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The winner of the 16×20 Color Inc Print is: number 44 - Kim Crum

Congrats!!!  I will contact Color Inc. and have them contact you on how you can claim your prize.

Remember we have two more contests ending tomorrow and Sunday.  So you could be the next lucky winner.  Also check out the free “flag in a flash” action further down in this blog post.

And for those curious, picture number 38 got the most votes (20% of people picked this one) which is a lot considering the 124 people who voted.

These four were the other most popular based on votes:

And in case you missed the FREE Flag in a Flash Action that I posted back in May, here it is again in honor of the Fourth of July. I hope you find many uses for this storyboard action. Click on any of the three examples to download it.

***FLAG IN A FLASH***

This is a very special free photoshop action called “Flag in a Flash.” It creates a 20×20 Patriotic Flag Storyboard in seconds. You can resize the storyboard to any smaller size square (such as 8×8, 10×10, 12×12, 16×16, etc). Perfect for framing, printing on canvas, or for use in scrapbooking.

Just download, unzip, and install the action into photoshop (tested in photoshop 7, CS, CS2 and CS3 - but not elements). Then click play. Once it runs, you will want to crop 4 photos to insert. The openings are:

6.5×4.75
(2) 4×4
6×4

When cropping add .25 to width and height. So crop the 6×4 photo to 6.25×4.25 for example. Then use Move Tool to move the photos into the Storyboard. Make sure that they are under the “Photos Go Below Here” layer. Then save (or re-size and save if you want a smaller version). Color of the background can be changed by clicking on the blue square in the layers palette and selecting a new color. You also may add a photo to take the place of the white stripes, though usually that ends up a little bit busy.

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This contest and incredible free vintage frame and tutorial is brought to you by lch design.

Today Leah of lch design is making everyone a winner by giving away this incredible vintage digital frame. Click on the framed photo directly below to download this amazing zipped .png file. Then learn to use it by following along with her lesson.

To enter her contest — scroll past the tutorial for details… You do not want to miss this!

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So now for the contest… To win your choice of one of these three amazing digital vintage frame sets shown below {a $35 value}, you need to do 2 things. One, sign up for Leah’s mailing list on her site. And the second, leave a comment here. The lucky winner will be drawn at random on Sunday night, the 6th of July.

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This tutorial will teach you how to get the most out of my “Burnt Edges” action set - it is a free action on my website at http://www.mcpactions.com.

I will teach you how to do more with it than just clicking play and adjusting the opacity.  Have fun watching!

Click on the logo below to load and enjoy the video.

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Here it is again - the highly requested “DAD” storyboard template.

I released this template last year and have had dozens of people asking for a re-release.

I have two versions available.

- Version 1 has clipping masks - if you are familiar with using clipping masks, it is amazing.  If you are not, version 2 is for you.

- Version 2 has easy openings.  Use the move tool to move photos in.  Then use the transform tool and selection tools to get the images where you want them.

Download version 1 | Download version 2

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***FLAG IN A FLASH***

This is a very special free photoshop action called “Flag in a Flash.” It creates a 20×20 Patriotic Flag Storyboard in seconds. You can resize the storyboard to any smaller size square (such as 8×8, 10×10, 12×12, 16×16, etc). Perfect for framing, printing on canvas, or for use in scrapbooking.

Just download, unzip, and install the action into photoshop (tested in photoshop 7, CS, CS2 and CS3 - but not elements). Then click play. Once it runs, you will want to crop 4 photos to insert. The openings are:

6.5×4.75
(2) 4×4
6×4

When cropping add .25 to width and height. So crop the 6×4 photo to 6.25×4.25 for example. Then use Move Tool to move the photos into the Storyboard. Make sure that they are under the “Photos Go Below Here” layer. Then save (or re-size and save if you want a smaller version). Color of the background can be changed by clicking on the blue square in the layers palette and selecting a new color. You also may add a photo to take the place of the white stripes, though usually that ends up a little bit busy.

Enjoy the action. Click on one of the examples to download the action. I am going to try and remember to re-post this for Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day too. So you may see this one a few times coming up.

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Have you ever wanted to just lighten the face in your photo? Have you ever wanted to just lighten a part of a photo you did not expose properly?

Have you ever wanted to add emphasis to part of the photo by darkening the surround area but leaving the subject lighter?

If so, I have a special treat for you. It is an action called “Touch of Light | Touch of Darkness.” It will help you achieve this look! I have been getting requests to make and sell an action like this for months. But I have decided as a gift to my loyal MCP Actions Blog Readers to make this a FREE action.

In exchange for the free action, I would love for you to spread the word about my blog -tell your photographer friends to come get the action here too. This is a Blog EXCLUSIVE. This one will NOT be going on my regular website.

Click here to download this action - compatible in Photoshop 7, CS, CS2 and CS3

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Here are step by step details on using this action:

1. Start out by unzipping and installing the action - details available in my video tutorial on how to install and use actions.

2. You can use this action any time in your editing process. Just make sure no solid pixel layers are above this. Adjustment layers can be on top of this however. I usually do all of my editing before using this action, unless I need major lightening help. Then I may run it earlier on. This action works exceptionally in conjunction with my Complete Workflow Actions Set and with the Quickie Collection Actions. When you are ready to use them click PLAY button.

3. The action will run and leave you with 2 layers. One called “Touch if Light” and one called “Touch of Darkness.” Make sure to select the layer you want to work on and that the mask is selected to, as shown.

4. Now select your brush tool - make sure to click back to your default colors (black and white). White reveals the effect, black conceals the effect.

5. Make sure to vary your opacity of your BRUSH as shown below. You do NOT want to use it at 100%. You will want it way lower. You will want an airbrush soft round brush and will want to vary the hardness. Do not use this at 100%. You will want to use the brush at 0-50% hardness. In areas where you want it feathering out, you can keep it at “0.” In areas where you do NOT want a halo effect, for example if you are darkening close to a person to make them stand out, you will want it between 30-50%. I will still feather but there will be less of one, so less chance of a halo around your subject(s).

6. Last step is to actually paint on the Light or Darkness. Often you will want a little of both. This usually is my last step in editing a photo but it can be used anytime. You can see the masks and how I revealed and concealed light to emphasize my twins riding their bikes. This photo was shot in full sun in the middle of the afternoon. Yet with this set and proper exposure it does not have that noon sunlight look at all.

7. Enjoy this action. Please use the SHARE ME button below to share this blog page so your photographer friends can download the action. Also, if you find this tutorial useful and are happy with the action, please leave a comment. Thanks and enjoy the fun freebie.

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Do you wish you could win a contest? Do you wish you were one of those “lucky” people?

Now is your chance. Enter the Contest EVERYONE can WIN!

The Prize:

- 4 Storyboard Actions called “Tell Me a Story-board” - 2 are 20×10 and 2 are 10×20. One of each white with black trim and one of each black with white trim.

The Rules:

- Subscribe to my new blog (if you have already - that counts)

- Link to my blog from your blog and/or website - have the text read: MCP Actions | Resources for Photographers and then have that text link to http://mcpactions.com/blog. This can go under Photographers, Resources, Favorite Sites or a general blogroll (depending how you have your site set up)

- Send me a link to your blog at jodi@mcpactions.com showing the link to MCP Actions Blog.

- Once you do those things - you automatically win! See I told you - everyone can win.

- This contest will run through March 31st, 2008.

The catch:

- The Storyboard Actions have been tested in Photoshop 7, CS, CS2, and CS3. I have not tested these for elements and I am guessing they will not work. You are still welcome to enter the contest and save the actions for when you upgrade.

Here are examples of the storyboards (sorry if the white blends with the white background or gets a border on the edges - not sure how it will show on the web in the examples…)

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This is my 1st video tutorial.  Hope you like it.  If you have recommendations for future tutorials and tips for photoshop, please contact me and let me know.

CLICK HERE to LEARN TO INSTALL AND USE ACTIONS

The video may take a minute to load and may pause during playing…  As I said, I am new to making videos…

Through the end of the year, MCP Actions has a special Holiday Promo!

Buy 2 Photoshop action sets and you get a super fun template/storyboard free. It is really fun - 13 colors come built in and it can be made it a 12×12 square frame or 12×12 9 hole storyboard. See details below. It does not work in elements so this promo is only for full version of photoshop. Plus while you are shopping, check out my FREE Actions like the B&W with 14 color overlays, the burnt edges vignette actions, and the frame/watermark action set - no purchased required for those.

Purchase of any 2 of these actions qualifies towards earning this freebie:

Eye Doctor and Dentist
Magic Skin
Complete Workflow Actions
Urban Cover Model
Coloring Book/Color Magic
Gallery Frame Actions Set

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To download these, click below:

MCP WATERMARK ACTION

MCP GALLERY FRAME ACTION

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MCP Actions Quick Purchase

I read an excellent tutorial on sharpening today and wanted to pass it along to everyone. I usually use lab sharpening or high pass. And occasionally USM. But edge sharpening was new to me. Andrea Joki shared this as a good way and pointed me to this tutorial so I could write an action for everyone.

This is a FREE action based on steps from this site.

Thank you and enjoy this week’s freebie.

Jodi

PS. It has only been tested in CS3. if you use it in another version and it works (CS2 and lower), please let me know. I expect it will not work in elements as it uses channels.

TO GET THIS ACTION, CLICK HERE.

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I feel bad that I have been so busy, that I have not had the time to post tips lately. I see most people wanted to have actions and tips on skin smoothing and watermarking. SO… Stay tuned. The magic skin action is available already.

But I plan to share a FREE watermark action with you soon. The action will actually walk you through making a watermark and then place it in photos and turn embossed.

So watch for it in a week or so…

Thanks - Jodi