Are you using actions?

Since I got a new laptop I also made the switch from Photoshop Elements (PSE) to Photoshop CS6 (PS).  I was a little hesitant to make the transition because 1) Photoshop was very expensive and 2) I’d grown to love some actions that I had purchased strictly for PSE.  Actions that I hadn’t yet learned how to create manually.  I recently repurchased them on Paint the Moon and am so happy I did.  They work so much better in PS (or I think so anyway).  Not to mention the action selection has changed since I last purchased them and the bundles included actions like remove color cast and remove the wonky colors (love that word “wonky”)!  Today, I thought I’d share some before and after images.  I like to do this every now and then as I know it can be useful (or fun at the very least) to see how others are editing their images. 

Okay, so here I go.

Before I even open an image in PS, I’ve been taking advantage of my Canon editing software to adjust my RAW file; things like exposure, contrast, hue, tint, noise, etc.  I do quick corrections knowing that I will do my final touches in PS.  My goal is to familiarize myself with ALL the various tools within PS, but until then, these actions have been working fabulously!  I’m sure that even when I figure out how to create these effects manually, that I’ll still use them as a means to minimize the length of time I dedicate to photo editing.  They are a HUGE timesaver! 

Here’s what I bought:

1) The Essentials and
2) Miracle Makeover

One of my favorites is the Cuts like a knife action.  I don’t like to sharpen the entire photo so it works perfectly for me as it allows you to paint the sharpening affect on.  I am also loving the Fix color cast (for the skin) action!  OMG, it’s pure genius; no it’s magic!  It’s definitely MAGIC!  Then there is Sparkle eyes that allows you to brighten the irises, whiten the whites, darken the pupil, etc.  The additional seriously cool actions that these bundles include are web actions like Watermark logo bar and resizing.  Anyhow, let me get to it…

Before actions on the left / After actions on the right
I didn’t have my original images to share in the next three comparisons.
The images on the left were edited but I did not use actions yet.
The images on the right are after the actions were applied.

See the color cast I removed from her nose and upper lip in all three of these photos?
I also used the sharpening, sparkle eyes, and web resize actions.

This next image (on the left) is my original.  I happened to still have it.

Original on the left / Edited on the right
The Sparkle Eyes action in this shot, although subtly used, really made a difference!

   

I also wanted to link up the  image below to the photo challenge over at Dear Beautiful Boy.
The theme is help.
I couldn’t think of anything better than this photo of Alivia trying to get in her wagon.
She was quite determined to do it herself, but finally asked Mama for help.