Actions with less steps

[InSlowMotion]

I downloaded a photoshop action and at some point the action adds a curves adjustment layer, with a name different from the default, with clipping mask active and with the points in the curves changed.

I know that by pressing the Alt key i get extra options but i cant change the points in the curve and save it all in one step.

How can i save it all in one step?

You can find the action here:

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~jrus/colortheory/jl.html

PS: Forgive me for my english.

[InSlowMotion]

Re: Actions with less steps

I found a way but this is complicated so i hope someone can find a better solution.

For those who are interested here it goes.

For this to work, make sure that "Enhance Per Channel Contrast" is the default option of the curves "auto options"

The Action is recorded this way:

Start Recording
Add Curves Adjustment Layer
Stop Recording
On the actions panel double click the "Make Adjustment Layer" created before
Give a different name (optional), activate "Use previous layer to create clipping mask" (optional) than OK
Select options and cancel (I Know! This doesn't make sense - but its the only way that i found so that the RGB points appear in the action)
Finally click ok to close de curves dialog box

At this point, if you expand your action it should look like this:
Make adjustment layer
Using: adjustment layer
Name: “Curves”
With Clipping Mask
Type: curves
Preset Kind: Custom
Adjustment: curves adjustment list
curves adjustment
Channel: red channel
Curve: point list
point: 17, 0
point: 253, 255
curves adjustment
Channel: green channel
Curve: point list
point: 3, 0
point: 253, 255
curves adjustment
Channel: blue channel
Curve: point list
point: 4, 0
point: 254, 255

The last problem was that i couldn't change the points of the channels in photoshop.
But i found a script that allows a ATN to be exported as XML and vice versa.
Inside XML i just searched and changed the values.

A lot of work don't you think?! :-(

The scripts can be found here:

http://ps-scripts.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/ps-scripts/xtools/apps/ActionFileToXML.jsx

http://ps-scripts.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/ps-scripts/xtools/apps/ActionFileFromXML.jsx

[John Wheeler]

Re: Actions with less steps

Hi InSlowMotion - Your english is just fine.

I am not sure exactly what you are trying to do. The Action Set contains several actions for use depending on your initial Color Mode.

After that, all the specific Action does is set up all of the necessary Layers so that you can go back and manually adjust the Curves Adjustment Layers (all in Lab mode) manually.

Are you trying to create a custom Action using the downloaded Action as the starting point? If this is the case, that is typically done by clicking on the Action Step right before that one you want changed, record a single step of creating a Curves Adjustment Layer exactly as you desire, stop recording (which adds the new Curves Adjustment Layer) and then delete the original Curves Adjustment Layer in the Action, then save the Action Set to a new name.

When I ran the Action for the RGB color mode, all Layers were set up and I could go into any of Curves Adjustment Layer and modify colors/luminosity to my hearts content.

So it would help to know the specific purpose of your project so more targeted suggestions could be given by ReTouchPro members. Just a suggestion.

[InSlowMotion]

Re: Actions with less steps

Hi John Wheeler.

Thanks for your reply.

Are you trying to create a custom Action using the downloaded Action as the starting point?

No, as i was analysing the action i found a step that i could not replicate so i asked for help.

This is the step on the Jacob’s Ladder action that i didnt know how to replicate:
Make adjustment layer
Using: adjustment layer
Name: “b*-based adjuster”
Slot Color: red
With Clipping Mask
Type: curves
Preset Kind: Custom
Adjustment: curves adjustment list
curves adjustment
Channel: lightness channel
Curve: point list
point: 0, 128
point: 255, 128
curves adjustment
Channel: a channel
Curve: point list
point: 0, 128
point: 255, 128
curves adjustment
Channel: b channel
Curve: point list
point: 0, 128
point: 255, 128

I like to use actions, because it speeds the work and its a way of, in case i forget the techniques involved, remembering how it was done because everything is stored in a simple way to understant.