A few weeks back, I posted this freebie to help you organize your actions in Photoshop Elements.
However, if there are just a few actions and effects that you want quick access to, there is a much easier way. You can see my favorite actions below.
Look at the Favorites Panel in the screen shot above. It’s available in every version of Elements from 6 on up. To display it, go to your Window Menu and click on Favorites.
You can add anything from the Effects or Content tab into your Favorites.
Effects is where most actions live, in addition to Filter and Layer Style Effects. I never use those last two. You have more control over most filters by running them from the Filter Menu item at the top of the screen. The Layer Styles are handy presets – I just don’t use them that much for my photography.
Content is where Adobe’s goodies live. They are intended to be used for scrapbooks, cards, etc. I like to use some of the graphics as clip art. There are holiday themed graphics which are nice for quick invitations or announcements.
So, to add any of these Content items or Effects to your Favorites panel, simply right click on that item and select Add to Favorites.
For those of us who’ve installed lots of actions into Photoshop Elements, this method sure beats scrolling through a long list to find the ones we use all the time.
I know people will ask where my most-used actions come from, so here are the sources:
- Magic Skin – MCP Magic Skin
- One Click Color – MCP Fusion
- Magic Midtone Lifter – MCP Bag of Tricks
- High Def Sharpening – MCP Free Action
- Perfect Fit Web Resize and Sharpening – MCP Fusion
- Defog – available by subscribing to my newsletter
- Kaleidoscope’s Oil Painting Action – available by subscribing to my newsletter
- Eye Doctor – MCP Eye Doctor and Dentist
[…] actions (from Texas Chicks) […]
I’m way late to this game. I’ve used your tip for the Favorites tab, and it’s wonderful! I just updated new actions, though (I’m using PSE 10), and all of my Favorites in my tab are gone! Ack!! I backed up my Metadata file and my Thumbnail file, but even after I replaced the backups, no Favorites 🙁 Oh dear, does this mean I have to manually round them up again? Is there a different file I should be keeping a backup of for these?? Please, if you have any experience or knowledge about this happening, share! I’m at a loss!
Yes, you have to rebuild your Favorites when you upgrade.
This was so easy to set up! Thanks so much.
Hi Erin, thank you for the great tip I did’nt know about the favourites option, so helpful!!! I’m just wondering if there’s any way to get the Elements version of the Oil Painting action, I have Patti’s one for PS but I prefer to use PSE. And I’m already a scubscriber to your wonderful newsletters. So was’nt sure what to do.
Thank you so much for your help.
Michele
Michele, just unsubscribe using the link on one of my newsletters and resubscribe and you’ll get an email with all the actions.
I have PSE 10 and I don’t see any “favorites” tab; I only see “effects” and “content”. How do I see the favorites tab?
I feel so silly…I finally found it–it shows up underneath my layers panel and not up top. Sheesh 🙂 Thanks for the tip–so helpful!
Oh goodness. Thank you SO MUCH for this tip! What a great (hidden) feature.
Thank you for the tip!
WOW! I never knew this. Such a simple but very useful tip! Thank you for sharing.
You are welcome!