EZ Actions Support & Advanced Tips
Our goal is to make using the PhotoBlast actions as easy as possible. We want you to be successful in your photo editing, enhancing, and retouching!
- Installing the PhotoBlast actions into PSE on a Windows XP or Vista computer
New Installation Program - Windows users Only
We've been busy... We've created a new installation program
for our actions. The installation program is only available
for people that utilize Photoshop Elements on a Windows
computer. The new install program will automatically install
the actions in PSE 2, 3, 4, 5 and PSE6.
The installation program works for both XP and Vista!
When you make a purchase, you will be able to download the install
program. You just download it, run the program, and
the actions will be installed AUTOMATICALLY for
you... EASY!
After running the installation program, the actions
will be found on the Effects palette.
We hope you enjoy using the actions... Have fun!
- Technical note for Mac Users (Important information for Mac users that utilize Elements)
Mac issue
From time-to-time, we've run across a minor issue with
installing the actions on a Mac computer.
If after you
do the install of the actions they fail to show up
in the Styles & Effects palette, do the following:
1. Start Elements
2. Open the .psd
files (there is one for each action in the Elements
install) one at a time and then simply do a File /
Save and then close the .psd file.
3. Once you've
opened and saved each of the .psd files, close
/ exit Elements
After running the installation program, the actions
will be found on the Effects palette.
4. Go back to the
Effects Cache folder and delete the 3 files again
(as described in the original instructions).
5. Restart
Elements and the actions should be there...
I've only seen
this problem occasionally (and only on Macs - and
not even on Macs all the time).
Thanks,
John
- Installation Instructions for Photoshop users
Installation Instructions for Photoshop
PhotoBlast
Conversion Actions
These actions were developed and designed for
Adobe Photoshop - with flexibility in mind. Follow
the instructions below to load your actions into
Photoshop.
Quick Installation
1. Unzip the PhotoBlast zip file. Extract the
action file to your desktop.
2. With Photoshop open and running, simply drag the
action file onto Photoshop. This will put the action
at the bottom of your actions list.
Detailed
Installation
1. Unzip the PhotoBlast.zip file (that came in
email). Extract the action files to a location on
your computer. For example, the default location for
Photoshop CS actions is:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop
CS\Presets\Photoshop Actions
2. In Photoshop, go to your actions tab (it's right
next to the history tab on the right side of the
screen)
3. At the top of the actions tab you will notice
that there is a little circle with a triangle /
arrow head in it. You click that little circle...
When you click that circle, you get several options
- one of which is to "Load Actions". Click on load
actions.
4. That will bring up a navigation window that will
allow you to navigate to the action file. Navigate
to the location that you unzipped the action files
to. The default location for actions is:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop
CS\Presets\Photoshop Actions
You can put your action files anywhere you want and
simply load them from any location on your computer.
Each PhotoBlast action file is separate and will
need to be loaded individually. Once you have the
actions loaded, you are ready to use them at any
time you wish. To use the action, you simply bring
up one of your images, go to your action tab, click
the action you want to use and then at the bottom of
the action tab, you will notice a couple of buttons
(the triangle at the bottom of the action tab is the
play button), click the play button and the action
will run...
The actions are provided in a fashion that allows
the most flexibility. While you can use the actions
"as is" and run them to completion, you can also
stop the action prior to the image layers being
flattened (or go back in history and un-flatten the
layers).
We hope you
enjoy using the actions... Have fun!
We've also put together some "Advanced Tips". These tips will help you achieve outstanding results using the actions. Click on the links below for the tips:
- Basic Black & White conversion actions
Advanced Tip for "Basic" B&W conversion actions
The actions are provided in a fashion that allows the most flexibility. While you can use the actions "as is" and run them to completion, you can also stop the action prior to the image layers being flattened (or go back in history and un-flatten the layers). Some times you may want to go to the brightness/contrast layer to adjust the whites (or highlights) from being blown out. Simply click on the brightness/contrast layer (which should make the foreground and background colors be set to black and white). Click the black color, select the paint brush, set the opacity for the brush to be something like 30% (make sure you are selecting the opacity for the brush, NOT the opacity for the brightness/contrast layer), and paint black over the highlights. This is using a layer mask and you will see the detail return into the highlight area that you paint with black. You can paint over the blown areas multiple times (building up the opacity/layer mask). All that to say that these actions were built with flexibility in mind - because as you know - no two images are the same!
- Pro Black & White conversion actions
Pro Black & White conversion actions
The actions will
copy your original image, leaving the original untouched.
All the modifications are done to the copy.
There are 2
stops within the actions that require some input...
The first stop
is where you can adjust the tonal values for the image. The
sliders right under the histogram (3 of them) allow you to
modify the shadows (the black slider on the far left on that
line), the mid-tones (the gray slider in the middle of that
line), and the highlights (the white slider on the right
side of that line). You can leave them as they are and click
OK
-
or -
You can modify
the tones by moving those sliders to get the shadows,
mid-tones, and highlights where you want them. The note on
the action tells you to be conservative... In other words
don't over brighten or over darken the image with these
sliders.
The second stop
within the action is the Contrast Boost. This stop allows
you to brighten the image and add contrast if needed. I've
set the default to leave the brightness alone (set at 0),
but bump the contrast up (+10). Again, you can leave the
defaults or modify the brightness and or contrast to your
liking... don't go overboard...
The action will
then add the color tone you've selected to run and also put
a "Paint with Light" layer onto the image. You can read the
note about painting with light... essentially, you select
your paint brush tool... set the opacity at 20% for the
brush tool (at the top of the screen) and then paint with
black to darken areas of the image or paint with white to
lighten areas of the image... Very cool...
That's the
basics of the actions...
HOWEVER...
There is an
added bonus... If you select your paintbrush as mentioned
above (20% opacity), and then click on the white box (layer
mask) on the Black and White layer (in the layers palette)
and paint with black, you will reveal the color
underneath... Selective Color... also Very Cool...
Finally, if you
selected a color tone action, there is also a layer mask on
the color tone. If you would like to reveal the color as it
is in your original photo, click on the layer mask (the
white box) on the color layer (the layer that actually has
the color tone). Using your paint brush (just as described
above) and painting black in the layer mask, you will reveal
the original color of your photo (note: to get the original
color, you must use the layer masks on both the black and
white layer - as well as - the color tone layer.
That's about
it...
- Selective Color using the Pro Actions
Selective Color using the Pro Actions
In the Layers palette, you
will notice that there is a black & white layer. The black &
white layer has a layer mask on it (the layer mask is the white
box). Click on the white box that is on the black & white layer
(you have to be sure to click that white box).
Once you click the white box. This is where you will use the
brush tool. When you click that white box, the colors for your
background color and foreground colors (on the bottom of the
tools palette - bottom left on your screen) should change to be
black and white. Make your foreground color black if it isn't
already.
Now select the paint brush tool. Make sure you have clicked the
white box on the black and white layer and then paint onto your
photo and the color on the background layer (color) should come
through.
Here are a couple of tips:
If you mess up and put
color where you don't want it, simply change your foreground
color to white and paint on your photo where you want to
remove the color.
You can change the
opacity of the paint brush tool at the top of your screen.
This will allow you to control how much color comes back.
If you use one of the Pro
black and white toned actions (like the Pro Gold as an
example), you may also want to remove the color tone to
restore the original color. To do so, simply follow the same
instructions as above, only use the layer mask that is on
the color layer (the Gold layer in the example of the Pro
Gold action).
- Using the Color Select action
Using the Color Select action
The Color Select action requires that you have 2 photos open in Photoshop (or PSE). You need to have your original color photo AND a b&w version of the same photo and they both need to be open in Photoshop before running the Color Select action. Both photos have to be flattened (meaning the photos can not have any layers except the background layer). To check if your photos are flattened, open them in Photoshop and then click on the Layers menu item (at the top of your screen in Photoshop). Then, select Flatten Image. If that option is not available to you (grayed out), your photo is already flattened and you can proceed.
Step 1 – Open your original color photo first
Step 2 – Open the b&w version of your photo second
Step 3 – Run the Color Select action
The Color Select action will create a new (third) photo. It will combine your original color image and the b&w version of your original into the new third photo.
When looking at the new 3rd photo, you will notice that in the Layers palette, you will have 2 layers (one will be a copy of your original color photo and on top of that will be another layer that is b&w). The black & white layer has a layer mask on it (the layer mask is the white box). Click on the white box that is on the black & white layer (you have to be sure to click that white box).
Once you click the white box. This is where you will use the brush tool. When you click that white box, the colors for your background color and foreground colors (on the bottom of the tools palette - bottom left on your screen) should change to be black and white. Make your foreground color black if it isn't already.
Now select the paint brush tool. Make sure you have clicked the white box on the black and white layer and then paint onto your photo and the color on the background layer (color) should come through.
- Beauty Glow
Advanced Tip for Beauty Glow
The Beauty Glow action adds a touch of softness to your photo and then puts a "glow" on the image. The action will allow you to select the amount of Softness & Glow you wish to have by creating a separate layer (Beauty Glow) that contains a layer mask. When the action is complete, you can select how much softness & glow is applied by changing the opacity on the Beauty Glow layer (less opacity = less glow).
You can also selectively control how much "glow" is added to the image by going to your layers palette and clicking on the white box on the "Beauty Glow" layer (that is the layer mask). Once you click on the layer mask, your foreground and background colors should change to black & white (if they don't, make one black and the other white). Then, select your brush tool and paint black where you want to remove the glow. If you make a mistake, switch your color to white and paint over the black and the glow will return.
- Color Wash
Advanced Tip for Color Wash
The Color Wash action creates multiple layers that vary the amount of color wash. Each of the layers has a layer mask. To decrease the amount of color wash, you can select to enable or disable the individual layers by turning them off or on (click on the layer visibility box.). You can also utilize the layer mask to decrease the amount of color wash. Click on the layer mask on the layer you wish to modify. Then select the paint brush tool and paint black (at your choice of opacity) to decrease the amount of color that is removed with that specific layer. Play with each of the layers to see how each affects the final image.
* As a side note, I often use the Color Wash action after using the Vivid Color action. They work really nicely together. The Vivid Color action really pops the color. Then I use the Color Wash action on the Vivid Color image (the image that the Vivid Color action creates). This gives the new image a very nice vintage feel.
- Sharp Shot Color Pop
Advanced Tip for the Sharp Shot action
The Sharp Shot Color Pop action enhances your color and then adds some sharpening. The default settings should work well with most images, but you have the opportunity to see the sharpening and adjust it when the action runs. You can also use this action to defog your image. To defog and image, you might try the settings of 60, 20, 0.
The action places the enhanced color and sharpening on a separate layer (Sharp Shot) and also places a layer mask on the Sharp Shot layer. This allows you to control how much Color Pop and Sharpening your image receives.
Once the action is finished, go to your layers palette and click on the white box on the Sharp Shot layer (that is the layer mask). You can change the opacity on that layer to decrease the sharpening and color pop OR you can click on the layer mask and then select your brush tool. Paint black on the layer mask to decrease the color pop and sharpening. Paint white to bring the color pop and sharpening back (if you've painted black to remove it).
- Soft Focus
Advanced Tip for Soft Focus
The Soft Focus action utilizes a Gaussian blur (default is 4). Some photos will look better with more blur (up to 10 or maybe higher for larger photos). The action will allow you to select the amount of Gaussian blur you wish to have. The action also creates a separate layer that contains a layer mask. When the action is complete, you can select how much blur is applied by changing the opacity on the soft focus layer (less opacity = less blur).
* Also, watch for where the soft focus is applied. I like to smooth the skin (but maintain a realistic appearance) on portraits, but I like to keep the clothing sharper. You can use the layer mask on the soft focus layer to remove the softness selectively (using a soft paint brush, paint black on the layer mask to remove the softness, paint white to allow the softness to show through).
- Vivid Color
Advanced Tip for the Vivid Color action
If you stop the action just prior to the action flattening the image (or go back in the history), there will be a layer mask. I use the stop and the layer mask to make adjustments to the image. The Vivid Color action REALLY pulls color out of an image. You may want to take advantage of the layer mask (click on the white box and then use a paint brush to paint black at about a 45% opacity to decrease the amount of color on peoples skin) to decrease the amount of color pulled by the action. You can also decrease the amount of color across the whole image by lowering the opacity on the Vivid Color layer.
1. Open a photo you want to run the action on.
2. In the Styles & Effects palette (or the actions palette for Photoshop), run the Vivid Color action.
3. Click continue on the first stop message. That message says:
This action will duplicate your image, process it through the steps... etc., etc.
4. The action will start and go through several steps and then display another stop message. That message says:
Click STOP to make adjustments to the Vivid Color. This is where you want to click STOP.
5. Now, go to your Layers palette... You will notice that there are 2 layers (background & Vivid Color). You will also notice that the Vivid Color layer has a white box on the layer. That white box is the layer mask. Click on the white box. Now if you look at your foreground & background color selection (at the bottom of the tool palette on the left side of the screen) you should see that they have been changed to black & white. It is possible that they are different colors. If they are, make your foreground color black.
6. On your Tools palette, select the brush tool. Now if you paint on the image you have open, you will notice that painting black, removes the vivid color. Switch the color to white and paint over where you just painted black and you will see the vivid color return...
What this means is that you can completely control the vivid color, totally removing it where ever you want. You can also select the black paint brush and set the opacity to what ever you want. This allows you to have just a little vivid color.
- Storyboards
Advanced Tip for the Storyboard action
To run the Storyboard action, you simply open three 5x7 images (sized at 300 dpi) and run the storyboard action. Make sure that when you run the Storyboard, the only files open in Elements or Photoshop are the three 5x7's. The action will create a 10x20 image with the 3 5x7's. The 5x7 photos are placed into the storyboard in the order that you open them in Photoshop or Elements. To make it easy for myself, I will create my 5x7's and give them the name 1.jpg, 2.jpg, & 3.jpg. I make 1.jpg the 5x7 I want on the left (or top) 2.jpg will be the center, and 3.jpg will be the left or bottom. Then I close everything, and open the 5x7's one at a time starting with 1.jpg, then 2.jpg, and finally 3.jpg. Now everything is set to run the storyboard action.
Also, when you've got the storyboard actions working, you might experiment with different file sizes. I've seen some striking results that people have come up with using files other than 5x7's.
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