The non-professional photographers among us are often left with boring and flat shots from our cameras, the photos lack the flair and energy that is achieved with expert techniques and equipment. Photoshop Actions on the other hand, can help recreate some amazing photo effects, just by pressing a button! This post rounds up 20 of the best Photoshop Actions that allow you to easily spice up your photos with popular effects, including HDR, Soft Focus, Lomo, Velvia and more!
The Original
To test out each Photoshop Action, and to allow the action to be compared against other actions on the same shot I’ve downloaded this sample image, courtesy of SXC. Compare this shot with each of the following actions, which one is your favourite?
Fuji Velvia Effect
Recreate the popular photo effect originally created by using Fuji’s Velvia range of film, with this fab action from Pibweb.
Sepia Effect
Create a simple vintage Sepia toning effect with this action from 4thDynasty
Dark and Cold Photo Effect
This cool Photoshop Action from David Nanchin creates an eery dark and cold effect.
Soft Focus Effect
HD Stock’s Soft Elegance action produces a slightly blurred image with high contrast and a green tone.
HDR Effect
HDR photo effects are all the rage. Easily create your own high dynamic range photograph without any specialist techniques with this action from Forfie
High Contrast Vintage Photo Effect
Create an awesome old-time effect with this action from SD Stock. Key features include high contrast, adjusted colour balance and heavy vignette.
Cold Blue Colour Cast Effect
Produce a cold colour cast with high contrast with this second action from SD Stock.
Retro Colour Cast
Give your photos the typical retro look with this colour adjusting action from Amatorka.
Split Tone Photo Effect
Digitally create the popular split tone effect with this action from Paranoid Stock.
Retro Photo Effect
Give your shots the typical retro colour tones with this brilliant action from Marissaxxx.
Vivid Blur Photo Effect
Create vivid colour and a dreamy blur with this action from AlenaJay. Although it’s possibly more suited to portraits than landscape shots.
Grainy High Contrast Effect
This cool grainy effect was created by Alejandro Herrera to mimic the awesome filming effects used in the movie 300.
Cross Colouring Photo Effect
Create a cross colouring effect with this action from KalifBanane. Available with three various settings to provide dark, medium or light effects.
Vintage/Retro Photo Effect
This great action from Pseudonyfreak creates an old vintage/retro theme with yellows and browns.
Infra Red Photo Effect
Create the popular Infra Red photo effect without the need for specialist IR filters or film with this awesome action from Hanyasatu.
Pseudo HDR
This second HDR action produces another high dynamic range effect, without the need for multiple exposures. This action from FinesseFX provides deep colours and sharp detail.
Cross Processing Effect
Traditional cross processing effects were originally created by developing a film with the wrong chemicals, leaving a range of unusual tones and colours. This action from Mutato Nomine easily recreates the effect.
Harsh Colour Balance
This action from Shagagraf creates an unusual colour tone adustment to give a semi-retro photo effect.
Soft Black and White Conversion
This handy action from FinesseFX converts your shots to black and white, with a soft and pure glow.
amazing idea for make every kind of picture outputs even we getting some retro and vintage outlooks as well.
Aloha! gob
this is quite usefull for amators like me :d
Some great actions in there, looking immediately at some of them have given me ideas.
Hey, nice list! Thanks for the mentioning the source/software used.
Nice list of photo effects.. :)
Thanks for posting… I’ll see what else I can come up with … love this blog!!
i love the Retro Photo Effect. Old School!
Great post. I like how you actually took the time to run each action on the same photo and show us examples.
fantastic!
I love the dark and cold image.
gorgeous, and very effective.
Super Nice, I am super new in actions on photoshop, sorry guys, I am total noob on photoshop :D my passion is coding valid CSS/Xhtml, this is gonna make my photos way more better.
nice.. but it would be better if they will be in 1 rar or zip file..)
sorry for my engish. it’s not my native languadge..
nice one mate, some great actions you have picked out.
I agree with Design Informer, it was cool to see the various actions used in examples
I am completely new to actions. Can you please tell me how I can use actions “just by pressing a button?”
Thanks!
Download the action file, then in Photoshop open up the Actions window (Windows > Actions).
Click the little arrow in the top right corner to open the little options panel.
Load the action from wherever it’s saved on your computer.
You sometimes need to drill down into the folder to select the file, then simply press the play button at the bottom of the Actions window.
Great collection of actions! Dont know how useful they will be for me but its always good to have them just in case.
Kevin
Hey Chris,
Thanks a lot for the “how to.” It’ll be hard choosing a favorite from all of these good ones.
Thank you very much, I love all your articles.
I love how you used the same image for every action, this makes it much easier to compare.
I recently posted a similar article full of photoshop actions to enhance your photographs. You can find it here: http://theroxor.com/2009/11/14/enhance-your-photos-with-these-great-photoshop-actions/
I love the Retro Photo Effect too quite nice work .. hope to see more ??
This is superb! thanks for this resource!
thanks, i really like the retro photo effect.
The harsh color balance is great. Whole set is nice though.
thanks a lot! ^.^
Nice list of actions. Thanks for sharing
Really nice tips…
These useful tips help even the most artistically challenged people have a creative flair. Thank you!
Nice, thanks for the tips.
Hey Chris,
A super post as usual and im trying some of the effects right now.
Keep the good stuff coming.
I thought i was using my photoshop, but i’ve realized that i was only using it 5%. Guess i’ll have to work on it some more.
I love photoshop! The effects you can do in photoshop always seem to amaze me. Great post Chris!
thanx for the links..really is very resourceful..my fav is the old vintage and the sepia effect..awesome..thanx once again!
Hey Chris,
Great post, will nab a couple of these.
My fav is the Grainy High Contrast Effect. Having said that, a different one will be my fav next week.
You got a fav out of these Chris?
Cheers!
I love the sepia effect……make me feels like i’m back in the 80’s
Wow, I should play around wth photoshop effect to try enhance my pictures! Thanks for the motivation
Vivid Blur………where can i find that effect in Photoshop?
Nice actions, thanks for sharing it , Retro Photo Effect is cool !!!
I liked the third from the top ‘cough’
Over 10,000 action at
http://refont.com/photoshop-action/index.php
Aloha! unn
Like the Sophia Effect.
There great for any photographer user. some look really cool
I love the vintage-retro photo effect the best…Thanks for this post…
Very useful and cool actions – thanks!
Brilliant post! fell in love with the retro effect. Thanks for sharing.
perfect love it , will be using for sure
Good special effect!
Love the Dark and Cold. Thanks for the list!
I could really use this for my Site!
Thanks!
Amazing!
Thanks for the list.
chris.. i really appriciate that… thanks to share
Regards
Rosewing