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Melanie S
BucketHead
PeaNut 291,980
January 2007
Posts: 870
Layouts: 230
Loc: Wisconsin
 |  Posted: 1/4/2013 7:09:44 AM
I posted this in general scrapbooking and then thought this might be a better spot...
I have been interested in Photoshop Elements and learned about Actions. Would anyone have suggestions on where I can learn more about them...such as a class, tutorials, a good place to purchase them and how to use them, etc.
Which brings me to my next questions, how in the world do I use layers? I need a class on that too-any suggestions?
Thanks! |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,895
Layouts: 539
Loc: Los Angeles
 | Posted: 1/4/2013 11:36:57 AM
I don't know of any classes specifically about actions, although you can take some pretty comprehensive classes at Jessica Sprague or Renee Pearson, in which actions are probably covered. It makes a difference which version of PSE you're using as to how easy it is to install actions and styles, because they made it super-easy in the latest version, PSE11, but it's much more labor-intensive to install them in prior versions (although easy to use, once installed).
Adrienne Looman has some cool actions available here at 2Peas that you could start with, and then post questions here if you get stuck. I love her soft tea and clean exposure actions.
Adrienne's store
There are some really good free classes here too, that are a good way to start understanding the layer structure of a lo.
digi 101
Sande's digi class
Basically, layers are like adding pieces of paper, brads, glitter, journal tags or whatever you want on a paper lo, you add them one on top of the other, and sometimes tuck things under other things, or rip things, or color things a different color. We do the same with digital layers, but it's much more versatile because you can undo what you've done (everyone's favorite digital trick!), or you can re-color, re-rip, re-use anything you want, over and over. And you can change the order of your layers, since they are not glued down! HTH
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Laura ODonnell
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 90,692
June 2003
Posts: 6,874
Layouts: 921
Loc: West Chester PA
 | Posted: 1/4/2013 1:13:09 PM
Liz, I have an older version of PSE and am using the fifty ka-jillion steps to load my actions
I only have a few, some free ones that I picked up on the Pioneer Woman's blog and then some new ones came in to the 2Peas store this week that work in PSE designed by Adrienne Looman. I also like her Soft Tea. Here is a before/after and I did nothing to the before photo before applying the action
Oh, and to learn how to load Actions in PSE I watched a video at Texas Chicks Blogs and Pics and took good notes. They have a lot of info over there on Elements and Actions and I think they have classes, too.
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Melanie S
BucketHead
PeaNut 291,980
January 2007
Posts: 870
Layouts: 230
Loc: Wisconsin
| Posted: 1/4/2013 2:12:52 PM
so actions and layers are 2 separate things?
You gave me great places to start, thank you!! |
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Melanie S
BucketHead
PeaNut 291,980
January 2007
Posts: 870
Layouts: 230
Loc: Wisconsin
| Posted: 1/4/2013 2:13:54 PM
The soft tea action is so pretty.
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tgp0014
BucketHead
PeaNut 316,482
May 2007
Posts: 736
Layouts: 64
Loc: Fort Worth, TX
| Posted: 1/4/2013 2:20:48 PM
Laura, you say that you are able to use the actions on an older version of PSE... which version do you have?
I have PSE 7, and all the actions I've looked at so far here at TwoPeas are only for PSE 8 or higher. |
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Laura ODonnell
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 90,692
June 2003
Posts: 6,874
Layouts: 921
Loc: West Chester PA
| Posted: 1/4/2013 3:59:26 PM
I have PSE9 so I was able to get them installed |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,895
Layouts: 539
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 1/4/2013 3:59:33 PM
so actions and layers are 2 separate things?
Yes, completely different. Actions are a series of steps to alter the look of something. They can be created in the full version of Photoshop, but not in PSE. When the steps are put together it is called an action, and it's basically a click of a button to start the action in motion to take the series of steps to create the effect. So the soft tea photo action that Adrienne created takes the original photo through a series of steps to de-saturate and change the photo to look softer. You can do the same thing manually, but it takes a lot of skill, and actions make it way easier!
Layers are the different elements used to embellish your lo, like a paper layer, a frame layer, a photo layer, a brad layer, etc. Every item you add to a lo will come into the program as its own layer and be able to be moved around or manipulated separately from every other layer. |
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Melanie S
BucketHead
PeaNut 291,980
January 2007
Posts: 870
Layouts: 230
Loc: Wisconsin
| Posted: 1/4/2013 6:30:14 PM
Thank you for explaining that to me, I really had no idea.
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sroller
Nursie Pea
PeaNut 243,673
January 2006
Posts: 5,683
Layouts: 967
Loc: Vancouver, WA
| Posted: 1/5/2013 12:11:42 PM
I'm not sure what version you could start using actions in PSE--but I am thinking it was PSE9. I have PSE10 so I can use them now. I only have a couple of freebies that I got from Yellow Sky so far and it took me a long time to figure out how to load them--was in the totally wrong folders to try to load them. Finally figured it out though. Great that it is easier to load in PSE11 but I'm probably not going to upgrade for awhile. |
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Melanie S
BucketHead
PeaNut 291,980
January 2007
Posts: 870
Layouts: 230
Loc: Wisconsin
| Posted: 1/5/2013 6:13:38 PM
I have 9 right now. I don't feel I used it enough to buy 11. But maybe I should just upgrade and learn it once. |
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alooman
2Ps Digital Designer
PeaNut 535,356
December 2011
Posts: 267
Layouts: 6
Loc: california
 | Posted: 1/6/2013 3:05:50 AM
Tiffany,
As the creator of the actions here on Two Peas I can explain a little better
The actions I have created **might** work in a lower version than 8.0. The reason I set the standard at 8.0 and above is because I have "testers" (a group of people with different Photoshop versions) and the lowest of those versions that I had the actions tested on was 8.0 so I did not feel comfortable saying they would work in a lower version if I haven't had it tested yet.
actions are a set of recorded commands of tools used. So if you think about it, since I am using CS2 to create these, I may have used a tool that simply does not exist in your program to complete the action. Which essentially means, you might be able to install the action but when you play it, it may skip a step or two which in some cases might not really affect the end result, and in other case could be a complete disaster lol. So it's just a little bit of a risk. |
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alooman
2Ps Digital Designer
PeaNut 535,356
December 2011
Posts: 267
Layouts: 6
Loc: california
| Posted: 1/6/2013 3:07:50 AM
Oh and Laura, that font looks familiar too hehehe. Did I mention I love you!!!
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Melanie S
BucketHead
PeaNut 291,980
January 2007
Posts: 870
Layouts: 230
Loc: Wisconsin
| Posted: 1/6/2013 8:41:40 AM
Thank you for explaining about actions Adrienne.
I hope you develop more actions and sell them here! |
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momto3hooligans
PeaNut
PeaNut 112,884
October 2003
Posts: 457
Layouts: 1
Loc: dreaming of Disney!
| Posted: 1/6/2013 12:47:06 PM
Hey Melanie!!
I have PSE 8 and have no problems running actions with it. Getting them installed is a bit of a circus but once done it's wonderful!!
My goal for 2013 is to learn my digi products a bit more....I have downloaded loads of stuff from assorted digi sites, but as of yet, I have not made it a priority to sit down and figure out how to use it all! My first order of business is to come up with a sorting/organization method!
Right now I have folders/files all over the place in my downloads and documents files!! |
Marge
Professional Procrastinator
Canon XTi,17-55mm f/3.5-5.6IS,75-300mm f/4-5.6,85mm f/1.8, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Canon 50mm f/1.8 | |
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Laura ODonnell
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 90,692
June 2003
Posts: 6,874
Layouts: 921
Loc: West Chester PA
| Posted: 1/6/2013 1:25:43 PM
Oh and Laura, that font looks familiar too hehehe. Did I mention I love you!!!
yes, if you like fonts as much as actions Adrienne's Apple Blossom is a nice one |
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Melanie S
BucketHead
PeaNut 291,980
January 2007
Posts: 870
Layouts: 230
Loc: Wisconsin
| Posted: 1/6/2013 3:53:51 PM
Hi Marge!
Sounds like we have the same goal this year. Did you see the new classes Jessica Sprague has listed?
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Melanie S
BucketHead
PeaNut 291,980
January 2007
Posts: 870
Layouts: 230
Loc: Wisconsin
| Posted: 1/6/2013 3:57:51 PM
I love the Apple Blossom font!
I'm embarrassed to ask this but... if I download it can I use in Word, cut it on my Silhouette and use it in photoshop?
I think I need a basis learning 101 class.
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tgp0014
BucketHead
PeaNut 316,482
May 2007
Posts: 736
Layouts: 64
Loc: Fort Worth, TX
| Posted: 1/6/2013 4:40:12 PM
Hi Adrienne!
Thanks for answering my question re: PSE7.
I have just started using actions and have mainly stuck with freebies. Your actions are so pretty, and I consider them to be very affordable!
I completely understand your technical explanation re: testing your products. It makes complete sense. I think I may purchase one action, try it out, then report back here with my experience. Of course, I do realize that one action may work, while another action may not work. It depends on what steps you are using to design each action, right?
Thanks for your help! |
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Laura ODonnell
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 90,692
June 2003
Posts: 6,874
Layouts: 921
Loc: West Chester PA
| Posted: 1/6/2013 6:15:44 PM
I'm embarrassed to ask this but... if I download it can I use in Word, cut it on my Silhouette and use it in photoshop?
yes to all of these. I bet it would look great cut with a silhouette |
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CallmeNutz
BucketHead
PeaNut 91,466
June 2003
Posts: 874
Layouts: 42
| Posted: 1/18/2013 12:45:15 AM
I used actions in PSE 4, 9 and now 11.
If you want a ton of free ones, go here.
Coffee Shop free actions |
| MY BLOG: http://mydigicorner.blogspot.com | |
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Carolann
BucketHead
PeaNut 3,033
February 2000
Posts: 691
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 1/18/2013 1:08:42 PM
As another novice PSE user, please tell me how to install these actions. I recently purchased PSE11 although I haven't installed it yet -- that's on my to-do list for the weekend. I'm trying to learn more about PSE and use it more. Thanks. | |
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Melanie S
BucketHead
PeaNut 291,980
January 2007
Posts: 870
Layouts: 230
Loc: Wisconsin
| Posted: 1/18/2013 4:50:30 PM
Here's the video from Jessica Sprague to set up pse 11: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giIU82smKMg
Here's a link to install actions: http://www.thecoffeeshopblog.com/2012/10/pse11-makes-loading-and-using-actions.html
Good luck! I actually will be doing the same thing tonight. I just installed PSE 11 |
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lizj
2Ps Digital Creative Team
PeaNut 242,431
January 2006
Posts: 9,895
Layouts: 539
Loc: Los Angeles
| Posted: 1/18/2013 6:10:07 PM
please tell me how to install these actions
On the right side of the screen are main sections for layers and effects. Under effects there are sub-sections for filters, styles and effects. Click on the main section for effects, then click on the subsection for effects. Look up above the word effects (and below the word create), and click on the drop down arrow with the little lines. Half-way down, click on load effects. Navigate to the place in your computer where you saved the action (atn file type), click open. You just installed it!
Some actions will come in to the program with a picture and a description, others will just have a blank box or a place saving box with a generic tree on it. But if you hover over the box it will pop up the name of the action. If you have a layer highlighted on your canvas, and double click on the action box, it will apply the action. (Don't worry if you get an error message, just click continue and the action will run.)
HTH! |
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weaselwatchr
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 26,011
December 2001
Posts: 5,451
Layouts: 133
Loc: Peaing in my living room
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 6:08:41 PM
I have PSE 6 (cough, cough) and run actions with it. All the coffee shop blog, pioneer woman, mc actions work fine with it. Radlab also works with it. The only action that I could not install was some that came with a photo editing mini book through Ella. They would not work and they gave me a refund for them. |
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emily a
2Ps Digital Designer
PeaNut 339,859
October 2007
Posts: 1,741
Layouts: 27
Loc: tennessee
 | Posted: 1/22/2013 6:23:31 PM
dear miss nutz,
i LOVE LOVE LOVE the coffee shop site and have found soooo many resources there. i have a new found obsession with photography, although i have no time to take pictures. the actions are so gorgeous (thank you adrienne) that i have to have them all!! one day i will figure out how to do actions on my own.
thank you for sharing with us! |
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