![]() For example, I recently changed the blend mode I use for Dodge and Burn to Luminosity. Even if those steps were recorded at different moments, they can be rearranged (by dragging the relevant step) and put in the right order or replaced. You can break down any process in Photoshop into steps. When creating or editing actions, think non-linearly. See the photo below for an example of a stop. You can also edit that text by clicking on the step in the Actions panel. Once created, you’ll see the stop appear as a step in your action. You can do so by clicking on the down arrow at the top of the Actions panel. If you’ve just discovered a difficult technique that you love, you may need a couple extra pieces of info to ensure that you do it correctly. Tip 4: Create Perfect Photoshop Actions – Add Stops to Give Yourself InstructionsĪdd stops to give yourself instructions. Because you’ve created the layer like this, Photoshop can create it over and over again without ever interfering with anything else. Up pops this dialogue box that will allow us to name the layer, color code it, change the blend mode, and the opacity. We go to the Layers menu > New Adjustment Layer > Curves. Take the creation of a new Curves layer, as an example. That prevents us from touching the layers panel and will present us with a very useful dialogue box. The best way to create any new adjustment layer, blank layer, mask, group or anything else you would like to do to a layer, is by using the Layer menu. By creating actions in the correct way, we have the opportunity to do all those things, and to only have to do them once. I don’t like naming things and would certainly not colour code my edits. Tip 3: Create Perfect Photoshop Actions – Use the Layer Menu You can make a mistake, hit stop, and delete the last recorded step. These take some getting used to, but the beauty of actions is that they are completely editable. The last shortkey is what I use if I want to group multiple layers. Head over to Photoshop, create a few layers, and give those a try. Here are a few simple shortkeys for the layers panel that will allow you to do everything you’d normally do with the mouse.Ĭtrl + = moves entire layer up or downĪlt + = changes which layer is selectedĪlt + Shift + = Select multiple layers There are certain instances when you can click in the layers panel, but the safest thing to do is avoid it. Use shortkeys to avoid clicking on layers and to move between them. Tip 2: Create Perfect Photoshop Actions – Use Shortkeys Thus it selects that old layer, rather than the new one just created, and ruins your action. Play it more than once in one document and, on the second time, Photoshop searches for the layer “Dodge” and finds that it exists already. ![]() It’s a simple action which creates two curves layers, adjusts them, names them and places them in a group called “Dodge and Burn.” In the first photo, you can see that one step in the action is called “select layer Dodge.” If you were to play this action once it would work just fine. ![]() The photos show an example action I’ve created for this tutorial. Whereas in the photo below, I have created the action the correct way. In the photo above, you can see where Photoshop has recorded me clicking on a layer. When running the action for a second time, it will select the first instance of the layer and not work correctly. ![]() Photoshop will then search for that layer every time you run the action. If you select a layer by clicking in the layers panel, your action will record that you clicked on that layer. Tip 1: Create Perfect Photoshop Actions – Do Not Click Within the Layers Panelĭo not click within the layers panel. There is a right and a wrong way to do it. I don’t want to go into detail about whether it’s good to use Actions or Presets, I’ve already written that article, but I do want to show you how you can make the perfect Photoshop actions. With a memory like a sieve, that is invaluable. Photoshop actions allow me to save time and to utilize the vast array of editing techniques I have picked up over the years.
0 Comments
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |