For macOS · iPadOS · iOS

Creating PNG-Images from Fonts Using Automator

In this first part of the tutorial I am going to show you how to convert your scale- and chord diagrams from text to png-images using the application Automator that comes with macOS. Create images from Chords & Scales neck diagrams you wrote in Apple Pages or TextEdit – or even from Spotlight without opening any application.
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Creating the Automator workflow

Create a new Automator workflow adding actions as shown in the video.
Find an screenshot of all action settings at the end of this page.
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New Automator Document
  • open the application Automator that comes with macos
  • open a new document with Cmd-N
  • in the template window choose Workflow
  • as a start save the new document on the desktop as Chords Nut to PNG.workflow
Adding Actions To The Workflow
Action 1 · Run Applescript
Replace code
with
So the code looks like this:
Press the Compile button.
Action 2 · Ask for Text
  • Question: Type chord name_fret position_string set
  • Default answer: e.g. Cmaj7_III_12345 or any other chord name (accordingly: e.g. Cmaj_scale_V for scale diagrams)
  • Require an answer
Action 3 · Set Value of Variable
  • double-click the action Set Value of Variable
  • Variable: select New Variable and hit Return
  • name it chord name (accordingly: scale name for scale diagrams)
Action 4 · Run Applescript
This Applescript adds a space right after your diagram in the clipboard

Replace code
with
So the code looks like this:
Press the Compile button.
  • Ignore this action’s input
Action 5 · Get Contents of Clipboard
  • double-click the action Get Contents of Clipboard
Action 6 · Create Banner Image from Text
  • Untick Use text input as image filename
  • Save as: drag the variable chord name from the variable list at the foot of the right-hand pane to this field
  • Where: create the folder My Chords Images e.g. in your Documents folder (accordingly the folder My Scales Images for scale diagrams)
  • Text Style: custom
  • Typeface: Chords-Bold (Chords-Normal, Scales Normal, Scales Bold accordingly)
  • Size: 200
  • Replacing existing file
Action 7 · Scale Images
  • To Size (pixels): 800
Action 8 · Reveal Finder Items
  • double-click the action Reveal Finder Items
Action 9 · Display Notification (optional)
Title: Cool!
Subtitle: You created the image
Message: drag the variable chord name from the variable list at the foot of the right-hand pane to this field and add the suffix .png

Installing Workflows

  • create workflows for the fonts Scales Normal, Scales Nut, Chords Normal and Chords Nut
  • move the workflows from the desktop to ~/Library/Scripts/
  • open Script Editor located at /Applications/Utilities/
  • in Script Editor Preferences activate Show Script menu in menu bar
  • run the workflows from the menu bar as shown in the video
Script Menu Bar
Automator Workflow Overview
Creating PNG-Images from Fonts Using Automator