2013 Update: I feel like my work and my editing has evolved since I first offered these downloads. I will be working on new actions and tutorials as time allows. I still LOVE my pop and sharpen actions and feel like they are very versatile. Try changing the color of the exclusion layer to have a lot of fun with it. Shades of gray add a modern twist to color and black and white images.

These are some actions I made to make my work go a little faster. They are for CS3, I am aware there are a lot of people that may not be able to use these actions and that does not make me happy. I have had a lesson from Rita (Coffee Shop Actions) about making some actions for Elements and older versions of Photoshop, but I have to be honest, I was so confused! As soon as I figure out how to do it, I will.

New video on how to install an action!

Click the link and the video will load on the next page.

How to download and install an action

New Pop and Sharpen

This is my favorite action, updated. I have learned some things and changed some things since I first designed this action and I feel it is better because of that. This action pack has three actions in it, a full force, a lite version (which I use when editing pics taken indoors with a flash), and a black and white version. These are the only actions I use… ever! If anyone has any issues with this set working please let me know so I can try to fix it.

Go here to download —-> New Pop and Sharpen Download

Pop and Sharpen

This one is my favorite. It does a couple things, pops and sharpens :0). It uses curves, selective color, and layer masks to achieve this look. When you run the action you will see that a couple of the layer masks are black (inverted). That is where you would use a soft white brush the same size as the colored part of the eye and in the inverted curves layer mask paint over the eye to pop it (on the inverted curves layer mask). Then you will do the same thing, only over the entire eye, nostrils, and mouth to sharpen (on the inverted “background copy” layer mask).

Download this action here: Color and Clarity action pack

This photo shows the Pop and Sharpen action and the Clean Black and White action. They both do the same thing as described above, just one converts to black and white. Download the black and white action below.