spacer

Webref WebRef   Sitemap · Experts · Tools · Services · Newsletters · About i.com

home / graphics / actions / 1 To page 1To page 2To page 3To page 4To page 5current page
[previous]

Sr. Web Developer
mediabistro.com
US-NY-New York

Justtechjobs.com Post A Job | Post A Resume
Developer News
Microsoft Shows Off Silverlight 4, IE9 Plans
Metasploit Expands Vulnerability Test Framework
HyperCard Reborn?


Al Ward's Photoshop Productivity Toolkit: Over 700 Time-Saving Actions

Deleting Steps

At times, you might want to erase a command from an action entirely. For instance, when I'm working with photo effects involving blending mode changes to layers, I'll cycle through a few blending modes while the action is recording until I find the mode that gives me the mix I want. The action recorded all those changes, whereas only the final blending mode change is required. These steps make clutter and increase processing time and can be removed without harming the action or its result. Al Ward's Photoshop Productivity Toolkit: Over 700 Time-Saving Actions To delete a step or a command from an action, select the item in the Actions palette (see Figure 2.31) and drag it to the trashcan button at the bottom of the Actions palette.

Figure 2.31 Select the command you want to remove from the action, and drag it to the palette trash.

You can also delete a command by activating it, opening the Actions palette menu, and choosing Delete.

Duplicating Commands

To duplicate a command or a step in an action, first highlight the item in the Actions palette (see Figure 2.32) and then drag the command to the Create New Action button. Rather than create a new action, Photoshop duplicates the command, placing it directly beneath the original.

Figure 2.32 Select the command in the action that you want to duplicate, and drag it to the Create New Action button.

You can also duplicate a command by activating it from the list in the Actions palette, opening the Actions palette menu, and choosing Duplicate.

Adding Commands from Other Actions

Though I think you will find it doesn't happen frequently, you can add commands from one action to another. Say, for instance, you have a pair of actions that each perform different image-correction functions. For the second action, you recorded a Save For Web step to decrease the file size (see Figure 2.33) You want to apply those same settings to the first action.

Figure 2.33 The Save For Web dialog box.

To add a command from one action to another:

1. Be sure that both actions are in the Actions palette. They need not reside in the same set.

2. Select the command you want to add to the other action in the action where it currently resides (see Figure 2.34).

3. Duplicate the command, as in the preceding section.

4. Drag and drop the duplicate command to the other action, placing it in the list where you want the command to take place. In this case, because it is saving the file after the correction has been performed, place the command at the end of the command string.

Figure 2.34 Select the command, duplicate it, and drag the duplicate into position in the second action.

Playback Options

The ability to control an action's playback speed is particularly useful when troubleshooting an action. You use items in the Playback Options dialog box, which is accessed from the Actions palette menu, to alter the pause between commands:

Accelerated (Normal Speed, Default) The action plays without pausing and without allowing you to see the commands being performed on the image.

Step By Step The action is still fast, but this option lets you see each command being applied to the image.

Pause For This options inserts a timed pause between commands, allowing you to set the speed. Even a one-second delay can slow long actions to the point that playback is unbearable, so use with caution. This setting is primarily for troubleshooting purposes, but is also helpful when trying to learn the techniques applied in third-party actions (as shown earlier in Figure 2.24).

Pause For Audio Annotation Actions can include audio annotation. If such is attached to the action, you can use this setting to pause the action for audio playback, or you can leave it unchecked to bypass any audio messages.

When adjusting the Playback Options setting, all actions are affected and will pause or not pause until the Playback Options are changed again.

The Action Options Tool

This tool primarily allows you to name the action, assign it a color for organization when in Button mode, and assign a shortcut key combination to run the action. You can alter these options by double-clicking the action name in the Actions palette or by selecting Action Options from the palette menu.

The naming convention, shortcut keys, and color coding are left to your discretion; you will know how best to keep track of the actions you create or modify. What I will point out is that you have 60 shortcut key combinations available to you, using combinations of the function keys, Shift, and Command/Ctrl (see Figure 2.35).

Figure 2.35 You can name, colorize, and assign shortcut key combinations to the action via the Action Options dialog box.

© Sybex

 
home / graphics / actions / 1 To page 1To page 2To page 3To page 4To page 5current page
[previous]

internet.commediabistro.comJusttechjobs.comGraphics.com

Search:

WebMediaBrands Corporate Info

Legal Notices, Licensing, Permissions, Privacy Policy.
Advertise | Newsletters | Shopping | E-mail Offers | Freelance Jobs

webref The latest from WebReference.com Browse >
Rolling Out Your Own HTML Application Version Control · HTML 5: Client-side Storage · Working with Ajax Server Extensions
Sitemap · Experts · Tools · Services · Email a Colleague · Contact FREE Newsletters 
 The latest from internet.com
Wi-Fi Product Watch, November 2009 · Chip Market Recovering From '08 Collapse · Low-Cost Tools to Kickstart Your New Business

Created: March 27, 2003
Revised: September 3, 2004

URL: http://webreference.com/graphics/actions/1