For the most part, working with Photoshop is fun and challenging. After you learn Photoshop online or from another source, however, you realize that there are some parts of working with Photoshop that are (dare I say it?!) boring. One big example is resizing a bunch of pictures say for a video or for a website. You could sit there and do it one by one, or you could set up an Action.
Never heard of Actions? I didn't either until recently. Actions are basically recordings that you can setup in Photoshop to automate certain processes. You can't automate everything, so don't think you can completely retouch a picture with an Action, but you can save time by automating the more mundane tasks as you use Photoshop.
All you have to do is click on the "Actions" tab on the Command Central (usually next to "History"). At the bottom of that window there are buttons for record, play, stop, etc. You may have to set up a new action, but once you do just click record and go through your actions. Photoshop will record the actions and store them as a repeatable task.
You may be asking yourself, "what if I screw up? Won't Photoshop screw up every time the action is run?" Simply put, yes. However, the actions are completely editable, so any worries of performing a wrong step can be laid to rest. All in all, though, Actions can save you a bunch of time so you can concentrate on the things you really want to do with Photoshop.
My advice would be to set up a few test Actions just to get used to it. Also, it would probably be best if you knew what and how to do the Action you want to record. What if you don't know how? Well, you should probably learn Photoshop online through some easy to follow step-by-step videos.
Most of the stuff you would be automating would probably be Photoshop basics. You can learn to master the basics of Photoshop with Photoshop By Example, which is a pretty good deal for the price.
You can learn more about Photoshop, as well as other training courses at http://www.squidoo.com/learn-photoshop-online
Author: Dean L.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Unix inter-process communication (IPC)
