Photoshop actions - how to install and play PencilPixel actions

[Sylvie-Anne]

Ahh. I knew I'd come unstuck - now have to learn Photoshop 7. Oh well, Corels under my belt - self taught why not another! Help Danny! I thought it was ONE CLICK. The main reason I wanted something so simple is to help severely handicapped young people do art with one CLICK. Sorry I just downloaded everything and thought it would be simple, so was disapointed. Tail between my legs and will learn PS 7 and will feel better. Jack of all trades, master of none!

Put up with me please

Sylvie-Anne

[DannyRaphael]

I moved your post to this forum since it is a general question about using Photoshop.

Yes, some Photoshop knowledge will be needed to play actions once they are installed into Photoshop.

Take heart... with a couple tweaks, it will be considerably easier. There are a lot of not-too-difficult steps getting Photoshop setup, but have faith -- we'll get you there.

===========

Photoshop setup:
* Open Photoshop
* Edit > Preferences > General
* Be sure there is a check mark next to option (x) Save palette locations
* Close Preferences dialog
* In Photoshop's Window menu drag down to the Tools entry to HIDE the Tools Palette.
* To clean up the Photoshop window screen close (x out of) all of the other visible palettes
* Again in the Window menu drag down to the Actions entry (or press F9). This displays the Actions Palette.

Purge Actions palette:
* In the Actiions Palette notice the arrow in the little circle at the top right.
* Click the arrow to show the menu
* Assuming you have never used Photoshop before (and no one else has used it) choose Clear All Actions from the menu. If someone else is using this edition of Photoshop, DO NOT do this step. Click on my name above and send me an e-mail so we can take this offline. If you are the only user of PS (except for the children) only do this Clear All Actions command one time - never again. The purpose is to clear out all the junk so your kids will have an easier time.

Action and style file installation:
* Resize the Photoshop window so it is not fully occupying the screen
* Open an Explorer window so you can see the downloaded .zip file
* Right-click on the .zip file
* About halfway down the menu choose Open with > Compressed folders
* Size/position the unzip window next to Photoshop's window (so both are visible)
* In the unzip window double-click on the folder (PencilPixels_Volume1) window to reveal two folders inside
* Double-click on folder One-Click-Actions
* Drag/drop file PencilPixels-OC-Vol-1.atn from the the upzip window into the Photoshop window
* Close window
* Double-click on folder Support_Files
* Drag/drop file PencilPixels Volume 1.asl from the the upzip window into the Photoshop window
* Close the unzip window. You're done with the installation.

Action Palette display - convert to Button Mode
* Maximize the Photoshop window
* In the Actiions Palette notice the arrow in the little circle at the top right.
* Click the arrow to show the menu
* Click on the Button mode command. This will transform the Actions palette into a group of "buttons." Each button represents an individual action.

WHEW... setup complete.

=================

To play an action:
* File > Open the image to which you want to apply the action
* Here's where the "one-click" comes in: Click on the button in the Actions Pallete corresponding to the action you want to use and off you go. All the PP actions duplicate the original image, so there will be a "before" and "after" image on the screen after each action finishes.

Don't hesitate to ask questions, OK? Let me know how it goes.

[Sylvie-Anne]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! Danny!

It took me all week but I got there. Pencil Pixels all installed and working thanks to your help. I nearly gave up but had one last go tonight and bingo it happened. Just one question - I can't be that thick if I've got this far but where are the Toon vector/comics and airbrush options hidden? Are they in Styled Poster Art? They aren't obvious under those headings. I haven't played with my new toy that much yet because I wanted to say thank you first, maybe I'll find them when I do.

Hugs,
Sylvie-Anne

[Frogger]

Ok im lost what is Pencil Pixels and Im using cs2

Frogger

[plugsnpixels]

Frogger, see examples and a screenshot here.

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Frogger

Ok im lost what is Pencil Pixels and Im using cs2

Frogger

Pencil Pixels is a company name.

Also see this thread:
http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/pho...olume-1-a.html

[Frogger]

You Guys are Awesome, Great thoughts,Ideas and ways to do things.
Thanks for your help

Frogger