Photoshop 6,7,CS,CS2 (Not Elements)

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Actions - called 'Macros' in other programs - are at the heart of Photoshop. They can make learning PS easier and speed up workflow to the extent that most professionals can not work without them. They can be very simple - just a single command - or extremly complex. My simple set will help you get started in Photoshop, and I will show you how to write your own actions to improve your workflow. First, make sure you can see the Actions pallette - use Window>Actions - then download the Actions file (secalis.atn) by clicking HERE. Save it to:
C:ProgramFiles\AdobePhotoshopXX\Presets\Photoshop Actions
The exact location may vary, but you can search for other .atn files

To load the new action set, access the Actions Menu by clicking the little triangle in the top right-hand corner of the pallette. Click on 'Replace Actions', and load 'Secalis.atn'.

The Action Pallette can be displayed in two modes - Button Mode (above) or Open Mode (right). Button Mode is normally used when working in Photoshop, while Open Mode is used for writing or amending Actions.
Once you have loaded the actions in Button Mode, It is simply a case of clicking the button to perform the action. Most are self-explanatory, but a few require more explanation.

'Rotate Arbitrary' is used to correct photographs taken or scanned at an angle. Use the Measure Tool (right) to draw a line along a vertical or horizontal edge or horizon and click the button. Click HERE for more information.
Black Keyline places a black border round the photo - use 3 to 6 pixels for prints, 1 or 2 for the web.
Black & White and Sepia leave the file in RGB mode for maximum flexibility. Some adjustment to the Curves layer will usually be necessary for the best result.
Line Drawing uses Filter>Blur>Smart Blur>Edges Only, and I have included it to show that almost anything can be included in an action.

My next tutorial will show you how easy it is to write your own actions. I have used two of the most useful as examples - one to open your scanner, and one to 'Save As' your files. The second button saves the trouble of navigating back and forth through your folders when opening and saving files.