Alongside free Photoshop actions, the best free Photoshop scripts can increase the functionality of Adobe's industry-leading image editing software and automate some of the most mundane, time-consuming tasks.
Photoshop scripts are similar to actions but more powerful in that they can make conditional decisions. They also have access to the whole set of Photoshop functionality, including elements not easily accessible to actions, so they can do more things.
The software comes with some free Photoshop scripts already built in. The Image Processor script allow you to quickly convert an entire folder of images from one format to another, resizing as you go and adding meta data. There are also scripts to delete empty layers or load images into a stack – the latter is very handy for focus stacking in photography. To find them go to File > Scripts in the menu.
For more resources, see our guides to the best free Photoshop brushes,the best Photoshop plugins. We also have a roundup of Photoshop tutorials.
In the meantime, here's a small selection of free Photoshop scripts that you can use to get things done more quickly in the software (let us know in the comments if you have a favourite Photoshop script that we haven't mentioned).
01. MultiEditText Photoshop script
This free Photoshop script from Sergey Osokin could be really handy if you're editing text on several versions of the same image. It allows you to enter text to replace the current text layer content. You can edit contents of frames separately, separating contents by @@@@ symbols.
02. Rename artboards according to their size
Another free Photoshop script from the same creator, this one renames artboards according to their size in units from the Preferences > Units & Rulers menu. This can be really useful for saving multiple versions of a piece in different sizes for a campaign across various locations, allowing you to immediately identify the size from the file name.
03. Corner Editor
This handy little script makes it simple to round the corners of any polygonal shape. It allows you to set different options per corner, so you can generate complex shapes quickly and efficiently.
04. Black & White Variations
This script from Trevor Morris converts and saves an image to black-and-white using 20 different approaches. Once the 20 variations have been saved, they can be automatically reopened in Photoshop for comparison. Plus, you can add your own variations to the mix to increase the comparison options.
05. Split to Layers
This useful Script simply isolates contiguous groups of pixels on a layer, and promotes each group to a new layer. it's very handy for situations where you've got multiple elements on a single layer, and need to separate them out.
04. Sprite Generator
If you use sprites for your background images, you'll love this script. It allows you to automatically generate a sprite and all the associated CSS required to use it, simply by choosing a folder of images.
05. Super Export
This script allows you to easily export individual parts of a PSD document as separate, cropped files by naming layers according to the filename you'd like to save with. For example, name a layer 'background.jpg' and run this script to save that one layer out, while hiding all other layers.
06. Scale patterns to 100%
When scaling a document in Photoshop, pattern layers and layer styles get scaled at the same time, which can lead to less-than-perfect results when using noise or texture-based patterns. This script resets all patterns to 100 per cent scale, saving you the hassle of hunting them out and resetting each one individually.
07. Export text to file
This is a helpful little script that parses your PSD document and grabs any text content, before saving it out into a text file for ease of copy/paste into other formats. Ideal for web designers migrating a static mockup into an HTML template.
08. Offset all layers
If you use Photoshop to generate repeating pattern tiles, you'll already be familiar with the offset filter. With this, you can wrap the pixels from one edge of a document around to the opposite edge, revealing the join, and allowing you to make a perfectly seamless pattern. The problem is the offset filter only works on one layer at a time. This script solves that issue!
09. Google Maps Tile Cutter
This script allows you to automatically carve up a large image for use with Google Maps. This is ideal when you're creating a web app that uses Google Maps to create custom mapping or bespoke overlays on map content.
10. Parametric Curves
This script allows you to generate mathematically-defined curves adjustment layers, useful for generating organic patterns and textures. Read Davide Barranca's explanation of why you might want to for full details, but in summary these are especially handy when generating displacement maps and depth maps.
13. Select Shapes By Color
Selects all vector layers and text objects in the document that have the same color as the active layer. Locked layers will also be selected. If you also want to select solid layers Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color..., edit in script file var inclSolid = true
What are Photoshop scripts?
Photoshop scripts are sets of instructions that automate repetitive tasks or add new functionality to the software. They are written in code such as JavaScript or UXP Scripting and can handle mundane tasks like renaming files, resizing images or exporting layers. For Windows, Photoshop scripts can use languages that support COM automation, such as VB Script, and for macOS, they can use AppleScript.
Photoshop comes with certain scripts already built in, including to delete empty layers or load images into a stack, which is handy for focus stacking in photography. To find them go to File > Scripts in the menu.
What's the difference between Photoshop scripts and Photoshop actions?
Photoshop actions are easy to create as they're like recordings of a sequence of steps, which will always replay in the same manner when you activate the action. Scripts are more complex as they're dynamic: they can make decisions and use conditional logic (i.e., if X is Y do Z), and they can interact with files, layers and data outside of Photoshop.
How do I install Photoshop scripts?
Photoshop scripts will normally take the form of .jsx or .jsxbin files. To use them in Photoshop, move the files to the Presets\Scripts folder within your Adobe Photoshop installation directory and then restart Photoshop. The new script will appear under File > Scripts in the menu. If not, you can search for hit by clicking 'Browse'.
