Running actions in Photoshop Elements is a great time saver for busy Moms (and everyone else too!).  Actions automate common photo improvements.  Some require only one click of a button, other require that one click plus additional adjustments.  They all save time!  Unless, of course, you end up spending more time Photoshopping just because the actions are so cool!

Some actions add functions that aren’t even available in Photoshop Elements.  Many are free, and those that you have to pay for are much much cheaper than purchasing the full-blown Photoshop.

What Processes Can Actions Automate in Photoshop Elements?

• Convert to black & white (Who knew there were 47 million different versions of B&W?  And they’re all good!)
• Retouch portraits – sharpen, smooth skin, brighten eyes and much more
• Add a vignette
• Apply a selective B&W effect
• Apply color wash effects
• Add a layer mask (not available in PSE without an added action)
• Separate and modify color channels
• Add effects like Old Newspaper, Old Romance, Disposable Camera and many others
• Many more

Compatibility of Actions and PSE

There are lots of actions available for Photoshop, but not as many for Photoshop Elements.  Before you download an action, make sure it’s compatible with both your software package and the version of that software.  For instance, some actions are compatible with PSE version 6, but not with version 7. I’ve even found a few that run well in all recent versions of PSE, except that they are cantankerous in PSE 5 on XP only.  If they’re free, you won’t lose anything to try them out.  Just make sure you check for compatibility before you purchase anything.

And, remember that you can find instructions for installing actions in Photoshop Elements here.

Sources for Free Actions in Photoshop Elements

One of my first posts discussed the great actions at CoffeeShop Photography.  And here are a couple of other sources of free actions for Photoshop Elements.

The first is Virtual Photographer, by OptikVerve Labs.  This action set installs and is accessed a bit differently than other actions I use, but both installation and use are very easy. And the installation instructions are downloaded with the plug-in that you download.  To use this action set, open a picture in PSE and go to the Filters menu.  At the bottom of the menu, select OptikVerve Labs/Virtual Photographer.  A new dialogue box will open.  Here, you can select from the long list of Presets or you can make your own adjustments using the Photographic Style section.  I especially like the Ambiance and Dreamy presets.  Both use a bit of blur to add a soft glow to your image, whereas Ambiance intensifies colors and Dreamy softens them.

Graficalicus is another great place to find actions – lots of them.  Graffi seriously knows his Photoshop stuff.  His blog is full of advanced tips to get more out of PSE.  He has a sampler pack available for free, plus several different action sets for sale.  All but one of these packs are less than $20.  What a deal!  And, Graficalicus even has a product called Add-O-Matic that installs actions with one click.  It sounds like this Add-O-Matic will install all types of actions, brushes, layer styles and any other goodies you might have for PSE, even if they’re not made by Graficalicus, but I haven’t tested it myself.

I have the Handy Actions set, which contains more than 60 actions.  Everyone should have a layer mask, and Handy Actions provides one.  In addition, you can modify channels and curves, crop to a standard photo size, create a guide for the Rule of Thirds, adjust Depth of Field, fix under- and overexposure, sharpen and much more.  Some of these actions add full-blown Photoshop features to Elements.

Don’t forget to download the Handy Actions cheat sheet, which explains how to use many of these features.

It wasn’t too long ago that I didn’t even know what Depth of Field or the Rule of Thirds were.  And now, not only do I use them to improve my pictures, I even have actions to automate them.  I’m making progress!  Hope you are too – get some new actions and fix those pictures!