Action in Photoshop

In this Photoshop tutorial, I'd like to express how important Photoshop Actions can be by saving you time and making your work more consistent.

Let's describe what an action is first. Most everything can be recorded as an action. Then, whenever I want to create that banner, I simply click that action.

Launch Photoshop. Click the Window menu and select Actions (you can also press Alt/Option + F9). This opens the Actions panel. Click the 'Create new set' button in the Actions panel. Now, whenever you want that size document created, just select that action and run it! I love the time savings and consistency created by using actions like this.

A Photoshop Action is programmed as follows. Initially, one must ensure that the History/Action window is visible. If not, one can select "Show History" or "Show Actions" from the "Window" menu. Once the History/Action window has been identified, select the "Actions" tab. From the menu, select "New Action...," which appears first on the list. The Photoshop Action is thus created. One must bear in mind that Photoshop Actions only apply to automated commands within the program.

Action

Play an Action

After creating it, you will want to play your Action. You have few options:

� Play it from the palette by setting your file up and click the play button on the bottom of the palette.

� Use function keys, when you create a new action, the dialog box allow you to set one. If you press the f-key you have assigned to the action, it will start playing.

� Use button mode that makes the palette look like a button panel. The new action dialog box allows you select a color for your button. Group actions by coloring them. Play an action simply clicking it as a button.

So, now that you know what an action is, let us make a simple one that you can use as-is or add to others. That way, you will get a little practice at the art. Moreover, you will have a good building block for future actions.

First, let's create a new set to use for these examples:

1. At the bottom of the actions palette, click the create a new set button.

2. Name the set Samples.

Now, let us start recording an action:

1. Open up a file. It doesn't matter what the file is because we are using it only as a base for building the action.

2. Select the create a new action button at the bottom of the actions palette.

3. Name the action and save as.

4. Choose the Sample as your set.

5. Fix the function key to F12.

6. Choose any color from the pull-down list

7. Hit the record button.

Now, let's actually record something:

1. Choose image size from the Image menu.

2. In the image size dialog box, fix the resolution to 72 pixels/inch, select constrain proportions, select resample image: Bicubic, and leave the other settings as they are.

3. Click on save as from the file menu. Choose a name you like, save it to the desktop (so it will be easy to find), and set the file type to Photoshop. Leave everything else as it is and click Save.

4. Stop the recording by clicking the Stop Playing/Recording button on the Actions palette.

Action - Tone