Back in time with style

Jon Adams shows you how to apply cool, retro effects in a single click with our free download

- Jon Adams

Actions are custom scripts or mini-programs that automatically stack a bunch of image adjustments or filter commands together, and execute them in lightning-fast time. Stylized treatments and imaging effects that could take ages to create and fine-tune manually can be conjured up with one mouse click.

Actions have several advantages for the times when you want to give a photo a new look, or take it in a new creative direction. The benefit of working with a complete set that’s ready-made is not only the joy of applying a broad variety of different effects really fast, it’s also the chance to generate new looks you’d simply never have thought of.

On this issue’s download is a set of custom-made Actions called Retro Chic. As the name implies, they will take your shots back in time to add a real sense of nostalgia. These finishes will amplify the emotional appeal of your photographs in an old-school style.

About your free Actions

To use the free Actions, you’ll need the latest version of Photoshop CC, and a picture loaded up that you want to apply the Actions to. If you start with a Raw file, first convert the image in Camera Raw, then click Open so it loads into the regular Photoshop Interface.