Is there an automated, configurable way to organize many layers into a sprite sheet grid with exact pixel coordinates in Photoshop?

Question

I have a huge grid of icons that need to be positioned so that I can write sprites out of them after I'm done.

Right now, I have so many layers, it'd take me forever to click on each one individually and specify the coordinates exactly.

Is there an easy way or a script that allows me to specify in pixels how far apart each icon should be from one another both horizontally and vertically (thereby creating a nice little grid for me with solid values without decimals) ?

Answer 1

This is a PS script to make Sprite Sheets out of layers. https://gist.github.com/jessefreeman/870172

// Put this file in Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop\Presets\Scripts\
// In PhotoShop menu File > Automate > Scripts: layersToSprite.js

// Arrange layers into a sprite sheet. 

if (documents.length > 0) 
{

    // --------------------------
    docRef = activeDocument;    
    var activeLayer = docRef.activeLayer;

    numLayers = docRef.artLayers.length;    
    var cols = docRef.width;

    var spriteX = docRef.width;

    // put things in order
    app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;

    // resize the canvas
    newX = numLayers * spriteX;

    docRef.resizeCanvas( newX, docRef.height, AnchorPosition.TOPLEFT );

    // move the layers around
    for (i=0; i < numLayers; i++)
    {   
        docRef.artLayers[i].visible = 1;

        var movX = spriteX*i;

        docRef.artLayers[i].translate(movX, 0);

    }
}

You may also export all the layers as png images first then zip them and upload to http://spritegen.website-performance.org/ or any other sprite generator. That will automatically create the sprites for you.