conversion and there seemed nothing to adjust. I'd be interested in hearing about results!

To install into Hidden Power Actions, you'll want to follow the instructions in the advanced.rtf. I can add this to a set later when I have enough requests. Regretfully, easy requests are few and far between...

The original action is by Tim Edwards. Find it attached with just the file names changed.

If anyone is interested in helping to convert actions for Elements and Hidden Power Actions, please let me know!

Thanks Richard. I will download this action tonight when I get home from work. I will try it out when I get a chance and let you know the results. CaseyJ

Richard,
I downloaded the decrack action and installed it. I decided to make sure it was correctly installed by running it on an image. It started properly and ran the highpass filter allowing me to set the strength. After I clicked OK to the highpass filter, I got the following dialog boxes in this order.
The command "make" is not currently available. Continue.
The command "set" is not currently available. Continue.
The command "select" is not currently available. Continue.
The command "delete" is not currently available. Continue.
Final result was a new layer and the image with edges selected with marching ants.
Am I doing something wrong? I tried both on the background layer as well as a layer copy. CaseyJ

Dialogboxes (http://myweb.cableone.net/lenajones/dialogs.jpg)

Did you have an image open at the time?

If so, was it in a color mode that is not compatible with layers?

If not, can you please describe the image you were using?

I ran this successfully. The errors you are getting are based on Elements not being able to perform an action because it is not one that Elements will perform on a specific image. Once the action fails at a step to create something like a new layer, a latter command that selects the layer previous will also fail, for example.

Let me know if that helps.

Richard.
I first tried the action on a RGB color JPG image, one of the sample images that came with MS XP. I have since tried it with grayscale and RGB images in JPG and PSD. See the screenshot of the results of running the action on the first JPG image in RGB color with 84KB of information. CaseyJ

ResultingImage (http://myweb.cableone.net/lenajones/results.jpg)

Richard,

I tried the decrack action and had exactly the same results as CaseyJ. I'm using Photoshop Elements 2.0 on Windows XP.

I used the same image as the tutorial for decrack: http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/decrack/index.html

The image mode was RGB.

When running the decrack action, the history palette shows the following steps up to the first error message:

New Layer, Paste, Duplicate Layer, Remove Color, High Pass, Solarize, Auto Levels, Median, Brightness/Contrast, Load Selection, Select Inverse, Delete Layer.

Pressing "continue" adds no steps to the history palette until the very last message when "Minimum" is added to the history palette (it's added before displaying the message).

Hope this helps you to identify the problem.

Bob

Richard,

Played with decrack a bit more. Tried setting playback to stop and pause. Everything seems to be working at each step until the problem occurs. I also went back with the history palette and each intermediate step looks good.

I don't have full Photoshop so I can't view the action but I looked at a dump of the file and it looks like there should be an "Expand" just prior to the "delete layer". That doesn't seem to be showing up. I'll let you worry about cause and effect. I do hope you get this working. If it works decently, I have a use for it.

Bob

Richard - same result for me running OS10.1.5 on the mac.(And HPA3, not that that should make any difference!) I used the same image as Bob did. The expand step is working OK for me, it's the make step that the error comes up on that is the problem- it's one of those things that Elements doesn't do directly, and I'm not full-version photoshop literate enough to fully interpret the step myself - it's wanting to make:new channel, at: mask channel; reveal selection(=using the selection to generate a layer mask?). As no mask is created the following steps fail.
Susan S.

Well I think i've rejigged the action to work - I've got a couple of tests to check that it gives the same mask as the original but the results look pretty similar to the tutorial that Bob linked to - the undo history in PS6 proved that what the problem step was, was indeed adding a layer mask revealing the current selection. I replaced this step with a couple of steps: reveal all layer mask (which Elements can handle), activated ithe mask with the selection in place and filled the mask with 50 per cent grey (which seems to give the same or very similar result). The last couple of steps also seemed to result in errors. I think just replacing them with deselect will give the same result. People coming round for dinner in ten minutes so I'll post a tested version tomorow if Richard thinks that what I've done makes sense. I'm sure he can come up with something more elegant!

Susan S

Whoops...I changed the download file, which has been updated. I can't say exactly what I was thinking -- but I think I got confused as to whether I was working in Elements or Photoshop. The two are just about the same to me. In other words, I have the feeling I played back the name-changed action in Photoshop to check it, even though I added it to Elements.

Susan was right, pretty much exactly. There are other ways to re-arrange the steps.

The line you paste in to the HTML is this:

<a href="playaction(decrack.atn,decrack)"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-2">Decrack</font></a>

I'll repost the file here too...but I can't without another name.

HOWEVER, I am also not so happy with the result. This type of correction is NOT the type of thing I like to automate, and I think this can potentially do more damage than good -- It may work on a dark B&W image, but not one with heavy JPEG and probably other anomalies. It also might play fast and loose with a lot of detail. Any time a procedure has to make an artistic judgement, I'd have my doubts about it.

Richard,
The new version works properly. I ran it on the tutorial photo from the decrack action instructions and it did an excellent job. However all the photos that I wish to correct are scanned and the cracks are darker than the surrounding photo. I tried this action on a scanned photo with dark cracks and it only made the cracks worse. The problem is not your conversion, but the action just does not seem to relate to my real world needs. Oh well, back to the clone tool. Thanks for the effort and it may come in handy someday. Thanks again. CaseyJ

This action will tend to darken light areas along edges...which is fine for light cracks and white dust, but not so helpful for the opposite -- and can make those situations worse. Like I said, this isn't the type of correction I like to make in bulk. I'm of the opinion that even the healing tool may wrest too much control from an experienced user -- no matter how dramatic the result might be in specific cases. To prove to yourself the decrack is NOT a cure all, just run it on a perfectly good image...when it changes things that are already correct, that should tell you something.

CaseyJ,

There was a step in the original decrack action that photoshop users could enable to handle the dark crack case. That's not an option for use Photoshop Elements users.

Richard,

I agree with your assessment. I would never run this action on a perfectly good image. Just for fun, I created a before and after layer so I could toggle the "after" on and off to see the differences and there are noticible differences in the "non-cracked" areas. However, for badly cracked images, I might use this in the gentle settings to close up some of the fine cracks and then finish up manually. But, I would want to look at this carefully to see if I can accept the degradation that's introduced on that particular image. I guess that would be similar to making a decision to use the dust and scratches filter to speed up cleanup (I usually don't).

Bob

I am trying to install the DeCrack action and when I unzip, there is no read me to tell me specifics on how install properly. Can somebody give me a short tutorial??

WB:

Welcome. I'll hold down the fort until the real Elements' experts arrive. (Photoshop's my bag, but I'm aware of Elements' under-the-covers action capabilities.)

You've installed the Hidden Powers of Photoshop Elements actions add-on, right? Seems to me when I read over the installation instructions it included steps on how to install additional actions in the future.

That would be the first place to look.

~Danny~

I added the html code so I could run decrack from inside photoshop elements, but when I click on it the program cannot seem to find it. The play action code that I added was as follows:
-----------------------------
<a href="playaction(Decrack.atn, decrack)">

------------------------------
is decrack the correct second parameter?

do I need to add the file to a specific directory such as Photoshop Actions, because I did and it still could not seem to find my file.

More help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

WB

try decrack.atn,decrack Elements doesn't like capital letters or spaces.

WB

try decrack.atn,decrack Elements doesn't like capital letters or spaces.

I don't have this one installed any more, but that is correct - the name of the action file is decrack.atn, lower case D not upper case. As Mike says Elements actions need to be named with lowercase letters - although in fact the .atn file name can start with an upper case letter, it's safer to get into the habit of naming everything with lower case for Elements.

I have tried as you all suggested and still am having problems. Can you give me the root structure for what I am trying to do. I am trying to put this action into the Photo Effects Folder. So, where do I put the decrack.atn file and where do I put the decrack.atn,decrack pointer???

To install it into the photofixes tab in HPA3 the action file should be in presets/photoshop actions.
The html file that needs modifying is the index.html file in HTMLPalettes/Welcome/photofixes/action1
(or action2 or action3, depending which tab you want it to come up under)

I'm assuming that this is what you meant by the "Photo Effects folder". I'm also asumiong the file structure is the same for windows as for the mac....

If what you meant is installing in the Effects menu (like the mend tool) then I believe you can't do this without full version Photoshop (the PS6 demo doesn't work for this as it's save disabled for files and you need to save a psd file in the process).

Susan S.

I am starting from Scratch. I have removed all the previous entries and need to ask one more question. (Thanks for being so patient) I need to know which Photoshop _actions you are talking about. I have two similiar paths;
Adobe/Presets/Photoshop_Actions
Adobe/Photoshop Elements 2/Presets/Photoshop_Actions
Which one do I use??
I assume that this would be where I put decrack.atn.
I also assume that I put my pointer (decrack.atn/decrack) in the file index.html of the root Adobe/Photoshop Elements 2/HTML Palettes/Welcome/Photo_Fixes/action 1
thiese actions are what I am going to try. Do you agree ??? :classic:

CaseyJ,

Rather than use an action to sort out the dark cracks on your image try this:

http://www.polaroid.com/service/software/poladsr/poladsr.html

You can set it for light, dark etc ... plus its fully adjustable so you can play around with it ..

Wendy

... I have two similiar paths;
Adobe/Presets/Photoshop_Actions
Adobe/Photoshop Elements 2/Presets/Photoshop_Actions
Which one do I use??
I assume that this would be where I put decrack.atn.
I also assume that I put my pointer (decrack.atn/decrack) in the file index.html of the root Adobe/Photoshop Elements 2/HTML Palettes/Welcome/Photo_Fixes/action 1
thiese actions are what I am going to try. Do you agree ??? :classic:
It's the second one you want.Adobe/Photoshop Elements 2/Presets/Photoshop_Actions (I don't know what the other one is linking to)

To edit the html (and I quote from the advanced rtf, just substituting the decrack action references for the one Richard used)
For example, You may want to create an action set for Photo_Fixes. You would open the index.html file in the desired action folder in the set and change one of the row links from:

<tr>
<td></td>
</tr>

To:

<tr>
<td><a href="playaction(decrack.atn,decrack)"><font size="-2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Decrack</a></font</td>
</tr>
The link should then show up under set1 in the photofixes action. (I hope - it does on mine!)

Susan S.

Thanks so much Susan S. That last post got me through it successfully. I really appreciated your help. It is people like you who make the site what it is. Also, thanks to Wendy W. for the link. It may be what I am looking for. While I'm writing, can somebody tell me hao to attach a photo that I need some good advice on?? :pleased: :pleased: :pleased:

Susan, excellent followup...was on a 'vacation' for a few days there...glad it has been worked out.

you need to have the Hidden Power Actions III package, available free on the hiddenelements.com site.

OK?

While I'm writing, can somebody tell me hao to attach a photo that I need some good advice on??
Bill, check out these instructions (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7933) by Flora. Assuming that you want help with the image in general rather than necessarily HPPE-related, the Help requested (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5) forum is probably the best place to post.