New Actions

Wow, three posts in three days. What's the occassion?

I came across a photography site some time ago when looking for some actions for my Photoshop. Let's face it, actions take the angst out of editing, especially when one finds photoshop very daunting. I've been trying to teach myself various functions of photoshop, but it has been very slow going. Actions just take all the hair pulling out of editing and make the time you spend editing way way less that it would normally be. Plus, you can tweak actions to fit your own personal style. See, it's just a win win:)

I stumbled upon "Paint the Moon Photography" when I was searching for some high quality professional actions. I actually thought that I had found another photography site that I love, but then I quickly realized that she sold her actions that she uses as a professional. She creates her own actions that you can manipulate.

Sold. And SOLD.

And really, I don't find them that unaffordable. Granted I could spend $200 there and not bat an eye, but I'm still a novice at using actions. Baby steps. Baby steps.

So I happened to check back with her to just remind myself of my wish list, and I saw that she was offering a free action for saying you "Liked" it on Facebook, for a limited time. Well SHOOT! I don't do facebook. BUT MY HUBBY DOES!!! :)

I ran downstairs. LITERALLY. I literally barreled my way downstairs. I'm glad my kids weren't there cause they would have probably gotten an elbow and thrown into the wall as I cycloned my way downstairs.

I made Doug put his movie on pause and explained to him what I wanted. Which was a very big deal because he had rented Inception the day prior but was only just getting around to some quiet time before I very spastically made him follow me upstairs.

Here's how it went down. He puts the movie on pause, runs upstairs, with me close on his heels like a labrador, and sits down at the computer. I show him the link to click on and as I try to explain more in depth he brings up facebook with such swiftness it would've shamed any olympic runner, and logs in. I am still jabbering at what an awesome thing this is and try to explain to him when he says, "No offense hon, but I just want to get this up for you and return to the movie."

No offense taken I assured him, and then he bolted back downstairs leaving me with this stupid grin on my face like I'd just discovered my computer made gold and was in the process of spitting it out at me.

Truly people, this stuff excites me. And when you can get it for free, OH MY WORD. How totally generous was Paint the Moon to share her stuff. Granted, I was going to buy a couple action sets (hopefully) in the next couple of months, so this was just the appetizer to the main course if you know what I mean.

Finally sat down to figure out how the action works. I pulled up this school photo of Zak. Here's the one I edited. And I still like it very much.



So then I took the original SOOC.....



and ran the Jubilee action.

WOW. Talk about professional grade. Most of the actions I use don't have nearly the layers that this one has. There was something like 15-20 layers that can be tweaked. 15 to 20!!! All to achieve different results when adjusting the opacity.

Oh my gosh I've died and gone to heaven.

This woman is absolutely amazing! I am in awe of her abilities. Truly. And she isn't paying me to say this or, really, even knows I'm alive. I'm just giving credit where credit is due. To create these kinds of actions is just...wow.

So here's what I came up with after playing with Jubilee for a few minutes.



Or this one. I decided I didn't want the center that bleached out.



Thank you thank you "Paint the Moon" for letting us mere mortals try your amazing actions!

I am in love! :)