Actions can save time and increase productivity by automating repetitive tasks. They can also be used for reproducing techniques and creating special effects that can be shared with other Photoshop users. An Action is the result of recording various steps while using Photoshop. The Action can then be played back to carry out those same steps.

Once you have downloaded and unzipped your Action, place your Action in a common folder. Once you have established that folder, open Photoshop, open the Action palette, click the small triangle in the upper right hand corner to access the fly-out menu, then choose LOAD ACTIONS. Using the file dialogue, navigate to wherever you have placed your Actions. Click the "Load" button in the file dialogue, and your Actions will appear at the bottom of the Actions Palette. You can also drag and drop Actions onto the Actions Palette in Photoshop. For most Actions, it is best to start with a flattened RGB 8-bit image.

Please visit the Action Users Support Retouching Forum!

• Ask questions regarding Actions or just show off your work.
• Discuss workflow issues with other Action Users.
• Post images for retouching help and advice.
• Free to join-everyone welcome!

MW Sketch Action Set - Pro Series turns a color photo into a Pencil, Charcoal, Pen & Ink, Color Pen & Ink or Color Pencil Sketch. Action Pack includes a Web Mat & Frame Action, Custom Paper Textures and instructions on how to use Custom Textures. Action is compatible with U.S. Photoshop Versions 7, CS, CS2 and CS3.

All sales are final. Please ask questions prior to purchase. Download link provided immediately. $24.95

See Artist Studio Action Package below to save 35%.

Examples of Sketches

Watch the Antique Ship Sketch Action Video

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MW Illustration / Watercolor Action Set - Pro Series turns a color photo into a Airbrush Illustration, Color Sketch, Watercolor or a Blended Illustration-Watercolor. Action Pack includes a Web Mat & Frame Action, Custom Paper Textures and instructions on how to use Custom Textures. Action is compatible with U.S. Photoshop CS2 and CS3.

All sales are final. Please ask questions prior to purchase. Download link provided immediately. $24.95

See Artist Studio Action Package below to save 35%

Examples of Illustrations

Watch the Illustration Action Video I made of Christine Gambito (HappySlip.Com)

MW Artist Studio Action Package includes:

• The Sketch Action Pro Set
• The Illustration / Watercolor Action Pro Set
• The Full Set of Hi-Res Custom Textures

A $64.85 Value for only $42.15 (Save 35%!).

The Art Studio Action Package has everything you need to create professional renditions from your images. Merge Sketches with Watercolor renditions for a mixed media look. Experiment with adding different Textures for that final touch. There is no limit to what you will be able to create!

Examples of Sketches
Examples of Illustrations
Examples of Textures

* * * * * * * * * MW Deluxe Artist Studio Action Package includes the Artist Studio Action Package bundled with the Watercolor Painter Pro-Series Action. $62.00

MW Watercolor Painter Action - Pro Series allows you to create a very realistic Watercolor Painting by hand painting the image back over a Pencil Base using a Graphics Tablet.

Action Pack includes a Web Mat & Frame Action, Custom Paper Textures and instructions on how to use Custom Textures. Action is compatible with U.S. Photoshop Versions CS2 and CS3.

All sales are final. Please ask questions prior to purchase. Download link provided immediately. $24.95

Examples of Hand Watercolor Paintings

* * * * * * * * * MW Deluxe Artist Studio Action Package includes the Artist Studio Action Package bundled with the Watercolor Painter Pro-Series Action. $62.00

Custom Photoshop Textures are High-Res, Seamless Textures that are used with Photoshop, Elements and PaintShopPro’s Texturizer Filter. Textures can be used to add texture to grunge backgrounds, add paper texture to mats and sketch backgrounds, add brush textures or a cracked aged look to paintings. To use the Texturizer Filter in Photoshop, go to Filter> Texture> Texturizer. The default Textures in Photoshop are Brick, Burlap, Canvas and Sandstone. There is a fly-out button on the right side of the Texture menu that allows you to load your own Custom Textures. Simply navigate to the folder of Custom Textures and choose the one that works best with your image. The Texturizer Filter allows you to adjust the size of your Texture between 50-200%, adjust the contrast and adjust the direction of the Light Source. It also has an option to invert the image from positive to reverse. I suggest always starting with 50%, 2 Relief with Light coming from the Top Left. Increase size and Relief to taste. Click Invert to see if it looks better to you in that mode. You can use Fade to lessen the effect and/or change the Blending Mode settings for extra effects. This is what makes the Texturizer Filter more versatile than pasting textured images over your images. These textures can be loaded at any time when in the Texture Filter interface and work great with several of my Framing, Illustration and Sketch Actions that utilize textures in the workflow. These Custom textures can also be used with the Conte Crayon, Rough Pastels, Under Painting and Glass Filters. See details on purchasing my Custom Textures below. You can buy the complete set of 25 Textures for $14.95

Download MW Custom Textures Instruction PDF for printing

Examples of images with Textures

View complete 25-PieceTexture Set-01

Download link provided immediately.

MW Basic Retouch Action Set has over 30 of the most frequently used Actions for Basic Retouching in Photoshop. The set includes actions for adjusting Levels, Defogging, increasing Color Saturation, increasing Contrast, Sharpening, Blurring, Black & White Conversion, Black & White Toning and includes a Mat/Frame Action for web display.

This action set is like having training wheels for Photoshop. Each action opens the filter and shows you what settings are being used. The action is followed by a Fade Command to adjust the desired level of the effect to taste, while viewing your image. Once you become familiar with the settings, you can turn off the dialogue box in the action palette so the action will automatically apply the effect, then go to fade. Eventually, you will know the settings that suit your taste in processing and will be able to create your own settings and will no longer have to rely on the actions for the more commonly used steps in your workflow. This enables you to be immediately productive with methods you are not familiar with while you are learning. Ideally, you should record your own action work flow using the methods that work best for you to use with batch processing.

The various actions within the same category are not intended to be run after each other. There are many different ways to skin a cat using Photoshop. I have provided several different options for each stage of processing that achieve a similar result, but are slightly different depending on your workflow, taste and the size of the file you are working with. You will have to decide which method you prefer through experimentation. Many actions will guide you with stop screens instructing you what to do before or after running the action, requiring your input to adjusting a setting while viewing your image. This action set is more like a tutorial than a one-click action solution.

Whether you are just beginning to use Photoshop or are an intermediate user, I'm sure you find many of these actions to be unique and very productive to your workflow. Even if you already know most of these filter settings, this action set will allow you to be more organized and productive. This is the set of actions I use in my work everyday.

Retouch Action Gallery showing examples of the various effects applied to the same image.

A "read me" file is provided with the Action instructing you how to load and run Actions. Photoshop CS2 or CS3 is required for the Extreme Blur Actions. The rest of the Actions will run in PS7 or higher. Start with a flattened 8 bit RGB image. Always view your image at 100% when applying Sharpening or Blurring.

All sales are final. Please ask questions prior to purchase. Download link provided immediately. $24.95

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MW Retouch Action Bundle:
• Basic Retouch Action Set
• Pop! Action
• Dragan Effect Action

$37.00 ($44.85 Value)

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*MW Retouch/Illustration Pro-Bundle:
• Basic Retouch Action Set
• Pop! Action
• Dragan Effect Action
• Illustration/Watercolor Action Set
• Full Set of Custom Photoshop textures

$68.00 ($84.75 Value)
*Everything you need to get that Urban-Grunge-Draganized-Illustrated Look