Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

Batch modify images with scripts using MODI

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 03:31 AM PDT

Here is a situation that at least a few people have run into before. You have a huge selection of images that you have to convert to smaller JPEG images, and make several changes along the way. It is not a simple as batch converting from one file format to another, in your situation. Each picture has to undergo a punch list of transformations (resizing, color balancing, sharpening, and the like).

Now if you only had a handful of digital pictures to work with, this is not an issue. Just open your favorite image editing program, make the needed modifications, then save in the target file format. Wash, rinse, repeat; and in a bit you have the newly created image files in your target format. However, since we are dealing with potentially hundreds of pictures, this method is very time consuming.

Instead of using your image editing program to run through each image, why not try something where you drop the file list into, setup a group of changes, and let a program make the alterations to each file one right after the other? “That sounds good, but I do not want to empty my wallet for a program that will do this type of image processing.”, you might say. Not a problem, all we need to do is download a copy of MODI from the Internet.

MODI (found here) is a non-installed type program (it does not require installation to your computer’s C:\Program Files directory), which can take a list of images and change them based upon your script selections. MODI is not intended to be an actual image editing program, rather is a program that takes popular features of image programs, and allows you to lay out changes in a scripted fashion to change many images at a time. Though it is not a computer programming environment, you have to think methodically, to a degree, to determine how you want MODI to change your pictures.

To run the MODI program, you have to locate the executable file from within the MODI folder. Typically, this would be the folder you created for MODI when you unzipped the compressed file from the MODI website. It would not necessarily be located under C:\Program Files. Double-click on the MODI.exe file to open the program.

At the top of the MODI screen, you have the option of dragging and dropping files into the dark gray area, or browsing to location files via the Add Files button. Either method works well at this point. Additionally, if you select the Enable Quick View option, a picture of the target file will appear should you hover the mouse over one of the lines. The Quick View image will appear on the left hand side.

When you have your list of images selected in the upper portion of the MODI screen, you are ready to add the image alterations. These changes will be applied to the current list of loaded pictures. To find the menu of changes, click on the Add Modifier button.

In the Add Modifier area, you will have a drop-down bow with several choices. For each choice you want to apply to your image set, you have to click on the Add button at the bottom, before switching to another modification. This will create an entry in the main MODI screen, under Select Image Modifiers.

Let’s say that the first thing we wish to do is cut each image’s size in half. To do this, we would locate the Resize function in the Select Modifier drop-down box and click it. In this selection, we would choose the 50% option in the Max Width/Height drop-down box. Remember to click on Add at the bottom.

The next thing on our list of image modifications is the sharpness of the picture. Here, we would find the Sharpen choice, under the drop-down menu. Now all that needs to be done, is drag the pointer to where we think the sharpness of the picture set needs to be.

Perhaps an image watermark is required. From the drop-down menu, we choose Image Watermark, so that we can add some semi-transparent data to each of the images. From within the Image Watermark window, you can choose what other image to use, by using the Browse button, where the mark is physically located on the picture, how transparent it will be, and if you want to rotate the positioning of the watermark image. You can also opt to reduce or increase the physical size of the watermark at the bottom of this screen.

Along with a couple of other selections, we are now ready to convert our pictures. back on the main screen of MODI, you will see the list of modifiers we chose under Select Image Modifiers. Make certain that everything appears to be in order before running the batch. Should you need to remove one of these changes, there are buttons located on the right-hand side of MODI allowing you to do so. Also, if you want to preview what the outcome will look like, feel free to click on Preview Result.

If everything appears to be in order, select one of the options from the writer field in the lower left-hand corner of MODI.

Should you still feel the need to make some additional tweaks to the image batch, click on the Configure button in the writer area. Here you may change the JPEG quality of the new pictures, set a maximum file size, and setup letters or numbers to accompany the new files names of your batch images. Once finished, click on Save and Close.

Now that you have completed your scripting setup, simply click on the Go button in MODI’s main screen, and let the processing begin. After a while, the screen will show a note stating that the batch is complete, and that is it, you are done. Should you want to keep this set of changes for future use, make sure to click on the Save as Preset button, and give the preset a name. You can then load the saved changes list the next time you are in MODI.

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Batch modify images with scripts using MODI

Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

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