Forums/Tips & Tricks

Adding PURLs & QR Codes with Photoshop

Marty Thomas
posted this on November 10, 2011 12:15 pm

Did you know that it's possible to use Photoshop's Variables to add PURLs and QR Codes to your promotional pieces?  Well you do now!  Here is how...

1. Download PURLs and QR Codes

Login to your Purlem dashboard.  Select Contacts > "Download PURLs", and Contacts > "Download QR Codes"
Downloading PURLs will give you a spreadsheet file of all your contacts and their PURL
Download QR Codes will  provide you with a zip file containing the QR Code image for each contact.

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2. Add Spreadsheet and QR Codes into a New Folder

Create a new folder  (Name it anything you want).  Then drag the PURL Spreadsheet and all of the QR Codes and file into the folder.  

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3. Remove Unnecessary Columns in PURL Spreadsheet

In my case, I will be using the PURLQRCode and FirstName columns. I also added the Letter column.
Notice that I removed the the spaces in both First Name and QR Code.  This  is necessary for Photoshop. 

All other columns should be removed.  
Save the file

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4. Add Layers to your Photoshop File for Each Column

Open your file in Photoshop.  Create layers for each of the columns created in Step 3. In my case I will create a column for: QR Code,  First NameLetter and PURL.

Add default text and/or images to each layer.

5. Open the Variables Window in Photoshop

Images > Variable > Define

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6. Define Each Layer

For each layer created in Step 4, Select either "Text Replacement" or "Pixel Replacement" checkbox, and give them a name.
Each layers's name needs to match the headers in the spreadsheet file from Step 3!

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7. Import the Spreadsheet file as a Data Set

Select Data Sets from the drop down on the top of the Variable Window.
Select  Import...  
Select File...
and Browse the the PURL spreadsheet file saved from Step 3
Click OK

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8. Preview Changes

Select the Apply button and your layers will magically pull from the data in your spreadsheet file.
Select the the arrows next to the Data Set text box to preview multiple versions.

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9. Export Data Sets as Files  

Select File > Export > Data Sets as Files...
Select the  Location to save the files to.
Leave the rest of the options the same (unless you know better).

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Cool huh?...

 

Comments

User photo
George Faerber

Wow.  

March 01, 2012 09:33 am