Chapter 2. Adding Automation Using Actions

The Basics of Streamlining Your Work with Actions

© ISTOCKPHOTO/JAN TYLER

Have you ever felt like there just aren't enough hours in the day to get all of your work done? Think of all the small, repetitive tasks that you do every day in Photoshop. Sure, some of them may require that you pick specific settings to make the image look right, but I'll bet that if you look at your Photoshop workflow you'll find many tasks that don't require your interaction. That's where actions come in. Actions are tiny little macros that record the changes and adjustments that you do in Photoshop. If you're reading this introduction and have heard of actions but are just not sure where to start, then this is it. Whether you just want to make your life easier or you want to start learning the secrets that the pros use to get things done faster, this chapter will give you the basics of what you'll need to start using actions in Photoshop.