35 Free Essential Workflow Actions for Photoshop CS2, CS3, CS4

When I work on my images in Photoshop I want to work with them fast and I don’t want to get slowed down by the same commands that I use day in day out. So about 13 years ago I made a set of actions probably my first set, whereby I could speed up commands like “Image Size” & “Canvas Size”, so that they can be called upon with the least amount of mouse moves or mouse clicks for that matter. So I have designed a new actions kit for everyone to download and use for FREE!

Over the years my personal workflow actions have evolved as Photoshop has evolved and very recently I decided to give them a bit of an overhaul because there were some actions that I no longer needed thanks to Bridge and Lightroom and there were other commands that I really needed to become actions, so that I can use Photoshop to even greater effect.

These are action are simple in construction and in some cases even simpler to use, but don’t let their simplicity fool you, they are powerful shortcuts to making Photoshop run as smoothly as possible for me and hopefully you as well.

Now, as I have already mentioned life as photographer has changed in the past few years with the emergence of software like Lightroom, Bridge, Aperture to name but a few… and the days of needing loads of actions to do what these applications can do is long since over… So if you are still using my Pro Actions Kit from 8 years ago, or my 220 Pro Actions Kit from 4 years ago for basic workflow? Then I am implore you to at least upgrade Photoshop and start using Bridge. Its much better and far less destructive…

However, that said about 6 months ago I started to really analyse what I was doing in Photoshop and I wrote down my most commonly used commands, shortcuts, tools etc…

I then looked at which commands required me to go into the menu at the top and also which I used as keyboard shortcuts and it was from there that I started to hone my own workflow. Yes, and before you say it I know that a good proportion of the commands can be assigned to a custom keyboard shortcut, but what you also have to take into a account is that as a Photoshop Educator, I can’t rock the boat with these shortcuts.

Why? well I have to play it safe and keep all the keyboard shortcuts at a default setting. If Adobe changes them thats one thing, but if I started to define custom shortcuts and then use them in screencasts, I would confuse everyone. So thats a non-starter. If you wish to assign a custom shortcut to a command thats up to you, but I sadly cannot. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt!

So that brings us back to creating a set of concise set of actions that helps me and in turn helps you use Photoshop more efficiently.

Lets take a look at the actions I have first on the list from all the kits I have produced over the years!

#1 – Button Mode

Its a simple action and one that does not directly relate to your images but its really handy for switching from button mode to what I call the playback mode in the actions panel. I used to include this once or twice in every kit, but I am now only going to include it with this and a couple of other kits.

#3 – Save
#4 – Save as…
#5 – Save for Web…

Now, you should know the keyboard shortcut for saving by now, but if your like me if you are knee deep in pixels it pays to have a handy reminder staring you in the face to save now and again, so thats why these 3 options made it into the kit. I use them more than I would like to admit.

#6 – Duplicate Image

I use this a lot especially if I am experimenting with an image. It made it into the actions kit, because it reduces the time taken to go Image>Duplicate down to just one click and it is even sweeter an action because there is no default keyboard shortcut for this command and to make matters worse Adobe like to move it around between versions.

#7 – Image Size
#8 – Canvas Size

Now, in CS4 these do have keyboard shortcuts (Alt+Control) I or C (Option+Command) I or C respectively, but if you are an old Photoshop dog like me, then for many years Image or Canvas size did not have any keyboard shortcut and therefore demanded an action. So if you don’t use these shortcuts then these actions are for you.

#9 – Merge to Layer

I tend to do this as a keyboard shortcut whereby I combine all layers into a new composite layer. Many of you get stuck with this one, so thats why its made it as an action and I have even found myself using it now. It was previously programmed into my Wacom Bamboo…

#10 – 72ppi
#11 – 150ppi
#12 – 240ppi
#13 – 300ppi

These are my 4 favourite resolutions for printing and resizing the resolution and it makes things so easy if you can click any one of these and change the resolution of an image without resizing the pixel dimensions

#14 – Smart Object

It really has become as must to use smart objects and if you are sending your images to Photoshop from Bridge as Smart Objects then this action will make things that little bit easier especially for applying custom filters non-destructively.

#15 – Rotate Layer

This is my window to all of the Free Transform commands, because I can click this action for a rotation and then right click on for all the commands. Yes, I know I have (Command+T) or (Control+T) but what can I say this is handy little action right there for me. One click and your done…

#16 – History Canvas

This action doesn’t really do much as part of the workflow but used in conjunction with the other actions kits that are going to be coming out and you will see the power of this little bad boy come alive! On its own though it will create a new document from the history.

#17 – Flatten Image

Hey, it saves me time… what about you?

#18 – View Centre Guides
#19 – Rule of Thirds Guides
#20 – Show/Hide Guides
#21 – Clear All Guides

If you are not using guides then your not using Photoshop, I kid! but these handy little guide actions really do save me time especially the centre guides.

#22 – Levels
#23 – Curves

These are not just blank adjustment layers but are actually starting points that 90% help to correct an image or if not, they give you a good ball park correction to work with…

#24 – Screen Layer
#25 – Multiply Layer

There times when either creating a layer to lighten or a layer to darken things up and also have a layer mask included into the mix is essential. In fact using a screen layer is sometimes more effective than using the likes of levels and curves. These two actions get a lot of use.

#26 – Colour Correction

It does what it says on the tin and its a great alternative to colour correction with levels.

#27 – Black & White

I have two favourite ways of creating a black & white and I like to pop colour with a black and white adjustment layer, so this is why this action is in my essential workflow.

#28 – Warming Filter 81
#29 – Warming Filter 85
#30 – Cooling Filter 80
#31 – Cooling Filter 82

Photo filters are highly underrated adjustments layers in my view and I personally like them coming into an image a little stronger than the Photoshop defaults. So I have picked my 4 fav’s and tweaked them to suit.

#32 – Convert to sRGB
#33 – Convert to Adobe RGB 1998
#34 – Convert to ProPhoto RGB
#35 – Convert to 8bit Color

I work in different color spaces depending on what I am doing and its good to have the flexibility of changing between them easily. I also tend to bring images from Lightroom and Bridge into Photoshop as 16bit images but print them at 8bit colour, so the final action in this essential workflow is a little converter…

Now, if you are wondering where things like sharpeners and softeners are, well I have a special set of actions lined up for that side of things. These are all about everyday use in conjunction with other actions etc… What else did not make the kit? well, I guess “Layer Via Copy”, or (Command+J) or (Control+J) would have been a prime candidate but, I use the shortcut so often that it really does not need to be an action.

Remember, I have not just made these as as a giveaway! All 35 actions get used by me at some point during my working week and even if you decide not to download them today, they will be included with every new actions kit I produce, now and in the future.

So how can you get your paws on these actions? Well click the link below fill out the little form so we can keep track of who is downloading them and then your good to go! So what are you waiting for, go get them. Enjoy!

Finally…

The actions have been tested on Photoshop CS2, CS3 and CS4 for the MAC and PC. If you have CS or 7 they will probably still work, but if they don’t its going to be down to the fact that a feature is not in that version. So if you have an earlier version of Photoshop then please leave a comment if something is a little out.

Download

Click here to download the Little Photoshop Workflow Essentials Actions Kit >

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