Learn Adobe Photoshop - Actions Panel
83Check out Bas Rutten's Liver Shot on MMA Surge: http://bit.ly/MMASurgeEp1
In this video, Mahalo expert Gene Shaw explains how to use a few of the functions available in the Actions Panel.
Actions Panel Functions
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This fantastic tool allows you to record your actions, and then automate them on additional images. If you need to resize, recolor or add a watermark to multiple images, this is absolutely the panel you need to use.
1. In the top bar menu click on Window -- Actions. This will bring up the Actions Panel on the right side of the screen. This panel will allow you to speed up your workflow tremendously.2. The main area shows all of the default actions that Photoshop comes preloaded with. These include Vignette, Frame Channel, Wood Frame, Cast Shadow, Water Reflection and many others. This panel will automate several commonly used actions.3. To see one of these options in action, you'll need to make a selection. Click on the Marquee tool (top left, second down, looks like a square with dash marks) and select an area of the picture you're working with.4. With your area selected, click Vignette in the Actions Panel, then press the "play" button at the bottom of the panel (it looks like a play button on a DVD player). This might open up a dialogue box asking you to specify the feather radius. 5 pixels is fine, so click OK.5. You'll now notice a vignette surrounds your selection. You can change the color of the vignette simply by selecting the layer that the vignette appears on. In the video, the vignette is on Layer 2. 6. After you've selected the appropriate layer, change the color by clicking the color box in the lower left corner of the Tools Menu. Select the Paint Bucket tool and simply click in your selection. The result simply paints the color you've chosen into your vignette.7. If you find that you like a particular vignette color, you can choose to set a standard default color by clicking on the down arrow next to Vignette in the Actions Panel, then click Fill. It will probably say "Fill Using White." Double-click that and a dialogue box pops up. Now you can change your color to anything you want. This will not only update the current picture you're working with, but it will also set that color as the default color for vignettes in future pictures as well.8. This panel will also allow you to record your actions. For instance, if you needed to add a watermark to 50 images, you can create a new folder in the panel. Name it "Watermark" and click OK. 9. You can then create a new action. Another dialogue box pops up asking you to name your newly-created action. Go ahead and do so, then click Record. This will record your actions until you hit the "stop" button.10. Now, select the Character icon and type your watermark on your image. Make sure you're on the top layer so it shows up. Resize and place accordingly, and when you're finished hit the "stop" button. This records your watermark in the folder you designated in the Actions Panel.11. Open up another image, click Watermark, and hit "play." Your watermark will now appear on your other image. You can repeat this as many times as you like. If you have a lot (like 50 images), you can use the Automate function by clicking File -- Automate -- Batch.
Read more by visiting our page at:
http://www.mahalo.com/learn-adobe-photoshop-actions-panel/