Actions What is an action? One of the most powerful production features in Adobe Photoshop is the ability to record commands and tool operations in real-time and to save them in a script known as an action. When played, an action will play back all recorded steps applying changes to an image or if used in conjuction with the automation tools, an action forms the basis of a batch process applying the same settings to many images. 1.1 These actions are a collection of production and creative scripts that automate many routine or repetative tasks undertaken regularly by photographers. The set includes: conversions to monochrome and fake infrared, various toning profiles, quick fixes for under and overexposed photos, considerations for enlarging images, profiles for simulating the effects of cross processing, actions for applying soft focus or sharpening and numerous extra scripts for recreating alternative printing processes of the traditional darkroom. 1
Action s Quick Guide This guide does not list all actions included in the 1.1 bundle Levels Levels_01 Corrects the tonal range of an image whilst preserving the existing relationships between colours. This is the preferred correction and should be the first adjustment applied to an image within Photoshop. BW_Moody 1-3 Imitating the imagery of recognised photographer Ansel Adams, the BW_Moody set of actions produce emotionally evoking black and white prints. Levels_02 Maximises the tonal range of an image by altering the colour information in the original photograph. Using this adjustment can introduce or remove a colour cast into an image. BW_Portrait 1-4 Sympathetically created to convert studio portrait shots to mono, BW_Portrait has four distinctive flavours. Monochrome A comprehensive set of techniques for converting images from full colour to black and white prints. BW_Orthochromatic Film Rendering the blue, green and yellow tones in an image light and red tones as dark, this action imitates the qualities of working with Orthochromatic film. BW_Red Filter Reproducing the appearance of a deep red filter used with monochrome film, this action dramatically darkens blue skies and models clouds. BW_Manual Adjustment BW_Manual Adjustment is an intuitive technique for manually toning colour images black and white. For a more subtle effect use the BW_Orange Filter. 2
Action s Quick Guide This guide does not list all actions included in the 1.1 bundle Infrared Infrared photography captures light that resides outside the visible spectrum, turning images of grass, leaves and undergrowth incandescent white and blue skies dark or black in tone. Infrared_01 / Infrared_02 For use images that have a mix of foliage and sky. Sepia Sepia is notably the most commonly added tone to an image, producing photos that are a warmish yellow brown in colour and whose appearance is often associated with older aged prints. Sepia_1-4 Sepia actions 1-4 are predefined tones that will transform an image. Sepia 1 Infrared_03 Primarily for plant life and shrubbery (greens). Sepia Edit Sepia Edit allows photographers to specify a colour be assigned as the basis of the sepia tone. Infrared_04 Primarily for skies and oceans (blues). Sepia Toning and Sepia Factory By following the onscreen instructions, Sepia Toning and Sepia Factory, provide an opportunity to explore, develop and save custom sepia toning profiles. For the more experienced Photoshop users, Infrared_03 and Infrared_ 04 can be applied to copies of the same file and then merged together to create an infrared image. Sepia Factory 3
Action s Quick Guide This guide does not list all actions included in the 1.1 bundle Darkroom Toning Inspired by the use of traditional darkroom toners, these actions are a set of profiles that simulate the toning processes of the darkroom, making it possible to change or to emphasise the mood of a photo. Toning includes: Platinum Sepia Sepia Red Cyanotype BW / Brown BW / Green Palladium Platinum / Palladium Gold Selenium Selenium Brown Silver Silver Gelatine Quick Fixes Written to digitally enhance under or overexposed images, these actions can often rescue badly taken photographs. Decrease 1 or 2 f-stops Using the Decrease 1 or 2 f-stops action will darken an image resolving problems caused by overexposure. Decrease 1 Stop Increase 1 or 2 f-stops Using the Increase 1 or 2 f-stops action will lighten an image resolving problems caused by underexposure. BW / Green Increase 1 Stop Cyanotype Gold Enlargement Used to increase the final size of an image to be larger than its original. This action overcomes many of the issues that arise from interpolation and introduces few or no additional artefacts during the scaling process. Enlargements included: 141%, 200%, 300%, 400%, A5 > A1 and A5 > A0. Palladium Platinum Increase 1 Stop Sepia Red Silver 4
Action s Quick Guide This guide does not list all actions included in the 1.1 bundle Cross Processing Regularly associated with trendy and fashion-conscious imagery, cross processing arises from transparency and print films being developed in non-compatible chemistry, namely transparency film which should be developed in E6 chemicals being processed in C41 chemistry and for print film visa versa. The results of using this darkroom process are unpredictable and is often difficult to reproduce. The digital alternative is the solution delivering consistent results time and time again and moreover can be tailored to meet the individual requirements of an image. Soft Focus Soft focus is typically used to create a silky, more flattering appearance of the skin tones of models in portrait photography. This compilation of 8 soft focus actions will gently smooth away any blemishes, alter the mood of a shot and present options for selectively softening areas of a photograph. SF Pro Soft Focus Pro and Pro Edit will transform an image leaving skin tones silky smooth and glossy. CP Printfilm The CP Printfilm actions simulate the appearance of print film being developed in E6 (transparency film) chemistry. SF Dreamy Produces aspirational images. CP Printfilm Edit Simulates the appearance of print film developed in E6 chemistry, with the benefit of allowing users to manually fine-tune to the final image. CP Tranfilm The CP Tranfilm action simulates the appearance of transparency film developed in E6 chemistry. 5
Action s Quick Guide This guide does not list all actions included in the 1.1 bundle Sharpening An essential process for digital photographers, sharpening improves the appearance of a soft or out-of-focus images prior to creating a digital print. Each image should be sharpened separately, and photographers should be familair with a variety techniques that will work sympathetically with different images. Hi-Pass Sharpening An alternative technique to the popular Unsharp Mask filter within Adobe Photoshop. This action sharpens images using an extremely easy and intuitive approach providing crisp and punchy results. Portrait Sharpening Sharpens detail in model portrait shots without affecting the smooth silky skin-tones. High/Low Key Vignettes Low Key Vignettes The Low Key Vignette action will darken any background emphasising the selected area of an image. Landscape Sharpening Used for sharpening detail in landscape or countryside images without introducing noise to the smooth subtle tones in skies. Lab Sharpening Lab sharpening allows photographers to apply significantly more sharpening to an image than would normally be applied without altering the overall colour balance. High Key Vignettes The High Key Vignette action will lighten any background emphasising the selected area of an image. 6
Action s Quick Guide This guide does not list all actions included in the 1.1 bundle Traditional Techniques Written for photographers who have enjoyed years of experimenting with alternative printing and toning processes, this set of actions reproduces the fashionable and distinctive print finishes of the darkroom. Unaffected by the age of the developer, exposure time and the paper stock used, these digital alternatives provide reliable and predictable output time and time again. Lithographic Film Produces bold graphic images with very little detail and a limited tonal range to black and white. Lith Prints Produces images that are grainy in appearance with a blend of dark shadows and soft delicate highlights. Colours vary from light brown to orange. Van Dyke Prints Produces a subtle brown print with a limited tonal range. Cyanotypes (Blueprints) Best suited to bold graphic or architectural images, the Cyanotype action produces a rich blue print. Solarisation This action gives the illusion of film that has been fogged during the developing process, producing images that are under and overexposed with mackie lines in areas that have been extremely affected. Kallitypes Produces a high contrast, grey or steel blue coloured image with a gritty overall finish. Low Contrast Prints Produces an old-fashioned image with a limited tonal range. 7
Action s Quick Guide This guide does not list all actions included in the 1.1 bundle Colour Test The Colour Test automatically produces an A4 sample test sheet, that can be printed to allow photographers to quickly arrive at the most suitable colour adjustment for their image without wasting significant amounts of ink, paper and time. Sample Created Colour Test 8