About actions and the actions panel – Adobe Photoshop CC 2014 v.14.xx User Manual
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About actions and the Actions panel
Note:
About actions
Actions panel overview
For more information about actions
About actions
An action is a series of tasks that you play back on a single file or a batch of files—menu commands, panel options, tool actions, and so on. For
example, you can create an action that changes the size of an image, applies an effect to the image, and then saves the file in the desired format.
Actions can include steps that let you perform tasks that cannot be recorded (for example, using a painting tool). Actions can also include modal
controls that let you enter values in a dialog box while playing an action.
In Photoshop, actions are the basis for droplets, which are small applications that automatically process all files that are dragged onto their icon.
Photoshop and Illustrator come with predefined actions installed that help you perform common tasks. You can use these actions as is, customize
them to meet your needs, or create new actions. Actions are stored in sets to help you organize them.
You can record, edit, customize, and batch-process actions, and you can manage groups of actions by working with action sets.
Actions panel overview
You use the Actions panel (Window > Actions) to record, play, edit, and delete individual actions. This panel also lets you save and load action
files.
Photoshop Actions panel
A. Action set B. Action C. Recorded commands D. Included command E. Modal control (toggles on or off)
Expand and collapse sets, actions, and commands
Click the triangle to the left of the set, action, or command in the Actions panel. Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) the triangle to
expand or collapse all actions in a set or all commands in an action.
View actions by name only
Choose Button Mode from the Actions panel menu. Choose Button Mode again to return to list mode.
You can’t view individual commands or sets in Button mode.
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