PhotoShop Actions

are like macros that automatically run a series of commands in Photoshop for functions that might be done repetitively.
Photoshop has a number of built-in actions that you can use to create beveled buttons, frames around photos, diffuse photo edges, etc.
- Actions have the file format .atn
It is also possible to download actions from the web that individuals have developed and are willing to share.
Check out these sites for Actions you can download free:
- Elated
- Photoshop ActionAddiction.com - some are still free downloads and others require purchase of a CD
Actions may be downloaded as ATN files or in a ZIP file which should be unzipped into the Photoshop>Presets>Photoshop Actions folder
- You can then load the imported action into Photoshop by clicking on the right-pointing arrow on the right side of the actions palette and selecting "load actions".
Adobe Photoshop Exchange has user-created presets that are rated by other users
- Need to be a registered user to download
- Need to download their "download toolkit" and install it on your computer
- Their actions are rated by viewers
- Also download CS4 plugins, actions, brushes, customer shapes, gradients

Visit the Photoshop Help and Support Center web site to view video tutorials, read printed tutorials, and read articles on how to do things in Photoshop CS4

Click symbol that looks like down arrow with 4 horizontal lines next to it at upper right of Actions Palette and on the pop-up menu
- click on one of the Action sets at the bottom of the pop-up menu, such as Image Effects
- Or choose Load Action
  - open the folder that holds actions -- the PhotoshopCS3>Presets>Actions subdirectory
  - click on sn action to load it into the Actions Palette
Set Playback Options on the Actions Pop-up menu

Accelerated

Plays the action at normal speed (the default).
and may not update the screen as the action executes—files may be opened, modified, saved, and closed without ever appearing on‑screen,

Step By Step

Completes each command & redraws the image before going on to the next command in the action.

Pause For __[you specify number]__ Seconds

Specifiesamount of time the action should pause before carrying out each step in the action.
Select the first item on the Action list for the Action
- Click symbol that looks like down arrow with 4 horizontal lines next to it at upper right of Actions Palette and on the pop-up menu
- Click Play
You can also start an action at later step but may not work if requires something from an earlier step..
Undo Actions by deleting the Snapshot of the image in the History palette

Download a set
Unzip into Photoshop Actions subfolder
On my computer that subfolder is in:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3\Presets\Actions
Click symbol that looks like down arrow with 4 horizontal lines next to it at upper right of Actions Palette and on the pop-up menu
- click on one of the Action sets at the bottom of the pop-up menu, such as Image Effects
- Or choose Load Action
  - open the folder where you saved the action
  - click on the action you just downloaded to load it into the Actions Palette
Load in a picture and run the action on it
Some actions create their own document, others require something in place
If the action stops so you can make something ready, you can continue by going to the next step and pressing Play on the popup menu

If there is a set of tasks that you have to perform over and over again, you can record the steps as an action
Click New Action on the Actions popup menu
Give the action a name and location
Click Record and start doing the tasks.