MCP Actions Quick Purchase

After posting a few sample photos I shot from the Secret Workshop, I had a number of comments and emails asking if I could show my post processing on a video.  So I figured, why not.  Keep in mind that I use my actions when I edit, as they are my workflow.  These effects can be produced on your own without actions too, but this video will not be covering that today.  You can literally “watch me work.”

 Here are the two photos I am using and the before and after views.  In the video you may see banding or the colors may not be as rich since it is a screen capture.  So these are more true to how they will print.  To watch the video, click the logo that says “watch me work.”  It make take a minute to load so be patient.  Thanks!

MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

***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.

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

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

______________________________________________________________________

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.

 MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

Question: “Photoshop is giving me a lot of errors, things keep disappearing, and stuff is just not right.  What should I do?”

Answer: The 1st thing Adobe will tell you in this situation is to reset your preferences as they may have become corrupt. Restart Photoshop.  As it is starting up, hold down “alt, crtl, and shift” for a PC or “option, command, shift” for a Mac.  A message will come up asking if you want to delete your current settings.  You will need to click yes.  Before you do all this, if you have saved a lot of preferences, you may want to make notes on those so you can reset things how you like once Photoshop is back up and running.  If this does not work, you need to call Adobe Tech Support.  Start by telling them you already reset preferences, or chances are they will tell you to do this 1st.

I hope this Photoshop Tips help you along your way to learning Photoshop.  Feel free to tell others about my posts and blog so they can learn all this information too.

MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

My “Tell a Storyboard Actions” have been a huge success.  I am so glad that everyone is LOVING them!  I have 2 videos included when you purchase them.  One explains how to use them, add photos, etc.  The other video explains how to change colors, add gradients, or add patterns and scrapbooking papers.

I keep getting asked if I will start making papers for these storyboards and collages.  For now I really LOVE making actions and doing the Photoshop Training, so I am staying focused.  But I never want to leave my customers hanging.  So I have partnered with Tina Parker of My Lil Creations.  She makes incredible papers which can be used in my Tell a Storyboard Collection.

Please remember these do not come with your MCP Actions, but they can be purchased from her website.  Also keep in mind both her and my Terms of Use for these.  They cannot be used to make and sell or give away other templates, but can be used as flattened files with your photography inside for clients.

Here is a small sampling of the papers in use in a few MCP Storyboards.

MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

To make this blog even better for every hobbiest and professional photographer on the internet, I plan build partnerships and incorporate guests into my blog.  If you fit any of these descriptions or know of people I should contact, please leave me a comment or contact me via email.

- Tutorials and Tips - if you have made an excellent tutorial or tip that I can share here.  I will of course give you credit and link to your site.  I would love to include Photography Tips too.  I will be doing lots of videos and screen shot tutorials on Photoshop, but it is always helpful to have items from a different perspective too.

- Contests - if you have a product you want to use as a prize for a contest on my blog.  This will be great exposure for you.  We can figure out details for the actual contest together.

- Discounts - I would love to be able to start posting more discounts for MCP Actions Blog readers.  These need to be for Photography related products, anything from camera equipment to templates and more. 

___________________________________________________________________

 Stay tuned for some exciting news on my first partnership later this week.  I have a major Photoshop software plugin vendor who will be making a permenant discount code for MCP Actions, and will be doing some great contests and giveaways here.  I will announce this later this coming week.  Keep watching!

 MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

A few weeks ago I introduced the Tell a Story-board Actions.  They have been a HUGE hit.  By very popular request I have added one more set of storyboard template actions.  These storyboard actions all have rounded corners and the set is called “Rounded Up.”

 The coolest news - this set has a TON of actions in it.  How do you define TON in numbers - well it has 100 collage and storyboard templates in the set.  So does that qualify as a ton?

 They are amazing - fun - trendy and well rounded.  They come in a huge variety of sizes:

5×30, 30×5, 10×30, 30×10, 30×30, 20×20, 20×24, 24×20, 16×20, 20×16, 11×14, 14×11, 10×20, 20×10, 4×10, 10×4

These “Tell a Story-board” actions are done in black with white optional border overlays and white with black optional border overlays. The background colors may also be customized and textures, patterns and scrapbooking papers may be added for complete flexibility.

The Ultimate 3 pack is no longer available.  I now have the Ultimate 4 pack if you want all of the Tell a Storyboard Actions.

Click here to see my new set!

Here are a few of the many examples:

_______________________________________________________________

Check out my other Tell a Story-board sets as well:

Set 1: 10×20 | 20×10

60 storyboards in this collection - 30 unique designs

The most popular size storyboards.

Set 2: 20×20

38 storyboards in this collection - 19 unique designs

Square dimensions can be resized to create 16×16, 12×12, 10×10, 8×8 and more.

Set 3: The Variety Pack

80 storyboards in this collection - 40 unique designs

These come in a wide variety of sizes including:

5×30, 30×5, 10×30, 30×10, 30×30, 20×20, 20×24, 24×20, 16×20, 20×16, 11×14, 14×11, 10×20, 20×10, 4×10, 10×4

___________________________________________________________

Here is a quick glimpse at a few of my most popular actions.

Eye Doctor & Dentist: The best Eye Pop for sharp clear eyes plus teeth whitening. This is the best product of this kind that is available.

Magic Skin | Magic Powder | Magic Foundation: Magically apply powder and foundation for milky smooth skin. Rid skin of light acne, reduce wrinkles, smooth pores all by clicking play using these actions. Skin Cast blast helps click away skin casts.

Complete Workflow Actions: Helps you take your photos from beginning to end. These actions add color pop, contrast, sharpness and clarity to your photos. Also convert your photo to black and white or vintage.

Quickie Collection: Edit your photo the way you want. Using the actions you want. This set has everything from under and over exposure fixers and color fixers, to urban cross processing, texture black and white conversions and much more.

Frosted Memories: Take your photos back in time for a classic look with these actions. They have built in texture actions combined with haze and vintage with a twist.

MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

This week’s photo makeover is from a customer of mine.  She needs a photo of her 3 kids together.  2 looked good in one photo.  One looked good in another.  Also the red paper backdrop was not big enough and you could see bookshelves, lightstands and her fridge in the background.  There was some dust and dirt on the floor of the paper.   The photos lacked sharpness and contrast as well.  So here are two before shots and the after shot once I was done editing.

Tools used: Clone Tool, Patch Tool,  Paint Brush Tool, Masking, Marquee Tool, Transform Tool, MCP Complete Workflow-A Touch of Color Action

MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

I received an email today from a customer of mine who purchased the storyboard actions recently.  It helped me realize that another tutorial was in order to teach customers how to get more creative with the storyboard actions. 

Here was her email:

“Hey Jodi…just wanted to share the attached with you…I was playing around with your storyboards (with stock photos).  These are an awesome tool and so adjustable! I changed the matting color to match the flowers in the bouquet (thank you for your coloring book actions, also used here), added a pattern to the matte (staying in the same color palette) and added a small stroke around the option borders to give a little more dimension to the borders. This literally took 2 minutes, thanks to your actions. Just thought I would share…I am not sure that everyone checking out your boards realizes how creative you can get with these!!”

________________________________________________________
So inspired by this, I have made a part 2 to my video tutorial for people who purchase the MCP Tell a Storyboard Actions.  If you already purchased the actions and want a link to the new video, just email me.  The video will teach you how to add a pattern, texture or scrapbook paper to the storyboard (where the black or white is now) and will teach you how to add a gradient and even a new way to add color.

Thank you Gina!  Here is the storyboard Gina made and sent me:

If you have purchased any of my actions and want to share creative uses of them to inspire me and MCP customers, please email me.  I love seeing your work.  You also can share on my flickr group and start posts there letting people see your work and know how you accomplished it.

MCP Flickr Group

MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

This is the Ultimate Collection of Storyboard, Collage, and Template Actions.

Three sets of Photoshop Actions designed to save you time, make you money, and help you design beautifulcreations. There are full written and video instructions for this set.

Every “Tell a Story-board” is done in black with white optional border overlays and white with black optional border overlays. The background colors may also be customized for complete flexibility.

Set 1: 10×20 | 20×10

60 storyboards in this collection - 30 unique designs

The most popular size storyboards.

Set 2: 20×20

38 storyboards in this collection - 19 unique designs

Square dimensions can be resized to create 16×16, 12×12, 10×10, 8×8 and more.

Set 3: The Variety Pack

80 storyboards in this collection - 40 unique designs

These come in a wide variety of sizes including:

5×30, 30×5, 10×30, 30×10, 30×30, 20×20, 20×24, 24×20, 16×20, 20×16, 11×14, 14×11, 10×20, 20×10, 4×10, 10×4{

Or get them all with the Ultimate 3 pack}

Click here to see these new, exciting sets! Here are a few quick examples:

Here is a quick glimpse at a few of my most popular actions.

Eye Doctor & Dentist: The best Eye Pop for sharp clear eyes plus teeth whitening.  This is the best product of this kind that is available.

Magic Skin | Magic Powder | Magic Foundation: Magically apply powder and foundation for milky smooth skin.  Rid skin of light acne, reduce wrinkles, smooth pores all by clicking play using these actions.  Skin Cast blast helps click away skin casts.

Complete Workflow Actions: Helps you take your photos from beginning to end.  These actions add color pop, contrast, sharpness and clarity to your photos.  Also convert your photo to black and white or vintage.

Quickie Collection: Edit your photo the way you want.  Using the actions you want.  This set has everything from under and over exposure fixers and color fixers, to urban cross processing, texture black and white conversions and much more.

 Frosted Memories: Take your photos back in time for a classic look with these actions.  They have built in texture actions combined with haze and vintage with a twist.

MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

Here are some of the photos I took yesterday before we went to the dance studio to have photos taken by the studio’s photographer. 

Read more on my blog about that experience.  My photos were all taken with my hi-lite backdrop, 4 alien bees.  Main with softlighter.  Fill with umbrella.  Backlights shooting into the hi-lite backdrop by lastolite.  My room is 11×13 - about as tiny as you can go.  I am very out of space and my photos look slightly distorted as a result.  But I need to make do with what I have.  Settings - 1/125, ISO100, f9

I would love opinions on these - so please comment :)  Bad and good comments welcome.

MCP Actions Website | MCP Flickr Group | MCP Reviews

MCP Actions Quick Purchase

Once again I am looking for examples.  This time I am looking for something a little bit different.

My new sets are storyboard actions.  They are so fun and are going to save photographers time and help them sell big prints.

What I am looking for is series of photos that tell a story.  The examples on my site will be small - but I want some that do not just show blank insert areas.

If you have any groups of photos - can be as little as 2 and as much as 10, please email me at jodi@mcpactions.com.  Please attach your already edited photos (for these I do not want SOOC but ones that already look processed).  I would like them resized and sharpened for web since they will be shrunk even further to go into the storyboards.  Make sure you note your photography name, website (so that I can add you to my credit page if your photos are chosen), and a note saying that MCP Actions has permission to use your photos.  I do not compensate for the use of your photos, but in exchange, your site gets listed on my website under contributors.

Some ideas of what I am looking for:

- any series of shots that tell a story

- a series of facial expressions

- series of baby body parts - such as feet, hands, etc

- really anything that works well in a storyboard or collage

The photos must be professional quality.  If you are not chosen, do not take it personally.  They need to fit well into the specific storyboards and collages I am looking to use as samples.

Thank you,

 Jodi