How many times have you performed the same steps over and over again in Photoshop while processing your images? Unless you are using Actions in Photoshop you are wasting valuable time, and time is money. Actions will even out the playing field and bring an advanced and beginning user to perform at the same level.
“An action is a series of commands that you play back on a single file or a batch of files.” For example, you can
create an action that applies an Image Size command to change an image to a specific size in pixels, followed
by an Unsharp Mask filter that resharpens the detail, and a Save command that saves the file in the desired
format.
Most commands and tool operations are recordable in actions. Actions can include stops that let you perform
tasks that cannot be recorded (for example, using a painting tool). Actions can also include modal controls that
let you enter values in a dialog box while playing an action. Actions form the basis for droplets, small applications
that automatically process all files that are dragged onto their icon.
Action applied to an image
“Photoshop ships with a number of predefined actions. You can use these actions as is, customize them to
meet your needs, or create new actions.” Adobe PhotoShop.com
So how do you build an action? Just follow these 5 simple steps:
Step 1. In Photoshop open up any image.
Step 2. Open your Action palette from the window menu. Once in the Actions palette click the Create New Action
button.
Step 3. Name your new action. Then select the set you want your action to be listed under. Chose which “F”
key to assign as well as the keyboard shortcut, and assign a color for button mode.
Step 4. Then click RECORD and perform your action.
“Important: When recording the Save As command, do not change the filename. If you enter a new filename,
Photoshop records the filename and uses that filename each time you run the action. Before saving, if you navigate
to a different folder, you can specify a different location without having to specify a filename.”
Adobe PhotoShop.com
Step 5. Once your action is complete click “STOP” (square icon).
You can create almost anything in Photoshop as an action. I would recommend that you evaluate what you do in
Photoshop on a daily basis. Then create an action and assign a keyboard short cut. This can cut down your time
in Photoshop while processing images.
Here is a list of Photoshop Actions that can be used!
F2 Daily Multi-Vitamin (Kubota vol 2)
F3 Hot Fudgier (Kubota vol 2)
F3 (+Shft) Hot Fudge 1 (Kubota vol 2)
F4 Vignette (Kubota)
F4 (+Shft) Starburst Vignette (Kubota vol 2)
F5 Angel Glow (Kubota vol 2)
F6 Claw Underexposed
F6 (+Shft) Reverse Claw Overexposed
F7 Digital Fill (Kubota vol 2)
F8 Smokeless Burn (Kubota vol 2)
F9 B&W
F9 (+Shft) Sepia
F10 HyPass
F11 Flatten Layers
F12 Rotate Left/Right (right + Shft)
You can assign up to 44 different actions with the keyboard shortcuts or “F” keys. This is how you can assign the keyboard short cuts:
1) F2-F12
2) F2-F12 + Shft
3) F2-F12 + Ctrl
4) F2-F12 + Shft and Ctrl.
Here is an example of an action Lab Color B& W recorded:
Step 1. Open image.
Step 2. Open your Action palette from the window menu. Once in the Actions palette click the Create New Action
button.
Step 3. Name your new action. Then select the set you want your action to be listed under. Chose which “F”
key to assign as well as the keyboard shortcut. Assign a color for button mode.
Step 4. Next click on RECORD and perform your action.
Step 5. Go to image>mode> and select Lab Color.
Step 6. Under Channels, select lightness channel.
Step 7. Go to image> mode> select Gray Scale.
Step 8. Go to image>mode> select RGB.
Step 9. Once your action is complete, click “STOP” (square icon).
Now that you have the experience to use actions I have a disclaimer. Using Photoshop actions might cause
the following; more time to spend with the kids, more time to walk to dog, more time to read a book, save you
money, and even save your marriage. If any of the proceeding occurs, continues with the use of Photoshop actions
to make your life more enjoyable.
Just because someone has a nice camera doesn’t make them a good photographer!
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