Automator Workflow Techniques: Email PDF Contact Sheet From Aperture
Automator can be used to extend Aperture’s reach throughout the operating system. Use Automator to integrate Aperture with external applications in new ways that benefit your own unique workflow. Need to email previews of your project images for review? Streamline the process with Automator.
The following steps will walk you through the process of creating an Automator workflow that will generate a PDF contact sheet of a specified Aperture project’s images, and attach it to a new outgoing email message in Mail.
Step 1: Create a new folder on your desktop, and name it Contact Sheet Images.
Step 2: Launch Automator, located in the Applications folder, and create a new workflow window.
Step 3: Select the Finder category, located in the Library list in Automator. Select the New Folder action in the Action list, and drag it into the workflow area on the right side of the Automator window. Enter Contact Sheet Images into the Name field, and choose Desktop from the Where popup.
Step 4: Locate and select the Choose Projects action in the Aperture category, and drag it into the workflow area. Expand the Options triangle at the bottom of the action, and select the Show Action When Run checkbox.
Step 5: Locate and select the Export Images action in the Aperture category, and drag it into the workflow area. Select JPEG — Original Size from the Export Setting popup. Select Other… from the Destination popup. When prompted, navigate to and select the Contact Sheet Images folder on your desktop.
Step 6: Locate and select the New PDF Contact Sheet action in the PDF category, and drag it into the workflow area. Enter Project Review into the Save as field. Select Desktop from the Where popup, US Letter from the Paper Size popup, and 3 from the Columns popup.
Step 7: Locate and select the New Mail Message action in the Mail category, and drag it into the workflow area. Enter Project Review Images into the Subject field, and Enclosed, please find a PDF preview of my current project’s images. into the Message field.
Step 8: Locate and select the Get Specified Finder Items action in the Finder category, and drag it into the workflow area. Click the + button beneath the table. When prompted, navigate to and select the Contact Sheet Images folder on your desktop.
Step 9: Locate and select the Move to Trash action in the Finder category, and drag it into the workflow area.
Step 10: Select Save As… from the File menu in Automator. When prompted, enter Email PDF Contact Sheet From Aperture into the Save As field. Choose the desired output folder, and select Application from the File Format menu. Click the Save button.
Once the workflow has been saved as an application, just double click on it when you want to run it, or add it to your Dock for quick and easy access, just like any other application.
