Actions - Step by Step

NOTE:In this show I’m going make an example action that will automatically size an image, convert it to a specific color space and then save it for the web. This is particularly handy for getting images ready for display on a webpage or for sending in email, but it is only one of the infinite number of things you could use an action for so feel free to try your own workflow instead.



Step 1: Open an image. Really just about any image will work, we are just using this image as an example so Photoshop can see the steps we want done to an image. Now select your actions pallet. If it isn’t open already you make it visible by going to the window menu then selecting the actions option. Now I’m going to make a new folder in the actions pallet to keep my actions organized. You don’t have to do this, but its very easy and will save you time looking for your action next time you need it. To make a new folder just click on the button that has a picture of a folder at the very bottom of the actions pallet.



Step 2: A box will pop open. Enter a name for the folder an hit ok.



Step 3: Now create a new action by clicking the button right next to the new folder button on the actions pallet. It should look like a sticky note.



Step 4: Another box will pop open. This is where you name your new action and pick where it will show up. Then for the set option select the folder you just made then hit record. Photoshop is now recording ever thing you do.



Step 5: For my action I’m going to resize my image by going to the file menu then the automate option then the fit image option.



Step 6: This will pop open a new box. To fit my images on my website I need them to be no wider than 419 pixles so I will enter that into the width box and I will also put 419 in the height. That way my images will get resized so the longest side gets resized to 419 pixels.



Step 7: The next thing I want Photoshop to do to my image is to set the color space. So I will select the edit menu and the convert to profile option. If you have an older version of photoshop this option might be under the image menu then mode.



Step 8: I’m going to pick sRGB for my destination color space since that works well for web images then click ok.



Step 9: Now I want to save my image for the web. So go to the file menu and hit the save for web option. Set you save options and click save.



Step 10: After saving, the final thing I want my action to do is close the image. So I will click the close button and not save my image.

Since that is the last step I want Photoshop to do in my action, click the stop button in the actions pallet. It’s at the bottom and looks like a square. My action is now saved. But there is one more thing I want to do to it before I start to use it. In the actions pallet you can see all the steps Photoshop has saved along with a small empty box to the left of each step that had a dialog box in it. I’m going to click that box for the save or export step. This will let me change the settings and save location manually each time the action is run.

Now when I need resize and convert an image for my website I just need to open the image, click on my action in the action pallet and click the play button at the bottom, Photoshop takes care of the rest.

Advanced users might want to check out the batch option under the file menu and the automate sub menu. This allows you to run your action on large numbers of images automatically and can make things even faster.

Now remember this is just an example of what actions can do. You can use actions to do just about anything in Photoshop, so try experimenting with your own workflow.

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