Let's talk Actions

Actions are a wonderful way to get images to look really great without doing more than hitting a "Play" button. I grabbed this text from BMC PhotoArt to better explain what they are:
"One of the most useful features of Photoshop is the ability to store sequences of commands for repeated use, called Actions. Most commands and tool operations are recordable in actions. Adobe Photoshop actions are grouped into sets to better organize them. You use the Actions palette to record, play, edit, and delete individual actions. It also lets you save and load action files. To display the Actions palette: Choose Window > Actions, or click the Actions palette tab if the palette is visible but not active.

To load a set of actions:

• Make sure you have your image already open in Photoshop
  

• Download the Action you want from a website and save it to your desktop. More than likely it will be a .zip file so you will have to Extract (unzip) that file.
• Once that is done locate your Actions Folder on your computers C drive. The path on a PC should look something like this:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3\Presets\Actions

• Once you have located the Actions folder drag the Action from your desktop INTO the folder. Close the window.
• Go back into Photoshop and choose Load Actions from the Actions palette menu. Locate and select the action set file, then click Load. (In Windows, Photoshop action set files have the extension .atn.)
• Select an action set from the bottom of the Actions palette menu. Once you have selected one hit play and let the work be done for you!

Here is a great website for some Free Actions: PansoFX
Also ask other Nesties if they have some Actions they would be willing to share. I know I have a few. Just page me!