Photoshop
has a powerful programming language built-in that allows you to record
tasks as an 'action' and replay the steps to complete the task
automatically. Not only can you record your own, but you can also import
actions, opening up a whole range of effects and time-saving options.
Here we've rounded up some of the best Photoshop actions that are free
to download and install.
This simple action creates a beautiful blockbuster-film look,
heightening details in your photographs and increasing contrast, while
introducing a blue/green tint.
This quirky action from JonasFan93 creates a pseudo 3D anaglyphic image
by separating out colour channels within your image and offsetting
them. This freebie offers a number of different styles that are more
suitable for use in printed brochures and website design where you’re
aiming for a stylized effect.
If you’re after a toy-camera-style effect, this action produces just
that. Nice and simple to use, but very effective and convincing results
(similar to Instagram images) including over-saturated colours, bleeding
and heavy vignettes.
This set of actions creates hipstamatic-style images inside
Photoshop. The download includes three actions, each of which creates a
recognisable treatment including borders and noise.
This action adds a punchy high-contrast black & white effect to
your photographs. It produces a nice grittiness with heavy grain and
over-saturated blacks. Great for creating a stylized image.
This simple action is based on a tutorial on how to create a
convincing page curl effect in Photoshop, but with the action there’s no
need to take all the suggested steps - simple click and run for a handy
time-saving effect ideal for web designers.
This superb action offers a slightly more refined version of the
standard sepia effect by adding a contrast curve to age the final result
so that it feels like a faded photograph. Dramatic Sepia offers a great
way to communicate a sense of age.
This is another stylized photographic treatment that adds a filmic,
green-cast and heavily saturated shadows effect. The end result feels
both blockbuster-movie-like, and very fashion orientated.
This action requires a credit if you use it, but offers a very simple
way to convert a regular photograph into a stunning high-key portrait
with clean lines and an almost dreamy finish, without compromising
essential areas of contrast.
Quickly and easily whiten teeth with a natural-looking result with
this handy action from ModernActions. The script targets particular
tones, brightening off-whites for a simple way to achieve a more
pleasing set of gnashers!
The final stage of image preparation should be to sharpen your images
according to the final delivery method - you sharpen differently for
print or screen. This free action from MCP Actions offers a simple
one-click solution to sharpening, with the ability to control the degree
of sharpening that’s been applied after the fact by adjusting the
opacity and masking of layers.
This action adds a beautiful warmth to your photographs, bringing out
rich tones in hair and skin, and softening colours with a pink cast
that creates a romantic, nostalgic feel.
This simple set of actions allows you to quickly change the colour of
eyes in your photos. Choose from a set of different actions according
to the colour you’d like, and adjust for a final result. Great
time-saver when you need to alter eye colour.
Want to go 3D with Photoshop actions? Create sophisticated pseudo-3D
extrusions from text, shapes or layers with gloss and highlights using
this great tool.
Turn any image into a Polaroid instantly with one of 10 different
effects. Includes colour treatments and shadows automatically, and it's
one of those Photoshop actions you'll use again and again.
That's right: Photoshop actions can improve your skin! Skin Glow
Enhacements is an action that brings skin tones to life with a healthy
glow. Also has the effect of warming the entire image slightly, making
for a sun-kissed tone.
Photoshop actions are extremely useful for wedding photographers,
dealing with a huge number of shots. Here you get a set of eleven
actions that automatically create common portrait effects, especially
around the theme of wedding photography. Includes skin smoothing and
soft filter effects as well as b/w conversion.
This action uses contrast to find the edges in your image and
automatically render a pencil sketch effect. Start from a full-colour
image with no need to convert to black and white first.
The area between greyscale and colour is split toning and adding this
slight change to your photos can have a dramatic effect. You can also
create retro and abstract images with this technique.
Vintage Photoshop actions are extremely popular. This one applies
selective desaturation and colour correction to create a distinct
vintage feel to your images.
This action creates a heavily stylised vintage look, complete with
rough paper edges and cracking. Produces really beautiful results ideal
for retro-styled images.
Create round stickers with a curl in the corner, or polaroid-style
images with clear sticky tape holding it in place. Site requires free
registration to download action.
Automatically convert your text into a snazzy 1930s-style retro
treatment with shiny sequins and a nice 3D effect. It’s also easy to
adjust after running the action as all the layers are retained.
