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PREVIEW
PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS – THE MOTHER OF ALL
TUTORIALS
Written and compiled by Danny J. Raphael
version 1.1B–
March 2004
WHAT DOES THIS TUTORIAL COVER?
The table of contents will give you a sense for content breadth. Text in
bold green
represents new content for this edition.
VIEWING
The document is nearly 300 pages in length. The intent was for you to view it
on your computer monitor.
FILE SIZES
The size of the compressed download package is just over 400 KB. The unzipped
tutorial file is approximately 1,300 KB.
BUT I CAN’T OPEN .DOC FILES!
If you do not have a program that will open .doc (Microsoft Word) format
files, send e-mail to PhotoshopActions@yahoo.com
to request an .html version of this tutorial that can be opened by a browser
such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, etc.
I.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
II.
INTRODUCTION
III.
Terminology
IV.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - for newbies
V.
Tidbits For action heads: did you know?
VI.
Basic Concepts
1. Learning About Actions: Photoshop Help,
Web Sites, Books, Videos
2. Why Record Actions?
3. Types Of Things Actions Can Record
4. Example Results
5. Good And Bad Action Candidates
6. Action Limitations And Workarounds
7. Where Actions Come From
8. Miscellaneous General Questions
VII.
Compatibility
9. Compatibility With Future Versions of
Photoshop
10. Compatibility With the New Version of
Photoshop
11. Compatibility With Photoshop Elements
12. Compatibility With Photoshop LE
13. Compatibility With Academic
(Educational) Versions Of Photoshop
14. Compatibility With Other Programs
15. Compatibility Between Windows And
Macintosh Versions
16. Compatibility Between Photoshop 5.0/5.5
And Later Versions
17. Compatibility Between Photoshop
(current) and Previous Versions
VIII.
Actions For The Casual User
18. Actions Palette
19. Displaying The Actions Palette Menu
20. Actions Palette Display Mode Options
21. List Mode
22. Button Mode
23. Actions Palette Command Buttons
24. Actions Palette Menu Commands Vs.
Control Icons
25. Action Sets
26. Actions Installed With Photoshop
27. Loading Actions Installed With
Photoshop Via The Actions Palette Menu
28. How Can I Tell What The Adobe Provided
Actions Do?
29. Self-Protection I: Before Playing
Actions You Did Not Write
30. Playing Actions I
31. Exiting An Action Before It Has
Finished
32. Resuming A Stopped (Paused) Action
33. Playback Options
34. Self-Protection Ii: Virus
Considerations
35. Internet Considerations
36. Internet: Free Action Download Sites
37. Internet: Purchasing Actions
38. Internet: Handling Compressed (Zip)
Files
39. Storing Action Set Files: Where Do I
Put Them?
40. Load Actions
41. Creating A Custom Action Set
42. Recording Actions I: Creating A New
Action
43. Assigning Or Changing Colors
44. Duplicating (Copying) An Action
45. Modifying Actions I
46. Renaming An Action
47. Deleting An Action Or Action Step
48. Moving An Action
49. Moving An Action Step
50. Adding Steps
51. When To Use The Record Button
52. Insert Menu Item Command
53. Duplicating (Copying) An Action Step
54. Modifying Settings
55. Rerecording Settings In A Step
56. Rerecording Settings In All Or Multiple
Steps In An Action
57. Controlling Which Commands Play, Which
Dialogs Display
58. Disabling (Skipping) And Enabling
Action Steps
59. Disabling (Suppressing) And Enabling
Action Step Dialog Boxes
60. Enable/Disable And Display Dialog
Checkbox Summary
61. Suppressing Stop Command Dialog Boxes
62. Saving Actions
63. Printing Action
64. Other Uses For Actions.Txt
65. Sharing Actions Via E-Mail, CD, Floppy
Disk Or Internet
66. Sharing Actions With Photoshop 5.X And
Non-Photoshop Users
IX. Beyond Basics
67. Review Of Potentially Dangerous Action
Set Menu Commands
68. Keyboard Shortcuts: The Best
Photoshop-Wide Summary On The Web
69. Keyboard Shortcuts: Assigning And
Unassigning
70. Keyboard
Shortcuts: Commands.atn And Photoshop Defaults
71. Keyboard Shortcuts: Why Are No F Keys
Available For Assignment?
72. Keyboard Shortcuts: Assigning Duplicate
Shortcuts Across Action Sets
73. Selecting Multiple Action Sets, Actions
And Action Steps
74. Modifying Actions II
75. Copying Vs. Moving Action Sets, Actions
And Action Steps
76. Copying (Duplicating) Blocks Of
Commands, Actions Or Action Sets
77. Merging Two Actions Using Move Or Copy
78. Deleting A Block Of Commands
79. Recording Actions II
80. Actions That Play Other Actions: How To
Record The Action Step
81. Actions That Play Other Actions: Why
Bother?
82. Actions That Play Other Actions:
Staying Out Of Trouble
83. Switching Among Images
84. Insert Path
85. Playing Actions II
86. Playing An Action, Slowing It Down For
Learning Or Debugging
87. Playing Parts Of An Action
88. Playing Multiple Actions In An Action
Set: Less Flexible Method
89. Playing Multiple Actions Across Action
Sets: More Flexible Method
90. Playing Multiple Actions From Different
Action Sets
91. Stop Commands
92. Enable/Disable Checkbox: Danger Lurks
At The Action And Action Set Levels
93. Display Dialog Checkbox: Danger Lurks
At The Action And Action Set Levels
94. Workflow: Where Do Actions Fit In?
95. Managing The Actions Presets Folder
\Presets\Photoshop Actions
96. Action Palette Organization
97. Action Names And Action Set Names
98. Pros And Cons Of Button Mode
99. Pros And Cons Of List Mode
100. Examples Of Actions Palette
Organization: Button Mode
101. Examples Of Actions Palette
Organization: List Mode
102. Loading Action Sets – Faster And
Easier Methods
103. Backup And Recovery
104. Backup
Nirvana - The Actions Preferences File: Actions Palette.Psp
105. Backing Up The Entire Actions Palette
All At Once
106. Migrating Actions To A New Version Of
Photoshop (Same Machine)
107. Migrating Actions To A New Machine
108. Other Uses
For Actions Palette.Psp
109. Restoring The Entire Actions Palette
110. Restoring
Action Sets From Actions Palette.Psp Using Task Manager
111. Restoring
Action Sets From Actions Palette.Psp By Pulling the Plug
112. Restoring
Action Sets From Actions Palette.Psp After Many Changes
113. Restoring
Action Sets From Actions Palette.Psp – Not!
114. Writing Actions
115. Writing Actions Outside Of Photoshop
116. Before You Hit The New Action Button…
117. Writing Actions That Are Compatible
With Photoshop Elements
118. Writing Actions For Compatibility With
Non-English Versions Of Photoshop
119. Writing Actions – Using Keyboard
Shortcuts To Move Among Layers
120. Batch Automation - Introduction
121. Batch Automation – The Best Book
Resources On Batch Automation
122. Batch
Automation – Photoshop Elements
123. Batch Automation – The Basics
124. Batch Automation – File > Automate >
Batch Dialog
125. Batch Automation – Review Of Steps
126. Batch Automation – When Is A Save As…
Command Needed?
127. Batch Automation – Stop for Errors
128. Batch Automation – Terminating An In
Progress Process
129. Batch Automation – The Sequence Of
Images Processed
130. Batch Automation – Single Actions Vs.
Multiple Actions
131. Batch Automation – Multiple Folders
In, One Folder Out
132. Batch Automation – Multiple Folders
In, Multiple Folders Out
133. Batch Automation – Folder Or File
Browser?
134. Batch Automation – File > Save As… Vs.
Save For The Web For .Jpg
135. Batch Automation – Limitation:
Selective Image Rotation
136. Batch Automation – Sizing All Images
Regardless Of Orientation
137. Batch Automation – Automating The Scan
Process
138. Batch Automation – Renaming Files
139. Batch
Automation – Renaming Files And Not Having To Start At 001
140. Batch Automation – Workaround:
Plug-Ins Whose Settings Don’t Record
141. Batch Automation – Why Stop Commands
Are A No-No
142. Batch Automation – Workaround: When A
Stop Command Is Needed
143. Batch Automation – Limitation:
Inserting File Name
144. Batch
Automation – Raw Considerations
145. Batch
Automation – Raw Files And Dr. Brown’s Image Processor
146. Batch Automation – Most Common Errors
Using File > Automate > Batch
147. Batch Automation – Tutorial Links
148. Batch Automation – Droplets
149. Batch Automation – Droplets Vs. File >
Automate > Batch
150. Batch Automation – The Convenience Of
A Droplet And Flexibility Of Batch
151. Batch Automation – Making Actions And
Droplets Play Faster
152. Scripting
153.
Alternatives To Actions, Scripting And Batch Processing
X. HELP - ACTIONS
154. Help! Introduction
155. Help!
Deleting Photoshop Preferences: A Common Cure
156. Help! Play (►) Is Grayed-Out
157. Help! Play (►) Is Grayed-Out (2)
158. Help! When I Click Play (►) Nothing
Happens
159. Help! When I Click Play (►) Nothing
Happens (2)
160. Help! When I Click Play (►) Only Part
Of The Action Runs
161. Help! Where Did All These Dialog Boxes
Come From?
162. Help! "No Files Are Selected In The
File Browser"
163. Help! Actions Palette: I Can’t Open
The Actions Palette Menu
164. Help!
Actions Palette: It Won’t Stay In Button Mode
165. Help! Play Button: I Can’t Find It!
166. Help! Play
Button: It’s Grayed Out.
167. Help! "Can't Load Action Because There
Is Not Enough Memory."
168. Help! General Self-Help Approaches
169. Help! What Settings Should I Use?
170. Help! This Action Runs Really Slow
171. Help! The Action Is Finished, But What
Do I Do Now?
172. Help! How Do I Undo This Mess?
173. Help! Do I Have To Start Over?
174. Help! I Double-Click An .Atn And Ps
Opens, But I Can’t Find The Actions
175. Help!
Restoring Actions – Adobe Provided (Default.Atn)
176. Help!
Restoring Actions – Adobe Provided (From \Presets\Photoshop Actions)
177. Help! Restoring Actions – Ones I Wrote
Or Modified
178. Help! Restoring Actions – Received Via
Email Or The Internet
179. Help! Finding Action Set Files (.Atn)
On My Hard Disk
180. Help! Finding Actions On My Hard Disk
181. Help! Finding Actions Misfiled In The
Actions Palette
182. Help! Finding Lost Actions - A Clunky
But Functional Method
183. Help! Email Attachments (Receiving)
184. Help! Email Attachments (Sending)
185. Help! Command Not Available
186. Help! File, Brush, Texture, Preset Or
Other File Not Found
187. Help! These Aren’t The Results I
Expected!
188. Help! Text
Action Worked Under PS7, But Not Under CS
189. Help! I
Can’t Move An Action From One Action Set To Another
190. Help! I
Recorded A Stop Command, But It Will Not Display
191. Help!
Nested Action Fails. I Changed An Action Or Set Name
192. Help!
Nested Action Fails, But I Did Not Change The Action Or Set Name
193. Help! Save
For The Web Is Putting Dashes In My File Names
194. Help! Save
For The Web Is Cutting Off My File Names
195. Help!
Missing Actions: They’re Unzipped, But Not In The Actions Palette
196. Help! (Mac
OSX) Keyboard Shortcut Assignments Aren’t Working
XI. HELP – BATCH PROCESSING AND
DROPLETS
197. Batch
Automation Help – "A Command Was Canceled Or Stopped While Batching"
198. Batch Automation Help – Converting To
.jpg Without The Annoying Dialogs
199. Batch Automation Help – "No Messages
Are Selected In The File Browser"
200. Batch
Automation Help – "Photoshop cannot recognize the file extension"
201. Batch Automation Help – Command Not
Available
202. Batch Automation Help – No Files In
Destination Folder (1)
203. Batch Automation Help – No Files In
Destination Folder (2)
204. Batch Automation Help – Only One File
In Destination Folder
205. Batch
Automation Help – Automate > Batch Is Grayed Out
206. Batch
Automation Help – EXIF Data: It’s Gone!
207. Batch
Automation Help – I Can’t Restart A Stopped Action To Crop!
208. Batch
Droplet Help – Photoshop CS: Droplets Stopped Working
XII. HOW TO
209. How To: Adjustment Layers, Bypassing
New Layer Dialog
210. How To: Adjustment Layers, Add As A
Grouped Layer
211. How To: Distribute An Action With A
Custom .Acv Setting
212. How To: Use Batch Processing For Image
Folder To Folder Copy
213. How To: Merge Multiple Layers Into One
Layer Without Collapsing Them
214. How To: How To Select Tools You Can’t
Normally Select
215. How To:
Conditionally Execute An Action (If-Then-Else)
216. How To: Record File > Open Without
Having To Specify A File Name
217. How To: Record File > Save As Without
Having To Specify A File Name
218. How To: How To Indicate When Batch
Automation Is Finished
219. How To: Write An Action To Convert .tif
To .jpg And Sharpen
220. How To:
Fix Hot Pixels With The Patch Tool
221. How To:
Fix Hot Pixels With Copy And Paste
222. How To:
Fix Hot Pixels Using Copy/Paste And Median
223. How To:
Place Horizontal & Vertical Guides At 33%, 66% (Rule Of Thirds)
224. How To:
Automatically Place Guides The Center Of An Image
225. How To:
Automatically Create Contact Sheets And Print Them In One Action
226. How To:
Create 3 Image Sizes And Put Each Size Into A Separate Folder
227. How To:
Populate A Layer Mask (Or Adjustment Layer) With Image Luminosity
228. How To:
Populate The File > File Info… Keywords Field
229. How To:
Add A Copyright And URL To File > File Info
230. How To:
Create A File From Each Layer In An Image
231. How To:
Convert .Jpg To .Psd And Save .Psd Files In Same Folder As .jpgs
232. How To:
Create A Selection 1/4" From Each Edge Of An Image
233. How To:
Batch Process Images From Multiple Source Folders
234. How To:
Create A Null Action
235. How To:
Adding Text, Logos, Signatures, Copyright To Images - Introduction
236. How To:
Type A Copyright Symbol ©
237. How To:
Batch Add Custom Text To Each Image
238. How To:
Batch Add The Same Text To Each Image
239. How To:
Create a Watermark
240. How To:
Create a Signature Brush
241. How To:
Use A Signature Brush To Sign Images In Batch – Method 1 Automatic
242. How To:
Use A Signature Brush To Sign Images In Batch – Method 2 Manual
243. How To:
Batch Process A Signature With A Layer Style
244. How To: Create A Custom Shape For A
Signature And Apply It Through Batch
XIII. Exercises
245. Exercise 1: Record New Action "Stop
Action 1"
246. Testing And Modifying Action "Stop
Action 1"
247. Exercise 2: Record New Action
"Duplicate My Image"
248. Testing Action "Duplicate My Image"
249. Exercise 3: Assigning A Keyboard
Shortcut To "Duplicate My Image"
250. Exercise 4: Inserting A Duplicate
Image Command in an Action
XIV. APPENDICES
251. Testing Environment
252. Summary Of Action And Action Palette
Operations
253. Keyboard Shortcuts: Layers Palette
Related (Handy For Action Writing)
254. Actions Are Not Filters Or Plug-Ins
(And Vice Versa)
255. Nuances Of Applying Save For The Web
Via Batch Or Droplet
256. Bibliography
257. Submitting Suggestions And Corrections
258. Credits And Acknowledgements
259. About The Author
260. ** How You Can Make A Difference *
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