PSE5 Graphics

[Inspeqtor]

Is it possible to have Graphic Icons identifying the Special Effects in the Added Effects Palette? I would much prefer to see a picture of what will do, rather than just a word description. Thank you all!

There are also no Graphics for Graffi's Handy Actions and probably other areas as well.

657

[Hatter]

You need to have an image file called thumbs.psd in each actions directory, holding the icon image for each action on a seperate layer - in alphabetical order of the action names. You can create this yourself if you need to but most actions I've seen (including Graffi's Handy Actions) come with the file.

Gareth

[Inspeqtor]

Gareth, I am really confused then. I have Graffi's ActionFX_Bundle.zip and used Winzip to unzip GlamPhoto2-0.zip; HandyActions!2.zip; PhotoFilters2!_ActionFX.zip; and Sketchy_Paint2!.zip, then I unzipped each of those files and used the self install program Graffi included in each Zip file.
GlamPhoto has graphics. Handy Actions do not have graphics. Photo Filters have graphics. Sketchy Paint has graphics. Why would his Handy Actions not have graphics?
I also used Graffi's Add-O-Matic to install the many Panos's different actions I have, but when I included the psd files with Add-O-Matic it gave me an error:

658

How do I get those psd files to work now? This is very frustrating to me. I thought Add-O-Matic would make installation simpler, but now I have to figure out where to put the psd files. :(

[Wendy]

Charles ..

In PSE2, PSE3 & PSE4 ... an action needed a psd file to give you something to start the action.

PSE5 simply doesn't need it ...

You can however make a thumbs.psd to go with PSE5 actions ... it serves no useful purpose but it just looks pretty.

On Panos' site he gives you instruction for installing his actions ... here is the link to the PSE5 instructions:

http://www.panosfx.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=167

Hope this helps :)

Wendy

[Inspeqtor]

PSE5 simply doesn't need it ...

it serves no useful purpose but it just looks pretty.

The purpose it serves me is to show me which action I am selecting! :)

I am not happy that Adobe changed this, but I am one in millions.....sigh......

[Wendy]

Hi Charles ...

Underneath the gray square it does tell you the name of the action :)

.... it certainly does make installing actions a lot easier but if you wish to them just create a thumbs.psd and then you will have a picture for your action :)

Wendy

[troush]

If you put each of Panos' actions in their own directory (that's what I do), you can change the name of his .psd file to thumbs.psd and have a picture.

-Trish

[Hatter]

Gareth, I am really confused then. I have Graffi's ActionFX_Bundle.zip and used Winzip to unzip GlamPhoto2-0.zip; HandyActions!2.zip; PhotoFilters2!_ActionFX.zip; and Sketchy_Paint2!.zip, then I unzipped each of those files and used the self install program Graffi included in each Zip file.
GlamPhoto has graphics. Handy Actions do not have graphics. Photo Filters have graphics. Sketchy Paint has graphics. Why would his Handy Actions not have graphics?
I also used Graffi's Add-O-Matic to install the many Panos's different actions I have, but when I included the psd files with Add-O-Matic it gave me an error:

How do I get those psd files to work now? This is very frustrating to me. I thought Add-O-Matic would make installation simpler, but now I have to figure out where to put the psd files. :(

The directory the you get when you unzip the Handy Actions zip file includes thumbs.psd with all the .atn files. I'm pretty sure the install program copies this as well, but if it didn't, just copy it manually.
The destination path on my machine is: D:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects\Graffi's Effects\Handy Actions!

Gareth

[Hatter]

If you put each of Panos' actions in their own directory (that's what I do), you can change the name of his .psd file to thumbs.psd and have a picture.

Alternatively, if you put several in the same directory, you can use the supplied .psd files to build up a thumbs.psd file by copying & pasting onto new layers. The layers need to be in the right order - action names in alphabetical order, working from the bottom up.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1b5dDz423SIbHDWMdRjbTHMDp5Aam1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1b5dDz423SIbHDWMdRjbTHMDp5Aam1)

[graficalicus]

hi, guys -

the action FX packs all come with their own installer - just unzip the .exe file and run it - it'll do the rest for you. All of the 2.0 versions auto-install to Elements 3, 4 and/or 5 - and they all have thumbnails!

Also included in the .zip download of each and every action pack are the actions & thumbs file, if you prefer to manually install them - this is mainly for Mac users, and users of Elements 1 & 2 for Windows, as well as more advanced users of 3, 4 or 5 who don't want the actions in the default location.

Add-o-matic is for add-ons like brushes, styles, shapes, gradients, etc., that generate their own thumbnails. I really hesitated adding actions to this mix, knowing that a lot of folks would freak out when there was no thumbnail, but put them in at the last minute. you wouldn't believe the emails & PMs I get about it, though... :eek:

Like it says on the add-o-matic pdf in the zip, "if an action, plugin or other extra comes with an installer or install instructions, use them instead". Add-O-Matic, as far as actions go, is really intended for one-off actions from the Adobe Exchange or elsewhere that you primarily want to check out and don't necessarily need a thumb for. To add sets, like mine, Richard's, Panos' or Grant's, use the instructions that come with them.

To create thumbs in PSE 5, there's an in-depth tutorial here (http://www.graficalicus.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=250) - it's a bit trickier than earlier versions, so read carefully - a few criteria have to met for them to function correctly. It's not hard to do, but you do have to pay attention to the details.

For everything else, Add-O-Matic ROCKS, especially when you pin it to your Start menu like in the instructions - - (if I do say so myself....)

(To get the Handy Actions thumbs, just run the .exe that was in the download and ignore the other folder in there - it will put them where they should be with thumbs - :) )

[AngelicKim]

I have been wanting to ask about the thumbnails for PSE5 for sometime and keep forgetting. I found this thread doing a search because I was sure someone else had to have asked it.

I just want to make sure I understand this before I got through all the work. The actions that I have installed that the thumbnails don't show in will show if I put the action in its own folder with the .psd file? For actions that don't have a .psd file I can create a new blank one at 64x64 pixels white background and save it as thumb.psd and add it to the file? If I do this, I will then be able to see what the action is instead of just the title of it in the Artworks and Effects palette? I like to see the thumbnail becacuse sometimes the name doesn't really tell you what the action does and I have alot and don't remember what the action looks like and the thumbnail shows what it does.

Am I understanding this right or am I lost in the blond world here?

[TonyW]

Kim - that's pretty close but you can only have one thumbs.psd file per folder and it has to have one layer for each action in the folder - and the layers have to be in alphabetical order with the layers having the same name as the actions. Not hard to do and quite often you can just convert the psd file from a version of the actions designed for an earlier version of Elements but you may have to reorder the layers as well as changing the name of the file to thumbs.psd.

Tony

[AngelicKim]

Tony, thanks for the quick response. I understand the part of the action being in its own folder with a thumbs.psd. After that, you totally lost me. I do still have the origianal files for all the actions I have as I keep the zip files. What I don't understand from your post it the "and the layers have to be in alphabetical order with the layers having the same name as the actions". How can the layers have the same name as the action if you have to save it as thumb.psd? Are you saying that if I create a new .psd it has to have a background and at least one layer on that and the layer gets named what the action is? Example, my action is called Blond Moment", then my thumb.psd will consist of a background and one layer above it and instead of in the palete saying layer 1, I rename the layer Blond Moment? Sorry to use the phase blond moment but that is totally what I feel like I am having right now.

Have to run for now but will check back when I get back and see if I can understand more.

[Inspeqtor]

Kim,

Your questions on this thread is exactly why I started this thread, but never felt I got the answer I wanted. I feel like you do, I want to see an example of the action, rather than a word description. As for me making a psd file to fit the action, there I feel at a total loss as to how to do it. :(

[graficalicus]

complete walkthrough is here (http://www.graficalicus.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=250) - including all the specifics on ordering layers, naming, and save locations

hopefully that'll help -

[Inspeqtor]

Thank you Graffi! I will have a look at it later :)

[AngelicKim]

Thanks Graffi. I tried to open that link this morning from your post earlier in this thread and couldn't get it to open. It opened this time. Off to read through it.

[Magnanimity]

D:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\special effects\Graffi's Effects\Handy Actions!

Gareth

I am wondering why I can't seem to find this "Photo Creations file.

In fact, I got Photoshop Elements 5.0 in one file, not separate as this file structure suggests. I can't figure out where to instal actions without the correct file.

I only found one "Special Effects" file. It was under:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 5.0\Presets\Gradients

Anyone else having this problem or know what'sup?:confused:

[AngelicKim]

It is not under the Program Files.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\Special Effects

BTW, I just finished creating the thumbnails for my actions. Boy does that take forever. But I now have examples of all my actions. I wish I would have used a different photo to run the actions to make the thumbnails. Oh well, only I will see them anyway. lol

Thanks for the easy instructions Graffi

[graficalicus]

BTW, I just finished creating the thumbnails for my actions. Boy does that take forever.

.... tell me 'bout it..... :)

I wish I would have used a different photo to run the actions to make the thumbnails.

.... tell me 'bout it again . . . :D

Thanks for the easy instructions Graffi

You're welcome! :cool:

[AngelicKim]

Graffi, I have a whole new respect for you and Panos. If making thumbnails takes that long I don't even want to know think about creating the actual actions and other stuff.

Your awesome and thanks for doing all the work for us.