Automate Your Favorite Photoshop Routines - O'Reilly Media

• Action: This is the actual set of commands recorded in macro form. You have to select this to ensure the correct action is being applied to the image.

   
  
  

Figure 1. This is the Photoshop Actions palette in Edit mode

   
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  On/Off command: This turns an action (or an effect nested inside of an action) on or off.

   
  
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  Dialogue icon: Requires user intervention. When the action is running, the user may click this to modify the highlighted command. If it is turned off, Photoshop will execute the defaults for that command.

   
  
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  Play button: Begins playing an action (or set of actions).

   
  
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  Record button: Starts recording (or resumes) recording (not in button mode).

   
  
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  Stop record: When finished running an action, hit this button (not in button mode).

   
  
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  New set: Creates a new set in which to place your actions (not in button mode).

   
  
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  New action: Creates a new action within the selected set (not in button mode).

   
  
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  Delete action: Deletes the selected action (or steps within the action). Simply drag and drop the action to this icon to delete it (not in button mode).

   
  
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  Resize palette: Self-explanatory.

   
  
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  Action menu icon: This opens the action menu and allows you to edit the action, insert new commands, delete commands, and save sets (not in button mode).

Button mode: This mode allows users to run actions with the simple click of a button. It presents a less confusing set of options to some users. There are some disadvantages to using button mode. First, the user doesn't have the option to adjust the command settings. Though easier to understand and use, the flexibility to modify, stop, or otherwise alter the action is gone. Second, you can't display action sets in button mode. I recommend button mode for beginners only. Once you are accustomed to actions, you will want to work in edit mode.

 

Creating Actions

  

You aren't limited to the actions that come with Photoshop. You can make your own. To do this, you will want to open any image and then open the actions palette.

  
 
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   Create a new action set or select an existing action set from the Actions menu. Remember, actions are always saved in sets.

    
  
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   From the actions palette, click the new action icon at the bottom of the palette, or choose "New action" from the Actions menu.

     

   This is the menu item you select to make a new action. The dialog box pops up and asks you to assign a function key, name the action, etc.

    
  
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   Next, name your action, assign it a function key,* assign a color for organization, and select the set in which to place the action. You may always change these later by going to the Actions palette menu, selecting Action Options, and typing a new name.

     

   The main thing to remember is that, once you hit Record, anything you do in Photoshop will be added to the action unless you manually stop recording. You can stop and resume at any time. *(Note: When assigning function keys, you have a choice of using F1-F12, or combinations of keys, including the Command and Shift keys. This increases the number of possible keyboard shortcuts to 60.)

    
  
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   Proceed with the commands that you want to record.

    
  
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   When you are finished, stop recording.

    
  
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   Test the action by running it. You should test the action on the image you have open and a second unrelated image to make sure it performs in a predictable manner.

    
  
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   Next, save the action. "Save action" will only appear if you select the set where the action was first placed.

    
 
  

You've done it. By default, the action is saved to a folder in Photoshop. You may also save the action to a different folder. I prefer to save my actions in a separate folder. I call this ScottsActions. That way, I can always easily find the actions I created.