Lights, camera, actions

I have recently learned to love Photoshop's Actions palette. Actions allows the user to automate repetitive tasks. I created an "Initial Processing" action. It runs all Photoshop's automatic adjustments (auto levels, auto colors, auto contrast) plus unsharp mask.



Here's the original picture using my own actions.

I have found that auto colors tends to make pictures bluer than I'd like. If I don't like new color, I go into the history palette and click on the step before auto colors. That removes auto colors.

Then I use the unsharp mask command again. It's under filter ---> sharpen. Unsharp mask has three sliders. I have set my amount slider at 50 percent, radius at 1.0 pixels and threshold at 0 level. I rarely change these.

I've also automated changing the photo's dots per inch from its original setting to 72 (web quality).

To make your own action, choose the actions palette under windows. Click on the circled arrow or three bars at the upper right of that palette for the menu. Choose either "New Set…" or "New Action…". "New Set" will make a folder for your actions, but a new folder is not necessary. After naming your new action, click "Record", then complete the commands you wish to automate. When finished, choose "Stop Recording".



I found some very fun actions, including the collage, at Visual Blast Media.



The Pioneer Woman is another source for great actions. Hers are more practical than the fun ones at Visual Blast Media. I used Quick Edge Burn on this one.