Adobe Photoshop CS2 On Demand [Electronic resources]

Examining the Actions Palette

The Actions palette is where you create, save, modify, and store all of your actions. The analogy of a tape recorder is used often in discussions of the Actions palette, but besides the overuse of the term, it's actually a good way to view actions. The action itself is a tape, and the Actions palette is the tape recorder. When you begin an action, the palette records each step in the process, saves them, and then lets you play them back on another image. In order to record and play actions, you need to understand how to use the Actions palette.

Examine the Actions Palette

Select the

Actions palette.

Check the toggle box to toggle an action on or off.

Click the dialog box to toggle the dialog function on or off.

Click the

expand triangle to expand or contract an action or set.

Click the

Actions Options button to access all of the Actions palette options.

Did You Know? You can use the Window menu to display the Actions palette. Click the Window menu, and then click Actions.

The following buttons are accessible at the bottom of the Actions palette, from left to right:

• Stop. Click to stop recording and save an action.

• Record. Click to begin recording an action.

• Play. Click to begin execution of the selected action.

• Create New Set. Creates a new action set.

  Sets are like file folders; they store individual actions.

• Create New Action. Starts the process of creating a new action.

• Delete. Click to delete the selected action or set.