Tone Selection script
- Frequently Asked Questions -

Question.  How can I tell which version of the script I have?

1. Answer
   1. Start the script.  The first dialog box displayed is the main dialog box.  In the title of the dialog box will be a lower case v followed by the version number.

 

Question.  Does this script replace the Magic Wand tool ?

1. Answer
   1. No.  The Magic Wand tool was, and still is, a very useful tool.  One of the main differences between the Magic Wand tool and the Tone Selection script is the Magic Wand tool takes color into consideration when making selections.  For example, if an image has a blue area and a green area of exactly the same tone, the Magic Wand tool would select one and not the other because of the difference in color.  The Tone Selection script will place both areas into the same zone.

 

Question.  Does one use this script instead of the histogram?

1. Answer
   1. No.  The histogram is a graphic representation of an image's tones plotted against the digital tonal range.  It is a quick way to determine the distribution of tones and the resulting contrast.  However, the histogram does not tell you what specific pixels fall into specific tonal ranges.  This script creates alpha channel selections that show you exactly what pixels fall into specific tonal ranges.

 

Question.  Do I have to delete the alpha channels before running the script again?

1. Answer
   1. No.  When the script runs, it first deletes any pre-existing tone selection alpha channels it finds.  It then creates new tones.

 

Question.  I ran the script on two different images, and it takes much longer to run on one than the other.  Why?

1. Answer
   1. Even though the number of steps the scripts has to execute does not differ by file, the size of the file will impact how long it takes to run.  Because the script is placing each and every pixel in the image into one and only one tonal range, it must process all pixels.  A file that has more pixels than another will take longer to be processed.  A file can be larger because its dimensions are larger or its resolution is higher, or both.

 

Question.  When I look at the Channels palette, one or more of the alpha channels are totally black.

1. Answer
   1. There are no pixels in your image that fall into that specific tonal range.

 

Question.  When I look at the Channels palette, all of the alpha channels, except Zone 0, are totally black.

1. Answer
   1. When the script was run, the visibility of all pixel containing layers was probably turned off.  Rerun the script.

 

Question.  Does the script account for all pixels?

1. Answer
   1. Yes.  Every pixel should fall into one and only one zone.

 

Question.  What if I want to work with Zones 0 and I at the same time.  How can I do that?

1. Answer
   1. Run the script.  On the first dialog box, click the Load button.  Check Zones 0 and I and click the Continue button.

 

Question.  How can I use one (or more) of the selections as a layer mask in an adjustment layer?

1. Answer
   1. Follow the steps in Loading Selections to load the desired selection(s).  Then click Layer > New Adjustment Layer and click on the desired adjustment.  Name the layer and then click OK.  The adjustment layer will be created and the layer mask will be pre-filled with the desired selection.

 

Question.  I made modifications to my image.  Can I rerun the script?

1. Answer
   1. Yes.  Remember, you do not have to delete the alpha channels first.  The script will do that for you.

 

Question.  I typically create many adjustment layers in my images.  Each one could affect luminance in some way.  When should I run the script?

1. Answer
   1. When you run the script is entirely up to you.  Its intent is to show you where the image's luminance's fall in the % brightness ranges.  However, I suggest you not run the script until after you perform capture sharpening, cloning and color correction.

 

Question.  I have run the script, selected Create tonal ranges and the finished message was displayed, but I don't see anything selected.

1. Answer
   1. The zone selections are stored as alpha channels.  Click on the Channels palette and the eleven masks should be there.  They are named x% (Zone y), where x is the percent brightness range and y is the Zone System value.  The script intentionally turns off all selections before and after the masks are created.

 

Question.  What are the alpha channels showing?

1. Answer
   1. Each zone mask is a selection around those image pixels that fall into a specific zone of the Zone System.

 

Question.  Will the masks automatically update as I make adjustments, such as Levels or Curves?

1. Answer
   1. No.  If the adjustment needs to be reflected in the masks, you will need to re-run the script.

 

Question.  I have an adjustment layer that makes a heavy change in tone, but after I run the script, this adjustment is not reflected in the masks.

1. Answer
   1. The script only takes into account those layers that are visible.  Visible layers have the eye icon in the Layers palette.  If the layer's eye icon is not visible, it will not be used in the calculation of luminance.

 

Question.  Do you have a similar script for color images?

1. Answer
   1. The Tone Selection script is based on tone.  So it works for both black and white and color images.

 

Question.  My images are 16-bit, which have a digital tonal range of 0 - 32,768.  Since the Tone Selection script is based on the 0 - 255 digital tonal range, do you have a script for 16-bit images?

1. Answer
   1. For 16-bits-per-channel RGB images, Photoshop allows us to display the 16-bit RGB values in the Info palette.  However, Curves still displays tone from 0 to 255.  The 0 to 255 digital tonal range still covers the entire tonal range for both 8-bit and 16-bit images.  Therefore, the Tone Selection script works equally well with either.

 

Question.  I want to run the script on an image I have already completed.  But I want the masks to show luminance prior to my adjustments.  Do I have to delete my adjustments, run the script, and then re-create my adjustments?

1. Answer
   1. If your adjustments were done using adjustment layers, then you do not need to delete anything.  Turn off the eye icon of any and all adjustment layers you do not want the script to use, and then run the script.  After the script is finished, turn the adjustment layers back on.  Keep in mind that in this case, the selections will represent luminance before the adjustments and will not accurately represent luminance once the adjustments are applied.
      
      If the adjustments were made using destructive techniques, such as Image > Adjustments > Levels, instead of using adjustment layers, then you will not be able to do what you want unless you have another copy of the image without the adjustments.

 

Question.  The ImagePrint RIP software locks up or quits when trying to print any image that I used the Tone Selection script on.  Or, I get error 609 when using ImagePrint.

1. Answer
   1. The following was taken from ColorByte's ImagePrint User Manual.  ImagePrint does not support alpha channels in TIFF files.  Make sure that no alpha channels are present in your image.  You can check for Alpha channels in Photoshop’s Channel Window.  Any channels listed that are not the standard color channels for the image (ie R, G and B for an RGB image) are extra channels and may cause problems.
      
      You can use the Clean up active document option in the script to delete the alpha channels.

 

Question.  I am having a problem downloading the file.  What is causing this?

1. Answer
   1. The script is written in JavaScript.  Your browser/firewall/anti-virus software will know that JavaScript files are executables and may be blocking the download.  You will have to turn off these defenses, download the file, then turn them back on.  You do not have to turn off your protective software to use the script.  But you may have to temporarily turn them off to download it.
      
      Only use the version available from www.ZuberPhotographics.com.  If you get the script from somewhere else, such as an attachment in an email, you do not know if the script has been modified.

 

Question.  Since the script is a program, how do I install it?

1. Answer
   1. Unlike some programs that require an install process to get the program to work on a computer, this script only needs to be placed in the correct Photoshop directory.  This directory, on a Windows-based computer, is c:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop <version>\Presets\Scripts.  Once there, just close and reopen Photoshop to make the script available to Photoshop.  There is no need to restart your computer.  Do NOT place the script in the Photoshop Plug-Ins directory.

 

Question.  How do I use the script in batch mode?

1. Answer
   1. The script cannot be run in batch mode.

 

Question.  The script is asking if all open documents should be processed or just the active one.  What does that mean?

1. Answer
   1. Assume you have 100 image files on your computer.  Within Photoshop, you open two of them. Photoshop calls these open files documents.  Therefore, you have two open documents.  Only one of them can be active.  If the documents are tiled, one on top of the other, the active document is always the one on top.  The palettes that show document information, such as the Layers, Channels, History, etc palettes, show the information for the active document.
      
      When the script runs, it knows if more than one document is open and is giving you the opinion of processing all of the open documents or just the active one.

 

Question.  I cannot find the scripts directory and when I click File in Photoshop, I do not see an option for Scripts.

1. Answer
   1. You have an older version of Photoshop that does not support scripting.  If you wish to use this script, you will have to upgrade to a version of Photoshop that supports scripting.