Editing and Highlight Recovery Actions

Descriptions marked with an image icon link to a web page, snapshot or rollover of the effect.
Descriptions marked with an info icon link to a PDF or webpage set of instructions.

Basic Workflow v.20, (includes batch version) Jim Reynolds, 8/16/2005

Jim's basic workflow which runs Neat Image, if installed, TLR Sharpening, available on this site, auto color with a blend layer, and changes the saturation level back to default. Uncheck features you do not use. Batch mode version included i the set.

Chip Springer's Digital Grey Card, CS/CS2 CS3+, Chip Springer, 10/15/2006

Allows color correction when there’s no neutral color in your image.

Contrast Mask, Chip Springer, 11/18/2007

A contrast mask is a tone mapping technique that lightens dark areas and darkens light areas. You can run this action on every image and reduce the effect as needed.

Danny's 3x3 Action, Danny Raphael, 12/10/2003

Creates a “rule of thirds” grid for cropping and composing images.

Danny's Save as Layers Action, Danny Raphael, 2/28/2004

Automates saving layers as separate files in versions prior to CS.

Demoneye Remover, Chip Springer, 11/30/2004

Removes yellow/green eye reflection from eyes of animals. Run the action, then, paint out demon eye with white brush and adjust left sliders on levels adjustment layer

Distortion Correction Nikon 18-105, Joel Karnofsky, 8/14/2009

When run within PanoTools (free), provides accurate, radial distortion correction for the Nikon 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens based on focal length and focus distance inputs. Archive includes installation instructions, script, and action that calls the script.

Dodge & Burn, Shannon Beauford, 6/21/2008

An to use action for dodging and burning an image.

Dodging and Burning, Perijn Hoefsloot, 7/10/2004

Creates dodge and burn adjustment layers. Paint on layer masks in black or white to add or erase the effect, then adjust opacity for degree of dodging or burning you wish.

Doug's File Handling Actions, Doug Bardell, 8/14/2005

A set of actions the contributors Doug Bardell uses in everyday Photoshop® operations.

Embedded Watermark, Shannon Beauford, 10/27/2007

Embeds a watermark invisible to the eye, but revealed when you run the read watermark action, Installation instructions in the zip file.

Fake DOF, Dayna Titus, 8/22/2010

Creates or increases DOF behind subject of interest. Action includes step-by-step instructions, including refinement of effect after it is applied.

HDR for Dummies, Jook Leung, 5/28/2006

Automates digital blending of separately exposed or RAW converted versions of an image. Archive contains instructions.

JJ Mack's Image Visualization—Actions and scripts for CS3+, John J. McAssey, 11/15/2009 (2.3 mb)

Packages most actions JJ has made available over the past few years. For CS3+. Read me includes contents and how-to.
Also requires documentation (13.5 mb).
Optional template is available from JJ's website.

Katrin Eismann's Fill Flash, Dave Jaseck, 2/4/2004

Automation of fill flash technique described by Katrin Eismann in her great Photoshop® Restoration and Retouching.

Kent's Colorcast Fix, Kent Christiansen, 4/8/2007

Fixes color cast without expanding, contracting canvas. Set includes separate actions for Ps7 and prior, CS+, and CS+ with high range compensation.

Kent's LensBlur, Kent Christiansen, 11/15//2004

Mimics the effect of the popular “LensBaby.” The action has 3 main aspects, explained in the PDF.

Paint with Light and Paint with Light II, Chip Springer, 12/28/2004

Chip's much used Paint with Light actions that bring out detail in highlights and shadows.

Redeye Remover v.2, Chip Springer, 6/10/2004

Removes redeye and greeneye while maintaining catch lights and texture. Also includes tooth brightener.

Rule of Thirds, Peter Birch, 7/22/04

Creates a 3x3 grid for editing and allows grid to be repositioned prior to crop.

Selective Focus, Shannon Beauford, 6/21/2008

Creates a Lensbaby-like effect in Photoshop.

Sheri's Shadow/Highlight Actions, v. 2b for Photoshop, Sheri Pierce, 2/1/2004
Sheri's Shadow/Highlight Actions, v. 2b for Elements, Sheri Pierce, 2/15/2004

Set provides two actions allowing recovery of shadow detail and highlight control. Archive file includes instructions.

Simple Dodge and Burn, Jim Lewis, 6/15/2011

There are other approaches to dodging and burning on this site, but this is one of the simplest and most effective. It creates an overlay layer on which you paint in light with a white brush and darkness with a black brush. After your learn to use it, you can turn off all steps after the layer is created. I use it so frequently, I've assigned it a keyboard shortcut.

Stinson's Dynamic Range Action, 2/1/2004

Increases dynamic range of JPGs, simulating capture of shadow and highlight detail in RAW. PS6+

Three Mask Saturation, Kelly Chamberlain, 8/4/2009

It doesn't get much easier than this. Action creates a group with three layers to boost saturation. After running, adjust opacity of the Layer Group. toggle individual RGB layers on and off ... or lower their opacity), shift-click on the Layer Masks to toggle them on and off, or paint an additional mask on the Layer Group. to adjust overall saturation and saturation.

Tilt/Shift Effect, Shannon Beauford, 6/21/2008

Turns a cityscape or crowd scene into an image that looks like a miniature model.

TLR Color Compensating Filters, Glenn Mitchell, 5/21/2006

Replicate the CC correction filters (filter pack) used in the color darkroom. Designed for specific RGB Workspaces, with separate sets of actions for Adobe RGB, sRGB, ColorMatchRGB, and ProPhotoRGB.

Tungsten Fix, Eric Lincoln, 11/18/2008

Provides a one-step fix for interiors shot with mixed light sources with a tungsten yellow cast.