How-To Geek
The Best HTG Photoshop Effects in One Free Download: Action Pack #1
We’ve covered the manual methods of some fun Photoshop effects—now here’s they are in automatic. Download the How-To Geek Photoshop Action Pack, and get those effects in seconds with the touch of a button.
While there’s a lot of learning and satisfaction that goes into doing something the long way, sometimes the easy way is best. Why go through all the steps when you simply want to apply an effect to 50 of your photographs? Get ready to download, install, and use a great set of actions, free from How To Geek.
Download the Action Pack
Available on the author’s site, the first HTG Photoshop Action Pack is available for download. The link is safe for work, although the rest of the site has NSFW content. Browse around at your own risk!
Install the HTG Action Pack in Photoshop
In order to use these Photoshop actions, you’re going to need a version of Photoshop, preferably from Creative Suite 1 until the current version, CS5. With the action installed, you can click and run the action on any nearly photo or graphic you choose to use.
Confused about Photoshop actions? HTG has covered how any action can be installed in Photoshop with a simple How-To. Skip ahead if you’ve already read it to learn everything that the free action pack has to offer.
What’s in The Action Pack?
Instant Red/Cyan 3D Effect
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We recently learned how to make 3D images out of regular RGB graphics, and this action makes it easy to transform your image into a Red/Cyan 3D image in a second. |
Instant Pencil Sketch Effect
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There are a lot of ways to use photography to create a faux “pencil sketch” look, and now you can do it automatically, without even using our how to.
How To Make Photos Look Like Pencil Drawings in About One Minute |
Instant Isolated Color Effect (2 Effects)
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A classic look from photography and advertising, the action pack includes two versions of the isolated color effect. The first isolates pure red, the second isolates whatever color you have in your foreground color swatch. Check out the original to see how it’s done!
Beginner Photoshop: Black and White and Red Photo Effect in Ten Seconds |
Instant Pixel Art in Authentic Color Effect (3 Effects)
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Lovers of pixel art rejoice! The action pack has three actions that automatically will convert your photo into pixel art using authentic NES, Gameboy, and Sega Master System colors. Take a trip down memory lane and see how it was done.
Create 8-Bit Style Graphics with Authentic NES Gameboy and Sega Colors |
Instant Quick and Dirty Vintage Effect
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Last, but not least, we have a HTG classic, a quick and dirty vintage photo effect. This effect will create a hazy sepia toned image with a subtle faux reticulation effect on your images. And if you want to see how that’s done, check out the original article! |
- Download all effects in the How To Geek Photoshop Action Pack #1. (Mirror)
Image Credit: LIGHTS II by Shandi-lee, available under Creative Commons. All other images credited under their original articles.
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Comments (12)
Eric Z Goodnight is an Illustrator and Graphics Geek who hopes to make Photoshop more accessible to How-To Geek readers. When he’s not headbanging to heavy metal or geeking out over manga, he’s often off screen printing T-Shirts.
- Published 08/3/11
Sweet! Thanks a lot. How about you guys do some stuff on Illy?
This is quite awesome! How about a pack for GIMP, though?
I love photoshopping, but haven’t had much time to sit and try things out like I used to. When I saw this post, it brought tears to my eyes I was so happy.
@Steve O: I’m not sure what you mean and Google’s letting me down. Can you elaborate?
@Zach: I want to provide as many GIMP resources as I can. I’ll see what I can come up with.
@Ice Maine: Wow! Glad to hear it.
This pack is really good tried all of them on photoshop. Please a upload a pack for gimp too, much appreciated.
@ Eric – I think Illy == Adobe Illustrator
How about not forgetting about us poor folk using Photoshop Elements.
Thanks,
Jerry
SPECTACULAR! it was fun learning these, but to have them as presets, thanks HTG!
@Zach & @Eric
You might want to check out the G’MIC plugin for the Gimp. It’s got a great developer community, and it does many of these same things and more. Especially check out Tom Kheil’s add-on filters, his make3D effect and DOF modifier are really something to behold.
Check out the flickr discussion group for more info: http://www.flickr.com/groups/gmic/
The plugin can be found here: http://gmic.sourceforge.net/gimp.shtml
GMIC really is nothing short of spectacular.
*Disclaimer: I coded some of the add-on effects
i like the image efect like 667% hue & saturation 1 rgb 8 for panel transparant gods cotton panel
wih reply for best regads < thanks
great job
looks like someone is a lights fan ;)