Blue Sky.

Calling all photo and digital scrapbook enthusiasts.

In celebration of JessicaSprague.com’s second birthday, Jessica will host for FREE a two-week incredible photo editing class entitled: Photo Editing: Frame-ups & Special Effects! using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Yes, you read it right, it’s free! The registration opens on June 22, the start of their week-long birthday celebration.

Scope of classes include tips and techniques on Brushes, Frames, Masks, Textures, Blending modes, Filters, and more!

Have work or too busy to handle a class? Worry not because there’s no need to be online at a specific time. Jessica will send an email everyday featuring the day’s new techniques and explaining how to access the instructional content on the web site. So you may access the course materials and the free digital goodies anytime.

For more info about this class, check it here.

Just sharing the sample output of the actions I’ve recently shared here.

This photo was a shot of dear hubby during my eldest sister’s January wedding. Our niece, Tiffany, was one of the flower girls and she was so adorable in her gown and make up. This is one of my faves from among the multitude of photos DH shot that day. While waiting for the bride’s preps shoot at the hotel to wrap up, Tiffany was lounging by the window of Discovery Suites enjoying the great view of Ortigas from the 16th floor.

This tut or tip is very useful if you are a digital scrapper or if you simply want to post process or edit your photographs in Photoshop. Well, just like everybody on their first time, Photoshop appeared so complex to me with the buttons everywhere and all. Anyway, here’s one tip you can use for future reference. Thanks to Designer Digitals for this mini-tut.

ALL ABOUT THE MARQUEE TOOL

The Marquee tools in Photoshop and PSE allow you to create rectangular, square, circular and elliptical selections. Find the Marquee Tools by pressing the letter M on your keyboard or locating the Marquee tool icon near the top of the Toolbar.

When you are using the Rectangular Marquee tool, holding the Shift key gives you a perfectly square selection. Holding the Alt key (Mac: Opt key) forces the Marquee tool to draw from the center outward.

So holding the Shift + Alt keys (Mac: Shift + Opt keys) draws a perfect square from the center outward. Be sure to hold the shift key before pressing the Alt (Opt) key.

In Photoshop, holding the Shift key with the Elliptical Marquee tool gives you a perfect circle selection. Holding the Alt key (Mac: Opt key) forces the Marquee tool to draw from the center outward.

So Holding the Shift + Alt keys (Mac: Shift + Opt keys) draws a perfect circle from the center outward.

I’ve shared a number of free downloadable photoshop actions recently and these steps will be helpful as your installation guide.

1. To install Adobe Photoshop Action, locate the following folder : “../Adobe Photoshop/Presets/Photoshop Actions”
2 Create a new folder within the above address and call it – “TT actions”
3 Start up Adobe Photoshop
4 Open the Actions floating palette (menu: Window > Actions)
5 Click on the small arrow with in a circle at the top right hand corner of the palette and choose “Load Actions”
6 Load your Action file (from the folder you created earlier) to complete.
7 From the same menu you can also change to ‘Button Mode’, making it easier to access this action.
8 You are now ready to use this action within Photoshop.

Thank you Turningturnip for that guide.

What are Photoshop Actions?

An action is simply a recording of a series of tasks or tools used during a period of time. It is an easy way of applying the same tasks like cropping, filters and blurs application, etc. to achieve a particular result. It saves time and effort especially with repetitive and complex tasks.

Here is a compilation of my favorite photoshop actions I’ve just scoured and downloaded over the web. Can’t wait to put them to use.

Soften Skin Effect – perfect way to erase those zits and any other unwanted facial marks.

Action 3 by PerfectlyHudgens

Retro Pop Action by Lara Jade

5 B&W Actions by Cat-Womany-Amy