Using Photoshop Action

Photoshop include a number of predefined actions. You can use these actions as is, or you can make a copy and customize them to meet your needs, or you can easily create new one.

To Create New Photoshop Action

1. Open an image file.
2. Click the Actions tab to bring the Actions palette to the front or, if the palette isn’t open, choose Window » Actions.
   
   
3. To create a set that you’ll add actions to, click the Create New Set button (C) at the bottom of the Actions palette. Name the set, and click OK.
4. Click the New Actions button (D).
5. Enter a name for the action.
   
6. Choose a set from the pop-up menu.
7. If desired, set one or both of the following options:
   • Assign a keyboard shortcut to the action. You can choose any combination of a Function key, the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac OS), and the Shift key (for example, Ctrl+Shift+F3), with these exceptions: In Windows, you cannot use the F1 key, nor can you use F4 or F6 with the Ctrl key.
   • Assign a color for display in Button Mode.
8. Click Record. The Record button (B) in the Actions palette turns red
9. Choose the commands and perform the operations that you want included in the action. When you create a new action, the commands and tools you use are added to the action until you stop recording.

Note: Photoshop can’t automate paint strokes, zoom settings, scrolling, and window selections.

10. When you have performed all the steps you want to record, click the Stop button (A) at the bottom of the Actions palette.
11. To test the action, open another file, select the action in the Actions palette, and click the Play button .

Inserting stops

You can include stops in your action that let you perform a task that cannot be recorded (for example, using a painting tool). Once you’ve completed the task, click the Play button in the Actions palette to complete the task. You can insert a stop when recording an action or after it has been recorded.You can also display a short message when the action reaches the stop. For example, you can remind yourself what needs to be done before continuing with the action. Photoshop gives you the option of including a Continue button in the message box. This lets you check for a certain condition in the file (for example, a selection) and continue if nothing needs to be done.

To insert a stop:

1. Choose where to insert the stop by doing one of the following:
   • Select an action’s name to insert a stop at the end of the action.
   • Select a command to insert a stop after the command.
2. Choose Insert Stop from the Actions palette menu and choose Insert Stop.

   

3. Type the message you want to appear.
4. If you want the option to continue the action without stopping, select Allow Continue.
5. Click OK.

Tip: You may also slow down the action process by change action play back option to Step-by-Step or Pause for some second. To change action’s Play Back Option click at action palette menu and choose Play Back Option

Setting modal controls

A modal control pauses an action so that you can specify values in a dialog box or use a modal tool. You can only set modal controls for actions that launch dialog boxes or activate modal tools. If you do not set a modal control, dialog boxes do not appear when you play the action, and you cannot change the recorded values.

A modal control is indicated by a dialog box icon to the left of a command, action, or set in the Actions palette. Actions and sets in which some, but not all, available commands are modal display a red dialog box icon . In Photoshop, you must be in list mode–not button mode–to set a modal control.

To set a modal control:

• Click the box to the left of the command name to display the dialog box icon. Click again to remove the modal control.
• To turn on or disable modal controls for all commands in an action, click the box to the left of the action name.
• (Photoshop) To turn on or disable modal controls for all actions in a set, click the box to the left of the set name.

Excluding commands

You can exclude commands that you don’t want to play as part of a recorded action. In Photoshop, you must be in list mode–not button mode–to exclude commands.

To exclude or include a command:

1. To expand the listing of commands in an action, click the triangle to the left of the action you want to work with.
2. Click the check mark to the left of the specific command you wish to exclude; click again to include the command. To exclude or include all commands in an action, click the check mark to the left of the action name.

When you exclude a command, its check mark disappears. In addition, the check mark of the parent action turns red to indicate that some of the commands within the action are excluded.

Related Article:

• What is Photoshop Action?
• Saving and Loading Photoshop Action
• Create Droplet using photoshop Action
• Using Photoshop Batch Command

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