Photoshop is a powerful image editing application that can completely transform your photos. However, to reap the benefits of its tools and features, you'll often find yourself repeating many laborious tasks.

In this article, we'll show you how to use Photoshop Actions to make your life easier.

What Are Photoshop Actions?

A Photoshop Action is a string of editing instructions. When run, it performs a task or set of tasks with a single click.

Photoshop Actions are programmable and can perform almost any set of tasks imaginable. They are especially useful when combined with batch processing or Photoshop Droplets.

Why Are Photoshop Actions Useful?

Why Are Photoshop Actions Useful?

Photoshop Actions automates your routine tasks on the software. No more hard-to-remember steps!

For example, Photoshop Actions can be programmed to run multiple adjustment layers to color grade an image. What’s so great about this? If you have 500 images, this could take hours. But if you run a Photoshop Action for the task, the job will be done in just a few moments.

Apart from cutting down on the amount of time and effort that you spend editing images that require the same steps, you also nearly eliminate the possibility of user errors when performing the same tasks repeatedly.

Where to Locate the Actions Menu in Photoshop

Where to Locate the Actions Menu in Photoshop

You can access Photoshop Actions in a few different ways.

From the menu, go to Window > Actions. The Alt + F9 keyboard shortcut is the easiest way if you’re used to using Photoshop keyboard shortcuts. Alternatively, look for the Play Button icon in the toolbar.

How to Use Photoshop Actions

Using Photoshop Actions is easy. Simply open the menu using one of the abovementioned methods and click on the Action that you want to run.

In this example, we’ll take a portrait and turn it into a sepia image. We’re going to use one of the default Actions that come with Photoshop to achieve this.

  1. Press Alt + F9 to access the Photoshop Actions menu.
    Step 1 Alt + F9
  2. Open the Default Actions folder and click on Sepia Toning (Layer).
    Step 2 Sepia Toning Layer
  3. Click on the Play Selections icon (the triangle).
    Step 3 Click the Play Icon

The Result

Sepia Toning Results

What just happened?

This Photoshop Action created two layers above the original background image. The first (Layer 1) desaturated the image, making it a black-and-white copy. The Hue/Saturation adjustment layer on top was the finishing touch to create the sepia effect.

Layers Closeup

Simplify Your Life Using Photoshop Actions

Photoshop Actions are great time savers and will turn tedious and even complicated tasks into single-click operations. No more wasting time and making mistakes performing mundane edits. Use Photoshop Actions to make your life easier.