Sunday, October 2, 2011

PSE 9 - actions

So I'm pretty proud of myself for figuring out how to download and install actions for Photoshop Elements.  What's an action?  Well it's sort of like a recipe someone has already put together with various Photoshop tools, adjustments, etc., put in one handy-dandy "action".  You download actions from the web (various photography sites have actions for purchase and lots for FREE), then install them in your PSE program.  You open up your picture, click on the thumbnail of a particular action (or 2 or 3), and PSE applies the "recipe" to your photo.  It's pretty simple, and you don't have to waste a jillion hours adjusting every little, blessed, tweakable thing in PSE.  So below are two pictures from the first day of school that I played around with.  You've seen them before, but not with these fun actions applied.
For Charlotte's photo, I ran Coffee Shops "Define", "Eye Bright" and "Polaroid Effect".



For Jane's I applied Coffee Shop's "Perfect Portrait" & "Rounded Corners for Web".  I really like how it warmed up her already tanned skin and darkened the red in the brick.

It's fun playing around with this stuff, but I need my guru, Rachel, to give me a workflow tutorial.  Guess we need yet another meeting for "BWB" (Broads Who Blog). 
It doesn't take much of an excuse - especially if Rachel brings Pao's donuts.

4 comments:

rachel said...

BWB tomorrow? my house or yours? ; )

TreiFurb said...

Pao's donuts? i'm in!

charlotte kiehl said...

i miss you mommy

charlotte kiehl said...

and so cute