There are ten panels that make up the Storybook Album Designer Workspace and I have also created panels for the 14×11 and 12×12 page templates. Once you they are installed and the workspace saved, you can then call upon Storybook Album Designer at any point. It cuts out all the scrolling involved in the actions panel and all controls are right at your finger tips!

© Stuart Little 2010

Storybook is now the most powerful piece of album design software on the market and combined with the New LPS Workflow Power Panel makes it one of the most useful, flexible, and did I mention “powerful” ways to create beautiful wedding albums, wall portraits as well as keeping the digital scrap-booking enthusiasts very happy indeed.

© Stuart Little 2010

Finally…

I am recording the screencasts that show you how to install, arrange and save the panels. Once these videos are ready an upgrade will be made available for download. Unfortunately we can’t make this a free upgrade for everyone, but if you bought Storybook Album Designer after the 15th March then you will qualify for a free upgrade and that includes anyone purchasing Storybook Album Designer using the Easter Sale code that comes with the LPS Workflow Power Panel. >

Power Panel Demonstration

In this screencast I will show you how to save your existing workspace before learning how to instal the LPS Workflow Power Panel. Finally, check out the speed at which you can change image size and alter the look of an image all within a click. Now you can tuck the LPS Workflow Essential actions at the bottom of your actions panel and use the power panel to drive your workflow.

Screenshot

Download

This is a product is available for purchase and download. You will be able to download this direct to your computer immediately after purchase. Make sure that you meet the system specifications and are running the correct version of Adobe Photoshop as this is only compatible with CS4 & CS5.

Specifications

• The FREE Workflow Essentials Actions kit
• Power Panels are only available in Adobe Photoshop CS4 or CS5*
• Windows XP or higher
• MAC OS 10.3 or higher

>

© Paul Hackett 2010 - Page 15 - 14x11 Auto-Page Templates

In this continuing series of screencasts for Storybook Album Designer. I am going to show you how to resize the 12×12 Auto-Page Templates that are included with the Storybook actions.  I will also introduce you to the new range of 14×11 Templates and show you that Storybook is not just for professionals who design wedding album… It can be used for enthusiasts to present their photographs to family and friends.

14×11 Auto Page Templates

14x11 Auto-Page Templates on White

When we launched Storybook a few weeks ago it came bundled with 60 (12×12) Auto-Page Templates. We then asked you what sizes would you like to see added to Storybook? And the answer back was; (10×8), A4, (14×11), (14×12), (16×12) plus a screencast on how to scale the (12×12) templates without losing quality. So I have started with the (14×11) size because it does not take much to get it up to (14×12) and I have a couple of great screencasts that will help you to work with the (12×12 templates and also show you how easy it is to swap out one set of images for another using the (14×11) templates.

Resizing Templates

Download Screencast

Replacing Images

Download Screencast

14x11 Auto-Page Templates on Black

Storybook Album Designer v6 is available for immediate download >

Digital Album Design. Made Easy.

Stuart has been hard at work in the Little Photoshop Office building this, the next in the series of acclaimed album design actions kits. Without a doubt this is the finest version we have shipped, with more features than ever before.

Storybook Album Designer v6 is available right now as an instant download from our store. We hope you join with us in celebrating the return of one of our most loved actions kits!

For more information & purchase links go to the Storybook Album Designer store page. >

Digital Album Design. Made Easy.

The video tutorials have been moved to the “Free Product Training” section in the store. There you will be able to download all the Storybook6 screencasts in HD 720p. Learn More >

Tim, Michael, and Catherine have been kindly testing the software and helping me to refine it in readiness for you to get your hands on it. We have made sure it is available for CS2, CS3 and of course CS4 users. You will love what it can do! So enjoy the power session and look out for more screencasts in the few days on the lead up to the launch on Thursday 11th February. >

35 Free LPS Essential Workflow Actions

Finally…

Share your experience with our community

All our actions are numbered so that you can easily document which actions your using. So why not share how you are using the essential workflow actions with other photographers on our Flickr discussion group.
Flickr is free to join and and out group is open to anyone who wishes to pass their knowledge of Photography and Photoshop with like minded people. Our actions are not only a shortcut to better images, but a way of learning and expanding your knowledge of Adobe Photoshop. So why not share which blend modes you favour? and what opacity settings work best for you? Give back a little and in turn gain increase your knowledge of Adobe Photoshop from fellow Photographers from around the world. Enjoy! >

© Stuart Little 2009

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!

© Stuart Little 2009

#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…

© Stuart Little 2009

#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 >