Creating Actions Tutorial

For the lovely Laura, and anybody else it may help xx

Recording/Creating

Recording an Action is simple, how complicated the Action is, is up to you, determined by what you want from the Action. Actions save you so much time is post processing, instead of repeating the same steps over and over again, one click can do so much. Also, can be used when batch editing a large amount of images.

Step1 - Locate your action palette,if it isn't docked, then go to Windows in Photoshop and check Actions. You should now have the Action palette opened.

Step 2 - Locate the New Set button, on the bottom of your palette, check it and give your set a name, My Actions for example. Then OK.

Step 3- Next still at the bottom, check the New Action button, and then name the action, choose something that you will know straightaway what the action does, for example Colour Vibe, for an action that really makes colour vibrant.

Step 4 - Hit the record button, be careful and plan what you want to do to the image before going ahead, as whatever you do will be recorded, and correcting any mistakes in the action, is a pain, and you might as well start again. So, for your first one think of something you do to most pictures when you post process, go ahead and do that.

Step 5- Then press the stop recording button

Step 6- You've made your first Action, now test drive it on a few images,and then start to think about fave techniques you have, and start to record them to using the same methods.



Running your Actions

Step1- Select image for editing

Step 2- select your Action from the palette

Step 3- Select Play, and each step will play as you recorded it, adjusting the image accordingly, that's it, one click editing .


Important to remember that all layers are adjustable in the Action, and the opacity of each action can be toned down, by the opacity once it has run.


Save your Action, in case you have some problem, or empty your palette accidently, save you Action, by going to the top of the Action Palette, right hand side,it's in the drop down Menu.

I now have "recipes" that I know if I run one action at 25 % and then another Action on top at 80% it will give me a certain look. So in other words you can run as many actions as you like. Then finish it off with a web/blog ready Action for posting, if it's for internet use.

thanks Moonie... x

You're welcome, hope it made sense.

I am going to do some step by step tutorials of how to achieve a certain Action, when I have time.

If I can work out how to do it, I could put some Actions up for downloading? at some point.

Be good...is their one for designing a logo that can be used on pics, letterheads and business cards etc? Could also do with one to batch process large numbers of shots to crop to print size, enhance, etc. etc ... oh, and one for taking the picture and gettin it spot on without my intervention

Nice one Moonie - great tut

I am sure it will come in handy for a lot of people

Well, making a Watermark and Logo Action is doable.

So, is creating crop ratio, at a certain resolutions,ready to print Action. You can Batch run actions , so that's doable too. I have actions for different sizes, ready to print.

I will work on how to get a perfect pic, with one click without ever even touching the camera, and let you know

Nice tutorial Moonie.

The only generic actions I tend to apply to multiple images is open - swear - close - delete.

Joking aside - I can see this being handy for a 'series' of shots although I'm not confident that I ever get a series of shots which are consistent enough to batch apply anything other than perhaps a slight sharpen.

Perhaps it's something I'd use for more whacky stuff if I happened to achieve a certain effect that I liked.

Even just creating a ready for web Action can save you time, when you want to post some pics on here. I am all about saving time You can create ones to do basic tweaks a layer for each for contrast,colour ,sharpness etc, and then you just run the action, tweak if needed and done.

They are also fun, to play around with, when you want to experiment on an image. I do have some very wacky ones, with even sillier names,as a result of experimentation


I use your generic swearing one a lot


I'm just glad it made sense, and people can follow it x

Fab info Suzi! Can we please sticky this one Azz? I think it'd be great to have it easily accessible! I will try applying some of the actions on that link you showed me first Suzi, and then have a go at making my own too

xx

There are also loads of FREE actions you can download HERE.