How to Create Actions in Photoshop
Photoshop actions are a fantastic way to speed up your workflow by automating repetitive tasks. By
recording a series of steps into an action, you can apply complex edits, color grading, and
adjustments with a single click, making your editing process more efficient.
Here’s how to create and use actions in Photoshop.
1. What Are Photoshop Actions?
Photoshop actions are essentially scripts that record your editing steps. Once recorded, these
actions can be replayed on any image, applying the same sequence of edits automatically. You can
create actions for a variety of tasks such as resizing, color grading, sharpening, or even complex
multi-step edits.
2. Why Use Actions?
Using actions in Photoshop offers several benefits:
Save Time: Automate repetitive processes, such as resizing images for the web, applying color
corrections, or sharpening photos.
Consistency: Ensure that the same steps and adjustments are applied to multiple images, especially
in projects where uniformity is important (e.g., batch editing, professional workflows).
Easily Shareable: Actions can be saved and shared with others, making them a great

tool for team collaboration or teaching purposes.
3. How to Create Actions in Photoshop
Creating actions in Photoshop is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide: Step 1: Open the
Actions Panel
1. Open Photoshop and the image you want to work with.
2. Go to Window > Actions to open the Actions panel. This is where you can create, edit, and manage
your actions.
Step 2: Create a New Action

1. In the Actions panel, click the New Action button (the plus icon at the bottom of the panel).
2. Name your action something descriptive, like “Black and White Conversion” or “Portrait
Sharpening.”
3. Choose a function key (optional) to assign a keyboard shortcut for the action, and select a set
to save the action in (default is “Actions”).
4. Click Record to start recording your steps. Step 3: Perform the Edits
While recording, perform the edits and adjustments you want to automate. For example: Adjust
brightness/contrast: Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast and make your desired
adjustments.
Add color grading: Apply any color grading, curves, or levels adjustments. Resize the image: Go to
Image > Image Size and input the desired dimensions.
Every step you take from this point on is recorded. You can do anything from applying filters,
using brushes, creating adjustment layers, or even complex retouching.
Step 4: Stop Recording
1. Once you’ve finished all the steps, click the Stop button at the bottom of the Actions panel (it
looks like a square).
2. Your action is now saved and can be applied to any other image with a single click!
4. How to Apply an Action to an Image
Now that you’ve created an action, you can apply it to any image.
1. Open the image you want to edit.
2. Open the Actions panel and find the action you created.
3. Select the action and click the Play button (a triangle icon at the bottom of the panel).
4. Photoshop will automatically execute all the steps you recorded, applying the same edits to the
new image.
5. Batch Processing with Actions
One of the most powerful features of Photoshop actions is the ability to apply them to multiple
images at once using batch processing. Here’s how:
1. Go to File > Automate > Batch.
2. In the Batch dialog, choose the action you want to apply under the Set and Action dropdown
menus.
3. Under Source, choose where the images are located (e.g., a folder on your computer).
4. Under Destination, specify where the processed images should be saved.
5. Click OK, and Photoshop will automatically apply your action to every image in the selected
folder.
6. Editing or Modifying Actions
If you need to tweak an action after creating it, you can easily do so:
1. Open the Actions panel and locate the action you want to modify.

2. Expand the action by clicking the triangle next to its name.
3. You’ll see a list of all the steps recorded. You can:
Delete a step: Select the step and click the trash icon at the bottom of the panel. Re-record a
step: Select the step you want to modify, press Record, make the new adjustment, and then press
Stop.
Rearrange steps: Drag steps up or down to reorder them.
7. Saving and Sharing Actions
Once you’ve created an action, you can save and share it with others:
1. In the Actions panel, select the action you want to save.
2. Click the menu icon (the three horizontal lines at the top-right of the Actions panel).
3. Select Save Actions and choose a location on your computer to save the .atn file.
4. You can now share the action file with others, and they can load it into their Photoshop