[gmitchel]

A free action set is available for making more than two dozen selections quickly and easily. Designed for graduated dodge and burn effects, the selections are useful for adding emphasis to an image. Perfect complement for actions that adjust tone and color (like my free TLR Tone Enhance and TLR Color Enhance action sets).

Want to simulate a fog or diffusion filter with the center clear? Combine the Center Circle selection with a Gaussian Blur (or one of the actions in my TLR Diffuse Glows action set). No need to buy a special filter or spread vaseline on a clear filter anymore.

Available selections include:

Center Oval
Center Circle

Four Corners
Top Corners
Bottom Corners
Left Corners
Right Corners

Top 1/4
Top 1/3
Top 1/2
Top 2/3
Top 3/4

Bottom 1/4
Bottom 1/3
Bottom 1/2
Bottom 2/3
Bottom 3/4

Left 1/4
Left 1/3
Left 1/2
Left 2/3
Left 3/4

Right 1/4
Right 1/3
Right 1/2
Right 2/3
Right 3/4


The actions in TLR Quick Selections make an alpha channel, apply a Gaussian Blur to soften the edges, and load the channel as a selection.

http://www.thelightsright.com/TLRQuickSelections.htm

Enjoy!

Cheers,

Mitch

[maureeno]

Man, I wish I knew how to use that, Mitch!!

Maureen

[Cameraken]

Maureen

Click on Mitch’s link.
Right Click on ‘TLR Quick Selections’ to download the Zip file
Right Click ‘Action Basics’ to Download the PDF file

Open the ActionBasics.pdf file to get the instructions on how to install.

You will need winzip installed to extract the action from the zip file
It is available here
http://www.winzip.com/
Choose a 45 day free trial.

Post again if you get stuck.
I have not tried it yet but Glenn writes some great stuff.

Ken

[gmitchel]

Originally Posted by maureeno

Man, I wish I knew how to use that, Mitch!!

Maureen

Ken's given you good info to get the actions loaded in Photoshop.

How can I help you get started with the actions?

I use the actions to create layer masks. The edges are blurred to make the transitions smooth.

Here's a typical workflow:

(1) Load the image in Photoshop and do my global edits.
(2) Create a central oval selection with the "Central Oval Method"
(3) Invoke "Plus 3/4 Stop" from my TLR Tone Enhance action set.

This will automatically add the selection as a layer mask.

Cheers,

Mitch

Cheers,

Mitch

[maureeno]

All right, Mitch and Ken, I'll have a go!!

Maureen