UsernameEmailRegionInterestAOL IMICQ IDYahoo! IDMSN IDJabber

Current mood:	cold
Current music:	None
Entry tags:	!tutorials, !umbreon

PS7 Actions Tutorial

How to use the actions in Photoshop 7.0. In other words, how to set it so you can easily perform repetative actions multiple times.

I'll be using this image as an example for this tutorial:


For beginners to intermediate level. Translatable?



First Some Important Points:
1. The steps I list here when I start recording my actions are just used as examples. You DO NOT have to perfom them as I do.

2. Personally speaking, I would only use this feature for adjustment and/or color layers and duplicating your layers. Definitely avoid adding in textures, sharpen or resize the image before you start, or waiting until the end to add text.

Now Here's The Tutorial:

1. On PS7 there's a tab located in the history window labeled "actions". It's in-between the "history" and "tool presets" tabs. Click it and you should see this:



2. At the bottom of this window are six little icons. Click on the one to the left of the trash can icon. You will then see a new window pop up prompting you to name your new action if you so wish, like I did here:



3. After you have named your new action PS7 will automatically begin recording your actions.

4. Begin using whatever steps you wish to record for the image you've selected. In the case of my example image I did the following in this order:

Duplicate the original image and set it to soft light.

Selective coloring layer.
>>> Red: -100, 0, 100, 0
>>> Yellow: -100, 0, 100, 0
>>> Whites: -100, 0, -100, -25
>>> Neutrals: 0, 0, -50, -35

Channel mixer adjustment layer.
>>> Red: +150, -25, -25
>>> Blue: 0, -25, +125

Duplicate original layer, bring it to the top, and set it to screen at 50% opacity.

Solid color adjustment layer, filled with #9f7bbb, and set it to luminosity at 80% opacity.

Create a new layer, then hit ctrl+shift+alt+E to stamp visible, and set it to overlay at 50% opacity.

Delete all the layers in-between the overlay layer and your original image.

Duplicate your original layer, bring it to the top, and set it to screen.

Merge all your layers.

Which gives us this:



5. When you have finished inputting all the necessary steps, hit the stop button. It's the square icon on the far left.

6. Now we'll test out our recording. Close the image you were working on and don't save the changes. Then open the same image in your PS7.

7. At the bottom of the action window you should see your new action listed. Simply highlight it and click the play button. It's the triangle button near the middle.



8. And voila! You have the same results from when you first inputted your actions. Just by viewing the history window you can see everything you did by just pressing the play button:



This is a great feature to use whenever you need to do the same actions over and over again with many images. Most often I use it to prepare my bases before I begin really tweeking them.

Last but not least, if you need to delete an action just highlight it and click on the trash can icon. Then select "yes" and that's it.